What happens when you try to “sneak” veggies into your meals?
Sure, they become more nutritious, but they also become blander. And downgrading the enjoyment you get from your diet in the name of “clean eating” isn’t exactly a win.
It doesn’t have to be like that, though.
If you know what you’re doing, you can add vegetables to your meal plans and actually make everything taste better.
And carrots are perfect for just this.
Thanks to their unique flavor, natural sweetness, and chewy, starchy texture, they can upgrade all kinds of meals ranging from soup to pie and bacon.
The trick is preparing them correctly and choosing the right ingredients to pair them with, which is why you need to try these recipes.
Enjoy!
Carbs might make you avoid muffins for breakfast and snacks. But what if your breakfast pastry had almost as much protein as carbs – and tasted like dessert?
These muffins may seem like carrot cake, but they’re gluten-free with a mix of coconut flour and vanilla whey protein powder. And they have just over 100 calories per serving.
117
Calories10 g
Protein11 g
Carbs4 g
Fat1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. coconut flour
2 scoops WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. coconut oil (or butter), melted
2 egg whites, room temp.
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla crème stevia
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cashew milk
1 cup freshly grated carrots, peeled first
Get the RecipeRather than just drink carrot juice, you can get the same flavor with more nutrition when you process those carrots in the blender. And with a smoothie bowl, you can add your favorite dessert mix-ins on top because you won’t be sipping them through a straw.
For this carrot cake smoothie, boosted with whey protein powder, you can add shredded coconut, raisins, and pineapple chunks. To enjoy this whole recipe as a single serving, you may want to use just one date, plus stevia to taste.
307
Calories18 g
Protein44 g
Carbs8 g
FatSmoothie:
1/4 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1 Tbsp. hemp seeds
1 scoop WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate
2 pitted dates
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Toppings:
1 Tbsp. shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 Tbsp. hemp seeds
1/2 Tbsp. raisins
1 Tbsp. shredded carrot
Few chunks of pineapple
Get the RecipeCarrot salad can sound plain, but this one will seem exciting no matter what you dress it with. That’s because the carrots are spiralized along with zucchini for a base of vegetable noodles.
And If you don’t have a spiralizer to make the noodles, you can also use a julienne peeler, or try out some precision knife skills to julienne them the old-school way.
161
Calories4 g
Protein13 g
Carbs11 g
Fat6 large carrots, spiralized
1 zucchini, spiralized
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. feta cheese, crumbled
10 walnuts
Get the RecipeTrying to increase your protein? Add bacon to your vegetable side dish, and you’ll get more protein plus one of your favorite flavors. This carrot recipe is impressive, but it’s also as simple as it gets.
You just need whole carrots, strips of bacon, maple syrup, and a hot grill. They’re good enough to eat three or four as a whole meal – like reflected in these servings – but also impressive for a side dish at a backyard cookout buffet.
577
Calories34 g
Protein30 g
Carbs36 g
Fat3 lbs. whole carrots
1 1/2 lbs. bacon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeCarrots don’t only show up in cake. They’re also used as a main ingredient in some South Asian desserts. Halwa is a slow-cooked carrot dessert, which is stirred on the stove until all of the liquid is absorbed.
For a creamy dessert, try this carrot kheer recipe. While kheer is often made as a rice pudding, here the base is grated carrots. Both styles of dessert have similar ingredients and can be served chilled or at room temperature.
347
Calories10 g
Protein43 g
Carbs16 g
Fat1 1/4 cups grated carrots (about 3–4)
1 liter whole milk
1/4 cup low-fat cream (or sweetened condensed milk)
1/2 cup sugar (or to taste)
2 tsp. ghee
10 almonds
8 cashews
Pinch of saffron
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
Get the RecipeSometimes coating fresh carrots in honey or maple syrup isn’t enough to ensure they’re a great side dish.
These Crock Pot glazed carrots solve the problem of crunchy, undercooked carrots, so you can set it and forget it. And you can use this slow cooker recipe for either baby carrots or the full-sized veggie.
160
Calories1 g
Protein39 g
Carbs0 g
Fat2 lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups pineapple tidbits with juice, unsweetened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Get the RecipeCarrots go well with so many spices, including ginger and turmeric, which makes a great base for a sweet and savory soup.
This recipe uses coconut yogurt for a vegan carrot recipe, but you can also use dairy if it fits into your meal plan. Either way, you can prepare this quick vegetable soup in about a half hour.
234
Calories4 g
Protein39 g
Carbs9 g
Fat2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large apple, preferably tart, peeled and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 lbs. carrots, chopped into 1/2” pieces
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1 bundle thyme, tied with string
1/2 cup unsweetened cultured coconut yogurt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Get the RecipeA cross between carrot cake and sweet potato pie, this is one dessert you won’t want to miss. The filling contains carrots and eggs, and the crust isn’t your typical pastry.
Instead it’s made with mostly walnuts and a little oat flour. And both crust and filling are sweetened with a touch of pure maple syrup.
340
Calories9 g
Protein32 g
Carbs21 g
FatCrust:
2 cups walnuts
1 cup gluten-free oat flour
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. coconut oil, solid
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
Filling:
2 cups peeled and diced carrots
3/4 cup coconut sugar, packed
1 Tbsp. tapioca starch
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of cloves
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
3 large eggs
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Get the RecipeCraving cake, but trying to avoid dessert? You’ll want to make this sweet quinoa salad, which can be served hot or cold. And this simple recipe doesn’t require much to put together.
Start with quinoa and carrots, of course, and mix in coconut milk and vanilla for flavor. Pumpkin puree adds even more natural sweetness, along with chopped dates. Then finish with your favorite cake spices: ginger and cinnamon.
456
Calories14 g
Protein74 g
Carbs13 g
Fat1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 Tbsp. canned coconut milk
1 Tbsp. chopped dates (or raisins)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
Get the RecipeFor a carrot side dish similar to baked mashed potatoes, try this soufflé. And don’t worry – it’s not the delicate kind that might fall before you get it to the table.
This easy baked side dish has whipped carrots, eggs, and sour cream for a light, silky texture. And it’ll make a large portion, perfect for a family dinner or holiday gathering.
187
Calories4 g
Protein32 g
Carbs5 g
Fat7 cups chopped carrots (about 2 lbs.)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
Get the RecipeWho knew quarantine cooking could be so tasty?
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Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK, Canada, Puerto Rico, or Guam, your order ships free when it’s over $99.
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We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
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