Lemon Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

Lemon roasted carrots and parsnips are salty and sweet and get all caramelized and delicious as they roast.

We top them with a honey lemon dressing to make a side dish easy enough for a weeknight meal but  also fancy enough to be a side for your Easter (or Thanksgiving or Christmas) feast!

Filled in More Ways than Just with Food

I’ve been really craving the simple classic recipes of the past lately. It’s almost like a feeling of homesickness and nostalgia for childhood has started to grow inside of me. I don’t quite know what has triggered it or even what to do with it, but I’ve found myself looking back on life with a tenderness and fondness I haven’t ever had.

I was a living-with-one-foot-in-tomorrow-girl for most of my junior high and high school years. I think it was in part because I had two older sisters that were far enough apart from me in age that they were already off to college and I felt left behind. I know now that living that way isn’t the best idea, but I have to be mindful now of not looking back with the same feelings. 

Being present, breathing in happiness right now instead of waiting for it or missing it from yesterday has become really important to me. Part of merging all of my worlds into one has been a bringing together of recipes we used to love but have gotten distracted with new, modern ideas. Roasted carrots and parsnips might seem old-school, but I bet you’ll be filled in more ways than just with food by making them. 

Ingredients for Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

The ingredients are simple and few. Here is what you will need:

• Carrots: You can peel them if you want but it is not necessary.
• Parsnips: If the parsnips are really thick, cut them in half so they closely match the size of the carrots.
• Garlic: Keep the cloves whole and in the peel so they can roast with the veggies.
• Olive Oil: Helps the veggies caramelize to golden perfection.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavors of the vegetables.

Dressing

• White Wine Vinegar: If you don’t have it, red wine vinegar makes the best substitute or rice wine vinegar (not seasoned) will also work great.
• Lemon Zest: Adds a bright and fresh punch of flavor that pairs so well with root vegetables.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and thickens the dressing.
• Parsley: Fresh is preferred but if you have to use dried, use 1 teaspoon.

Do Parsnips Need to Be Parboiled Before Roasting?

Normally I would say no, but we like to parboil both the carrots and parsnips for this recipe. Then dry them thoroughly and let the oven do all the work roasting and caramelizing them. Parboiling cuts down on the roasting time and lets the caramelization happen perfectly.

Should I Peel Parsnips Before Roasting Them?

Carrot Cake Pancakes topped with Maple Cream Cheese Syrup, just the name is enough to make me grin. This was a real breakfast treat.

Carrot Cake Pancakes

These pancakes truly deserve their decadent name. With spicy notes from cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, these taste surprisingly like carrot cake. I didn’t expect that much of the carrot flavor to shine through, but it does.

They’re fantastic with the cream cheese syrup included in the recipe below and they’re also wonderful when topped with my grandmother’s waffle sauce.

I enjoy these pancakes every bit as much as I enjoy the Zucchini Waffles we make all summer. These pancakes have been a win for the entire family.

My baby managed to eat three of these pancakes while I was making the rest of our breakfast. (Edited to add: That little baby will be turning 13 in a few months, so you can tell these are a LONG time favorite.)

When I first made these, I was doing a lot of baking with whole wheat flour. And while I enjoyed the pancakes when we made with wheat flour, if I’m being honest, I like them even better now when they’re made a little bit lighter and fluffier with all-purpose flour.

You could even split the difference and make them 50/50 with half whole wheat flour. Whether you choose to make them with regular flour, whole wheat, or a mix of both, I can promise you they’ll be delicious.

Carrot Cake Pancake

Pancake making is a pretty straightforward process. It has become so routine for me I do the same basic steps every time. Whisk together your dry ingredien