Five spice glazed carrots are a delicious twist on a classic side dish.
This recipe was the result of looking for more excuses to use five spice powder. I love the taste and aroma it gives food. Last weekend I made this stir-fry recipe again for dinner. It reminded me how much I like this delicious spice blend.
I am always looking for new ideas for vegetable side dishes alongside the main entrée. These carrots were perfect with the sesame chicken shown above.
Ingredients
Carrots: I use three medium to large carrots for this dish.
Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Adds a savory element to enhance the five spice powder.
Brown Sugar: Along with the butter, the brown sugar creates a sweet glaze on the carrots.
Water: Moisture is needed to cook the carrots. The water will evaporate as the carrots cook.
Butter: Adds richness and creates the glaze on the carrots.
Five Spice Powder: Sometimes called Chinese five spice powder. A mixture of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns. I found it in the Asian section of the grocery store. We recently found this brand locally.
Instructions
Much like my original glazed carrots recipe, I find it easiest to toss everything into the skillet. Why use another bowl if you don’t have to?
Chop up the carrots into similar-sized pieces. It is not a big deal if some are a little thicker or thinner than the rest. But if the carrots are the same thickness, they will all be cooked and tender at the same time.
Add the carrots to the skillet along with the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, butter, and five spice powder and stir to combine. I like incorporating the brown sugar and spice powder into the liquids.
Simmer over medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir a few times to coat the carrots in the liquid. Uncover and continue to cook until the liquid has evaporated, and the carrots are tender.
Five spice glazed carrots are perfect as a side with a stir fry. It was equally delicious with roast chicken and broccoli.
Five Spice Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots peeled and sliced
- 1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp butter
- ½ tsp five spice powder
Instructions
- Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, butter, and five spice powder to a stainless steel skillet. Stir to combine the ingredients.
- Add the pieces of carrots in a single layer in the skillet. Place the skillet over medium heat to a simmer.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, lifting the lid a couple of times to stir the coat the carrots.
- Uncover, and reduce the liquid almost completely.
- Serve immediately.