AIP balsamic glazed carrots - caramelized roasted side, vitamin A source

Some nights a single sheet pan is the most you can manage, and 5 ingredients you already have in the kitchen is the whole recipe. Carrots sliced on the diagonal, tossed in olive oil, balsamic, and thyme, then left alone in a hot oven until the edges go dark and sticky. You do almost nothing, and it still tastes like you tried.

So much of a carrot's nutrition lives right in that orange color. Vitamin A and beta-carotene sit there, compounds believed to support the gut's mucosal lining as your immune system quiets down. Roasting hot pulls the vegetable's own sugars forward, deepened by a little balsamic at the end.

Give the carrots room on the pan so the edges actually brown instead of steaming. When they come out dark and glossy, spoon them into a bowl and let yourself notice the color for a moment before the fork gets there. A 5-ingredient side still deserves that.

Ingredients

• 1 lb carrots, sliced on the diagonal
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Method

Heat the oven to 425 F and line a sheet pan with parchment.

Cut the carrots on a diagonal so each piece has more surface to caramelize. Put them in a bowl and toss with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, thyme, and sea salt until every piece is coated.

Spread the carrots in a single layer on the pan. Give them room. Crowded carrots steam instead of roast, and you want the edges to brown.

Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the carrots are tender and the edges are caramelized. The balsamic will reduce against the pan into a dark glaze. Serve warm.

Air fryer variation

Toss the carrots the same way. Air fry at 380 F for about 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket once or twice, until tender and browned at the edges. Work in batches if your basket is small, since a single layer is what gives you the caramelization. Air fryer time is estimated and flagged for verify.

A side this simple still deserves a pause. Look at the color on the plate before you reach for the fork.

*Adapted from healmedelicious.com*