Harissa Roasted Carrots with Crispy Persian Rice
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Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Caramelised roast carrots folded into a mellow turmeric yogurt sauce go beautifully with 'tahdig' – a buttery and crispy Persian rice dish. Tah-dig in.
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891 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 400g bunched carrots
  • 1 tsp harissa
  • 150g white basmati rice
  • 45g butter
  • 1 onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • A thumb of fresh turmeric
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 orange
  • 100g baby leaf spinach
  • 150g yogurt
From your kitchen
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 300ml boiling water
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Scrub the bunched carrots and trim away the leaves. Halve or, if large, quarter lengthways with a sharp knife, then scatter in a roasting tin. Toss with 1 tsp harissa (or use less if you prefer a milder spiced dish), a pinch of salt and pepper and 1 tbsp oil. Slide into the oven for 20 mins, turning halfway though. Once cooked, turn the oven off and leave the carrots in there to keep warm.

  • 2.

    While the carrots cook, tip the rice into a sieve and give it a good rinse under cold water. Tip into a small pan, add 300ml boiling water and a pinch of salt. Pop on a lid, bring to the boil, then turn right down and very gently simmer for 6 mins. Tip the rice into a sieve and drain off any excess water.

  • 3.

    Slide the butter into the empty rice pan and melt over a medium heat with 1 tbsp oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Return the rice to the pan and pack down into the bottom with a wooden spoon. Cover the pan with a folded clean tea towel and the lid. Cook for 15 mins, then reduce the temperature to low for 5 more mins.

  • 4.

    While the rice cooks, peel and finely slice the onion. Peel and grate the garlic and turmeric. Roughly chop the tomatoes.

  • 5.

    Pour 1 tbsp oil into a large frying pan and set on a medium heat for 2 mins. Slide in the onion, garlic, fresh turmeric and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 5 mins, till softened. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and cook for a further 5 mins.

  • 6.

    Zest in the orange and squeeze in the juice from 1 half. Stir in the spinach till wilted. Pour in the yogurt and gently warm through, stirring. Taste and add more salt or orange juice if you think it needs it.

  • 7.

    Tip the rice onto a large plate, using a spoon to loosen the caramelised crust from the bottom of the pan. Serve with bowls of the spiced yogurt. sauce and harissa roasted carrots.

  • 8.

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