As a kid, I always thought my grandmother made such weird food. She combined things that “shouldn’t” be combined, fed me things from other cultures and was always trying to introduce me to new things.
I was lucky to have her. While it might have been “weird” to me as a child, as an adult, I appreciate food so much more now. I see it as not only nourishment but art. It’s a way to express myself, it is a way to center myself and it makes me happy to make dishes that my family loves.
Today I know that her passion for making me try new things, and my other grandmother’s passion for cooking traditional dishes, helped me to find my place in the kitchen. (I say that as a feminist and in no way as a 1950’s housewife.)
I know because of that, I am honored to be participating in the Woodbridge Wines by Robert Mondavi Summer Side Dish Showdown.
It’s a six-week competition for six women home cooks and each week a new recipe will be released that you can vote on! You simply go to the site here and click the heart next to my photo. You have to verify your age because since it’s alcohol only people 21 and older can participate.
The first round of the completion was themed Backyard Barbecue Sides. I knew things like potato salad and corn would be common and, perhaps like my grandmother, I wanted to make something a bit unique but just as delicious as the traditional favorites.
I try to eat lighter in the summer time so I also wanted something that wasn’t loaded with mayo, sour cream, breading or an additional barbecue sauce since it is likely your main dish will include that.
For my first recipe, I made these Honey Bourbon Carrots, which is a variation on a recipe I’ve made before for my family in the oven. However, since this was a barbecue side dish, I thought I would grill them to show how versatile this dish can be.
If you’ve been invited to a barbecue, these carrots are something that you can easily prep ahead of time and then take with you to grill there.
They’re a great side to make when you’re having a hearty steak; filet minion; a simple, grilled chicken or a robust fish steak like halibut or swordfish.
If you aren’t a bourbon person or if you are sober, leave the bourbon out. I actually added that for this completion to make the recipe feel more grown up, but you don’t need it. That said, if you can, try it with the bourbon. Once it’s cooked the flavor works really well with the honey and makes the dish feel more mature.
The carrots pair perfectly with Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon or any of your favorite Woodbridge wines. I tend to favor red wines, even in the summer and with fish, but these will really go either way.
Grab the full recipe below and please (PLEASE!) head over to the Summer Side Dish Showdown website and vote for me. Then go make the carrots. 🙂
- 2 lbs. baby carrots with stems (or large carrots cut in half vertically down the center)
- 4 Tbsp. honey
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 ½ Tbsp. Bourbon
- 2 Tbsp. basil, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. rosemary, minced
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Heat grill to medium heat, giving it about 15 minutes to warm to the proper temperature.
- Combine honey, bourbon, olive oil and mix well.
- Add lemon juice and chopped basil and mix well.
- Drag each carrot through the marinade and place on a grill pan with foil below it.
- Give every carrot another coat of marinade before putting on the grill.
- Cook over the flame for 10 minutes.
- Open the grill and rotate the carrots. Coat again with marinade.
- Close the grill and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the carrots from grill pan and grill directly on the grill grate for another 2-3 minutes.
- Plate carrots and very lightly drizzle some additional marinade over the carrots. If served to children, omit marinade and simply drizzle additional honey.
- Sprinkle with extra basil and rosemary and serve.
If you want to cook these in the over, cook them for 15 minutes at 425 and then check them. Cook for another 5 minutes if needed.
For more side dish recipes, click here.
Harry eating, friends!
I am running to the store now to get the ingredients for this! These look great! I love carrots and am excited to try this new way to prepare them.
Wow that is such a divine new way to have carrots! I love it. I must try this 🙂
I’m totally drooling. I am making these this week for sure! What a yummy, vegetarian option!
These carrots sound delicious and look so cute too! Making veggies as a BBQ side dish is so smart . . . those heavy mayo-based salads are not for me! My hubby isn’t a huge carrot fan but the bourbon might change his mind! LOL
Carrots are one of the only veggies my kids will eat. I’m sure the alcohol in the bourbon burns off and I would like to try this variation soon!
Your Honey Bourbon Carrots look absolutely mouthwatering! Just checked out the contest page and voted for you! Good luck!
This looks so beautiful and colorful. I must have that honey bourbon mustard.
I have been on a carrots kick lately! I was so happy to see this recipe. I cannot wait to try it for dinner this week. I love that we can cook our meat and grill our veggies all outdoors! Yay!
I had so many spare carrots at home the other day and I did not know what to do with it. This is a great idea.
That is a great way to make carrots. I am sure my whole family will love these.
Oh, those look so delicious! I would definitely eat more vegetables if they were prepared like this!
We love to grill in the summer, and I’m always trying to find ways to incorporate more vegetables into our meals. These look delicious and I believe I have everything already!
Anything that makes me eat more veggies is a win for me. These look really good and I am not a carrot fan!
I must say I have never tried grilling vegetables before. I am always afraid I will burn them. I will be brave this summer and try these carrots. They look good.
I love carrots cooked in sauces. It seems like the extra thing to do in a meal. The bourbon is an interesting addition!
This is a carrot I may eat! Not a fan but bourbon and basil sure could change my mind. These really look amazingly delicious! I will be putting them on the the menu plan to try!
I love fresh carrots and how can you go wrong with bourbon and honey. We are grilling out twice this week and these will be making an appearance at one of these dinners. Now to see if my local farmer’s market has any for an even more amazing flavor.
I LOVE cooking and grilling with honey and I AM a bourbon person too! This is a perfect idea and I love how you used whole fresh carrots! I am drooling and you bet this is going on my next cookout list!
They look so good! I can’t wait to try to make them! I love carrots!
I’m normally not a huge carrot fan but this looks really yummy and I’d be totally willing to try it!
Those grilled carrots look so savory and delicious. I’m going to have to try your recipe over the summer when we have guests over. Thanks for sharing your idea!
These looks so good. My daughter would love these baby carrots.
This sounds so delicious! I’ve never BBQ’d carrots but I definitely need to try it. The Honey Bourbon flavor sounds delicious.
These look like they would be an amazing side dish. I have never really cooked much with carrots but this makes me want to!
Being vegetarians we do not have many choices whenever we visit one of those restaurants specializing in BBQ. Usually, it is potatoes, cheese, pineapple, capsicum and stuff like that. But this is something new and different, would love to try the grilled carrots.
Yum yum yum, I can’t wait to make 5ese this weekend.
These look really good and I can not wait to make them. I love carrots and also love to grill anything I can. This is a fun way to put the two things together and enjoy a meal with the family this weekend. We have to try this one out, thanks for sharing!
I just told my daughter just yesterday that we need to buy some fresh carrots and place them on the grill. I’m so excited to be able to try out your recipe, these carrots look so delicious.
I absolutely love grilled veggies, especially carrots! This recipe sounds so sooo yummy!
This looks delicious. I’m vegan so i have to get creative when i comes to barbecuing. I’d love to try this out soon.
This looks delicious. It’s hard to find healthy options that remain just as tasty.
Ohh la la, there are carrots, and there are CARROTS! I think I’ve been doing them wrong my entire life. Perfect side for a festive meal. So bookmarking and saving for the next family gathering.
Yummy! This looks perfect. I am hungry just reading your post! Definitely going to make this recipe!
I love honey baked carrots but this recipe looks like it will blow mine out of the water. I’m totally cooking this TONIGHT! I love easy quick recipes for veggies that up them a notch or two from boring!
Carrots and I have a love hate relationship, I need to eat more of them but sometimes I don’t like them. This is a recipe I can stand behind!