The simplest Christmas veg: honey glazed carrots & parsnips

I really don’t like to mess about with veggies too much. Already on your Christmas plate you have sprouts with all kinds of jazz, and possibly a really flavoursome red cabbage, so I believe you should keep the rest simple. This carrot and parsnip combo is simply roasted with honey and no fuss, but will still be perfectly cooked and the honey will bring out the natural flavours.

Gizzi Erskine’s Really Simple Honey Glazed Carrots & Parsnips

Serves 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter or olive oil
500g small to medium carrots, peeled but kept whole with a little bit of green “hair” left on
500g parsnips, peeled, cut into quarters lengthways, and parboiled for 5 minutes
4 tbsp honey
a few thyme sprigs (but only if you like…)
sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

Method
Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.

Pour the butter or oil into a roasting tray and place in the oven to heat up for 5-10 minutes. When hot, remove from the oven and add the carrots and parsnips. Drizzle over the honey and a decent splash of water. Season with salt and pepper and add the thyme sprigs (if using).

Give the carrots and parsnips a good toss to make sure they are evenly coated in the oil and honey, then place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes, giving them a good stir halfway through.

You want the vegetables to be cooked through and lightly caramelised, but still retain some bite.

Extracted from Gizzi’s Season’s Eatings by Gizzi Erskine (Mitchell Beazley, approx €17). Photography by Emma Lee.