Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad with Carmelized Lemon

I feel like people are afraid of carrots.

I don't mean really AFRAID, but afraid to cook with them. Most people think of carrots as those baby vegetables that we eat out of the bag with hummus, or boiled to death in steamed vegetable mixes. Carrots are actually incredibly versatile in the kitchen if you know how to use them. They are delicious pureed in soups (carrot dill), in fruit salsas, and they are wonderful when grated into a summer slaw.

Exhibit A - roasted carrots. My favorite. When roasted, the sugars in carrots release and they come out sweet as candy, similar to a sweet potato. Yum!!

I am really loving this salad right now. The sweetness of the carrots, the creaminess of the avocado and tartness of the lemon is an incredibly satisfying trio, and it is super simple to make. And again, since these ingredients are so seasonal and fresh, you don't have to do much to make them tasty.

Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad with Carmelized Lemon
Loosely adapted from Smitten Kitchen, inspired by The Spotted Pig, NYC

1 pound carrots, scrubbed or peeled and cut into two-inch segments
A few tablespoons olive oil, divided
Few pinches of ground cumin
1/2 an avocado, pitted and sliced
Juice of half a lemon, plus 2 thin lemon slices
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Toss the carrot chunks in a medium bowl with a couple tablespoons of oil, cumin, salt and pepper.

Spread them on a roasting sheet and roast for about 30-40 minutes, or until tender and browned.

Now, carmelize the lemons. Heat a tiny bit of oil in a small nonstick pan, adding a touch of lemon juice one the pan gets hot. Throw in the lemon slices, and cook each side for a few minutes until they look browned. Remove from heat and set aside.

Once the carrots are roasted, arrange them on a serving platter with slices of avocado on top. Drizzle the salad with lemon juice and extra cumin, salt and pepper if it needs it. Garnish with carmelized lemon slices.

ENJOY!