By: Rashi Chaudhary
5 Tasty And Healthy Ways To Add Carrot In Winter Diet
The cold months of the year are soon knocking at the door. A lot of people look forward to winters to enjoy the cold breeze, wear favourite comfiest sweaters, snuggle in a blanket, and most importantly eat seasonal food. It’s not a secret anymore that seasonal eating is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.
With the chilling winds, this year also brings an array of nutritional foods which are too good to miss. Besides being rich in important vitamins and minerals, seasonal food brings a new flavour and a chance to experiment with different recipes in the kitchen. Out of the rainbow of veggies available to us, Carrot aka Gajar is the favourite pick when it comes to winter seasonal food.
Since you’re here, chances are that the crunchy, juicy, and national carrots are your favourite too. So, let’s dig into the blog right away and get hands-on with some tasty ways to add carrots to the winter diet without getting bored.
Why You Should Eat Carrots In Winter?
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This seasonal delight has more benefits than what you may think. Carrots are immensely loaded up with Beta-carotene, essential for the production of Vitamin A in our body. This quintessential winter veggie also has a good amount of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, fibre and other important nutrients all of which together share an array of benefits like promoting eye health, strengthening the immune system, aids in digestion, promote stronger bones thus support you to enjoy the winter season healthily.
Now that you know some of the many carrot benefits, let’s get a hands-on the carrot recipes one by one to relish them throughout the winter:
1. Refreshing Glass Of – Cold-pressed Carrot Juice
One of the easiest yet effective ways to get the most out of this power-packed veggie Carrot is by juicing. Eating raw or uncooked carrots can be boring after sometime, however, through juicing you can enjoy the delicious carrots and also increase the quantity in your diet which may not be possible otherwise.
All you need to take care of is picking fresh and chemical-free carrots to squeeze juice out of them at home without refined sugar. If you’re occupied with household or work commitments, consider pure and 100% natural carrot cold-pressed juice from OMJOOS. It’s made with the finest carrots and absolutely free from any additives or chemicals. Avoid canned carrot juices which are mostly just sugary water. You can always check the ingredients mentioned on the back of these products to know better about the unhealthy elements they put inside.
2. Sweet & Sour Side Dish: Carrot Pickle
Image Source:Indianhealthyrecipes.com
Our grandmothers used to make big batches of different pickles throughout the year. There is something interesting about pickles because they can jazz up any boring Indian meal. And, when it comes to Carrots, we can surely say it’s worth a try!
Sweet, sour, spicy, and crunchy, Carrot pickle has all you need in a side element of a meal that upholds the tendency to elevate the taste of the whole meal to a next level. The khatta meetha taste of Gajar ka Achar is absolutely mouth-watering. The cherry on the cake is, this is an instant pickle and you can just make it and enjoy! Here is the quick Gajar Ka Achar recipe by Indian Healthy Recipes:
- Mix fresh chopped carrots in hot oil preferably with Red chilli powder, Mustard Seeds, fenugreek Seeds, Ginger, Turmeric, Garlic are also used
- Add lemon juice or vinegar to add some zing
- Mix up everything well & do a taste test
- Store in an air-tight container
3. Quintessential Winter Dessert: Gajar Ka Halwa
Delhi winters are incomplete without relishing a hot bowl of freshly made Gajar Ka Halwa to satisfy your sweet tooth. Be it kids or adults, Gajar Halwa is liked by all. You will be glad to know that there is an easy recipe to make this mouthwatering delight on a healthier side as well.
All you need is to replace refined sugar with iron-rich dates which enhances the nutritional quotient of this popular winter dessert and keeps other ingredients the same. Add loads of nuts and dry fruits as well. This irresistible treat is sure to impress your guests. However, enjoy it in moderation and avoid going on board.
4. A Must-Have Dry Veggie: Gajar Matar Sabzi
This dry vegetable is popular and a staple in every household. This delightful vegetable medley is cooked with aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala, making it both colourful and flavourful. Gajar Matar is low in calories and high in proteins and vitamins thus makes a perfect carrot recipe to make in the cold months of the year.
The carrots add a natural sweetness, while the peas provide a satisfying crunch. To enjoy a heavenly main course, pair it with dal, raita, and hot fluffy chapatis.
5. A Comforting Bowl Of: Carrot Soup
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Creamy, flavourful, and delicious, Carrot soup is a big hit among people of every age group in the winter season. It is healthy, easy to prepare, and doesn’t require much effort. It is light, filling, and has a slightly sweet taste. It takes the steps mentioned below to make comforting carrot soup who’s each soup
- Roast the carrots in the best cooking oils like olive oil or canola oil with onion and other ground spices
- You can also add ginger and garlic
- Add water, mix well, and stir until the carrots are softened
- Let it simmer
- Add some lemon juice for flavour.
Final Thoughts
Carrot is such a versatile healthy vegetable. The delicious carrot recipes shared above help you incorporate them as a part of your daily diet in an interesting & tasty way. We made sure all the recipes require minimal ingredients and are prepared easily so that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen. Moreover, every age group either kids or adults can enjoy. Choose the recipes as per your taste buds and preference, and never stop experimenting with this super veggie to get the maximum health advantages.
Don’t forget to leave your most favourite taste ways to add carrots in your winter diet that you would love to try in the comments section below!
Hope you have happy and healthy winters ahead!