Easy Brown Butter Peas and Carrots Recipe
Peas and carrots are tossed in browned butter for a simple recipe with deep, rich, nutty flavor. It is a simple way to make an easy vegetable side dish extra incredible. In just minutes and with only a few ingredients, you can be enjoying Brown Butter Peas and Carrots as a quick gluten free veggie side.
Originally published on Dec 22, 2015
My sister is ten years younger than me. My brothers are even younger than that, and I never lived with them. So while I love my siblings, I still feel as though I grew up as an only child. I never had that close connection to a brother or sister, where you play all day and share secrets, and a bunch of other things that I suppose close siblings do.
When we got ready to have a second child, and especially when I found out it was a boy, I had daydreams about my little guys being best buds. Building forts and playing all day in their bedroom together, building Lego fortresses, joking around, laughing, and all of that good stuff.
I think we are almost on the verge of that. Obviously, a newborn is not a good playmate for a three-year-old big brother, and a baby brother who can barely walk is not much fun for a preschooler who wants to run around and play. For a while, the little one doesn’t understand when the big one tries to set up his Star Wars figures, and the big one barely understands a word the little one says.
But now, finally, they actually make those forts and build those towers of blocks. They line up the Matchbox cars and put towers together. They’ll watch the same shows and movies. Even the wrestling and roughhousing doesn’t always end in tears because they are a bit more evenly matched. My little guy is a tough cookie.
Now don’t get me wrong, we still have moments of fighting and bickering and taking toys from each other, but I’m excited that the early signs of brother best buddies are there, and I’m sure one day my boys will go together like…
Browned Butter Peas and Carrots
Brown Butter Peas and Carrots is a super simple way to add a ton of flavor to plain old, same old veggies. I know, you’re thinking, “Of course butter adds flavor, along with calories and fat and blah blah blah…”
Let me tell you when you brown the butter, you only need a tablespoon for the whole recipe to add a seriously nutty and fragrant flavor punch.
That makes this recipe not only delicious, but also healthy, gluten free, and paleo (if you use ghee). And the kids will gobble down those golden coins and green drops. Winning!
The only tricky thing about this recipe is browning the butter. You need to be careful not to burn it.
How do you not burn butter?
- Heat a pan over medium-low heat.
- Add the butter, let it melt and start to foam.
- Now just go slow and watch it carefully, keeping the heat low and not rushing the process.
- Stir frequently until the butter becomes golden in color and some brown bits start to collect at the bottom.
- In this case, it’s fine to not get it completely browned before adding the carrots and peas, because it’ll continue to develop its flavors and aroma after you toss in the veggies.
How to make buttery peas and carrots?
- Steam the carrots until crisp-tender.
- While the carrots are steaming, brown the butter following the directions above.
- Add steamed carrots and frozen peas to the butter, and stir to coat.
- Cook until peas are hot and carrots are golden.
- Stir in the thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.
What vegetable peeler do I use?
I’ve been using this one same OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler for years. It’s sturdy so it holds up to lots of wear and tear. But the rubberized grip makes it soft and easy to hold onto.
What else can you make with brown butter?
- Browned Butter Whipped Butternut Squash
- Maple Sweet Potatoes with Browned Butter Pecan Topping
- Browned Butter Sauteed Summer Vegetables
- Brown Butter Cauliflower Rice
- Butternut Squash Noodles in Sage Browned Butter Sauce from Boulder Locavore
- Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes from The Food Charlatan
- Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
What do you serve these buttered peas and carrots with?
- This recipe is so super quick you can easily serve it with a weeknight meal of Worcestershire Sauce Cube Steak.
- Pair these buttery veggies with a Lemon Herb Slow Cooker Roast Chicken for Sunday dinner.
- And of course, the rich flavor from the browned butter makes this perfect for a holiday meal, perhaps alongside a Cranberry Crusted Prime Rib Roast.
- You’ll also love it with an Easter ham as one of your gluten free Easter recipes.
Brown Butter Peas and Carrots Recipe
Just a bit of deliciously nutty browned butter adds a huge punch of flavor to this easy side dish. These aren’t your basic peas and carrots, but they still are super simple. Only a few ingredients and just a few minutes of prep time and you have a veggie dish that easily goes from weeknight dinner to a holiday meal.
I hope you’ll leave a comment and give it a FIVE STAR rating or share a photo on this pin on Pinterest!
Brown Butter Peas and Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into quarter inch thick slices
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 8 ounces frozen peas
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place carrots in a steamer rack over simmering water and steam until crisp-tender, as you prefer.
- While the carrots are steaming, heat a pan over medium-low heat. Add the butter, let it melt and start to foam. Stir frequently until the butter becomes golden in color and some brown bits start to collect at the bottom. Be careful not to burn the butter.
- Add the carrots and peas to the butter, stir to coat the peas and carrots, and cook until peas are hot and carrots have developed a nice golden color.
- Stir in the thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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mims says
my frozen peas kind of became hard?
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Oh no, I’m sorry. Did you use the “normal” sized peas or the petite peas? Neither take very long to cook, but the petite peas cook especially fast. You could always toss them in after you’ve sauteed the carrots for a couple minutes so that the peas just barely have time to heat through.
Kathy Brown Jones says
This looks like a side dish that I think will be great for an addition to Thanksgiving dinner!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Ooo, I think you’re right!