Roasted Carrots & Parsnips with Tahini Dressing

Here's an easy side dish for your Easter table that's also perfect any time of year. I adore the contrasting colors of these roasted carrots and parsnips. And if you're looking for a budget-friendly veggie side, root vegetables are cheaper than cheap. Plus, they keep in the fridge practically forever. I always have a few varieties of root veggies tumbling around in my crisper drawer, usually purchased on a whim with no idea what I'll make out of them. This is how my carrots and parsnips met their fate.

I am not and never have been a trend follower, but I guess I just couldn't resist the tahini craze any longer. Tahini is everywhere. It's not just in your dressings and hummus anymore; It's in your brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream, people! Once I get an idea in my head, I can't stop. I doodle recipe ideas down in my notebook, or make a note on my phone. Scour Pinterest for inspiration. I literally dream up ideas. So I started imagining all of the sweet and savory things I could do with tahini, and this roasted carrots and parsnips recipe was just one of many ideas I came up with.

This roasted carrots and parsnips recipe can easily be scaled up

Just make sure the vegetables lay in a single layer so they all roast evenly. I've been dying to make this with some rainbow carrots and maybe some radishes. Yep, roasted radishes! If you haven't tried them you must. Here's my Roasted Radish with Anchovy Butter recipe. 

Pair these roasted carrots and parsnips with a ham, a roast leg of lamb (mint would be a great garnish if you go the lamb route), or whatever your protein of choice is. 

The carrots make this perfect for Easter, but this is really an all-year-round dish. Easy on the budget and a cinch to prepare, I hope you'll give this one a try!