7 Interesting Substitute For Carrots

Undeniably, carrots do hold the bragging rights of being one of the most popular and consumed vegetables across the globe. Considered literally everyone’s favorite, carrots generally known for their bitter-sweet and earthy flavor.

Known as well for its versatility also, carrots as vegetables is an ingredient you would commonly find inside of different types and varieties of recipes, as well as inside the cabinets of many kitchens in many households.

Unfortunately, there are days when this vegetable known for its versatility might be out of your reach and unavailable for you to make use of. Well, there should be no cause for alarm since, fortunately for you, there are some reliable substitutes for carrots out there you can always trust to come to your rescue on days when carrots are unavailable for you to make use of.

Interested in finding out more about these substitutes? Highlighted below are 7 of the very best of them.

Here is a list of Substitute For Carrots

1. Parsnips

Sharing similar texture and appearance with carrots, parsnips are definitely an easy pick when it comes to ideal substitutes to swap in for carrots, a choice of a substitute also known for its milder flavor and carries similar sweetness as carrots.

Ideally, parsnips can be swapped for carrots inside of soups and stews, and in a few other instances, simple sheet-pan roasting, with its subtle and nutty flavor ever present inside of them.

Moving on, should you stick to parsnips as your substitute for carrots at the end of the day, you should always have it at the back of your mind that they tend to be softer than carrots and cook a bit faster, meaning you should add them towards the end of your cooking process and not at the beginning.

2. Squash

Squash as a substitute for carrots can come in different varieties such as butternut, honeynut, or acorn varieties. Regardless of the variety you choose to go for at the end of the day, one thing is guaranteed, which is that they bring their delicious taste to the table when added to hearty soups or curries.

Generally, squash is best known for its presence in stir-fries or lighter broth-based soups and stews. However, there are also some that fancy having it used in baking recipes in place of carrots, of which you would barely notice the difference.

Read also, No Celery Root? 7 Best Substitute For Celery Root

3. Zucchini

Next on our list of ideal substitute for carrots is the zucchini which is kind of similar to squash as well, a choice of a substitute of great importance when it comes to baking since it offers you the guarantee of keeping your cake or loaf moist.

To get the very best of results sticking with this option of a substitute, all that is expected of you to do is to have them shredded a tad thicker compared to carrots since they tend to get soft once cut.

Finally, though some people prefer having it used together with its outer peel, it is preferable to have them peeled off before use so there isn’t any green color peeking out in your finished dish at the end of the day.

4. Beets

Beets as an ideal replacement for carrots are one of the top recommendations, especially for Indo craving an earthy flavor in their dish, and this is made possible with the caramelization that comes with its roasting process, leaving behind a pleasant earthy flavor.

For first time users, they should always have it at the back of their mind that the dark color that comes with beets holds the capability to completely change the color of the dish, meaning they should be mindful about the right proportion of it to make use of.

However, to be on the safer side, you can simply go for the golden beet variety over their red or purple counterparts since they hold lesser chances of impacting the look and color of your dish.

5. Celery

Celery is the closest to carrots in terms of similarities, making it one of the reliable substitutes to stick with. Interestingly enough, there are even some rare instances where people choose to combine them both; carrots and celery.

Celery as a substitute for carrots is mostly used for classical French recipes that are commonly made with lightly sautéed carrots, onions, and celery, whose emphasis is being laid on hére.

Generally, celery can always be substituted for carrots when it comes to snacking on raw, as well as mayo-based deli-style salads, a la potato, chicken, or macaroni.

Also read, 14 Best Substitutes For Parsnips In Soup

6. Daikon

Daikon as a substitute for carrots is one that isn’t considered an ideal replacement because of the similarities they both share, but rather the flavor difference, which adds a twist to your dishes on a positive note.

Generally, daikon is known to share a similar texture with the carrots, as well as the same cooking time. However, you must have it at the back of your mind that while carrots are known for their sweet flavor, daikon are known for their peppery flavors between the two

7. Water Chestnuts

Water chestnuts might not actually be the popular choice of a substitute for carrots out there, but on days when the other aforementioned substitutes are just not available at your disposal, you can always trust them to come to your rescue and save your cooking.

Whether you crave something with a crunchy texture, with a mild flavor yet sweet taste, the water chestnuts have got you covered in all of those aspects, one which you can always have sliced up and cooked into stir-fries.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is nothing to be scared of experimenting with any one of the aforementioned substitutes for carrots, with each and every single one of these substitutes bringing their own mix of flavors of veggies, herbs, and spices, including onion, rosemary, cinnamon, paprika, or cumin, offering you the chance of regularly switching in between recipes.