For too long we’ve seen carrots as bland or (gasp!) as a mere topping for salads! Carrots deserve their turn in the limelight! That’s why the Cheesy Carrot Bake exists: it loads up the tender slices of bright and colorful carrots with a creamy, cheesy sauce. And on top are crunchy breadcrumbs, basically the ball gown of the culinary world. Cheesy Carrot Bake will certainly be crowned the belle of the ball at your table!
Ingredients
For the bake:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more, to taste, for greasing the dish
- 1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and thinly cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- ground mustard, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
For the topping:
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs, soft
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 1 1/2-2-quart baking dish with the extra butter.
Step 3 –Combine the sliced carrots, the water, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Step 4 –Cover the saucepan and reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 5 –Simmer until the carrots are tender, about 20 minutes.
Step 6 –Drain the carrots well.
Step 7 –In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter.
Step 8 –Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook, stirring, until bubbly and smooth, about 2 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the milk and stir constantly until the sauce has thickened.
Step 10 –Add the shredded cheddar cheese and the ground mustard.
Step 11 –Season the sauce mixture with the extra salt and the pepper.
Step 12 –Gently combine the sauce with the carrots.
Step 13 –Spoon the carrot mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 14 –In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs with the melted butter.
Step 15 –Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the carrot mixture.
Step 16 –Bake until the mixture is bubbly and the topping is lightly browned, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 17 –Optionally, turn the oven setting to broil for 1-2 minutes to brown the topping more.
Step 18 –Serve.
