When the making of a holiday meal has claimed every inch of conventional oven space (and possibly even stove-top burners), you may be scrambling to find ways to prepare side dishes.

This simple, salty-sweet recipe for Salted Honey Butter Brussels Sprouts and Carrots can be prepared in the microwave, free up the precious oven space for a big turkey or roast . . .and pie!   Read on to get this easy microwave vegetable recipe:

Love me some Brussels sprouts, it’s so funny how evil they seemed when we were kids.  These cruciferous little “cabbages” are dressed up with baby carrots and a quick coating of honey, butter, and salt. If you don’t have mini or baby carrots on hand, feel free to cut larger carrots into approximate 1 to 2-inch hunks.

The trick with microwaving vegetables, in my opinion is to avoid overdoing it and letting them steam too much – better to err on the side of under-cooked that overcooked (because you can always stick them back in for 30-second increments, right?!) Also, contrary to popular opinion, microwaving vegetables doesn’t zap out their nutritional benefits – in fact, so food scientist say that microwaving is a great way to retain vitamins and antioxidants while cooking vegetables because they are not exposed to as high of heat or much water.  There are some exceptions though, like broccoli. 

Salted Honey Butter Brussels Sprouts and Carrots make a quick and healthy microwave side dish for your holiday meal — so lovely paired with a turkey or beef roast. Also a yummy microwave vegetable recipe for fish or steak . . . . like this jaw-dropping Tomahawk steak.

If you need heartier side dish that can be done in the microwave, my Microwave Lemony Risotto with Asparagus is SO EASY, it takes about 30 minutes, but there is not the constant stirring required from the traditional cooking method for risotto — yet it is still rich, creamy and delicious!

Print

Salted Honey Butter Brussels Sprouts & Carrots

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

 

This microwave side dish is perfect to pair with a holiday roast or turkey -- it requires no use of the conventional oven (which may be in high demand!) and comes together in just 10 minutes, prep to plate.

Course: side, Side Dish, Vegetable

Keyword: brussels sprouts, carrots, honey, paleo

Servings: 6 peopl

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons butter softened
• 1 tablespoon water
• ¾ pound Brussels sprouts trimmed
• ¾ pound baby carrots or larger carrots trimmed into 1 1/2” hunks
• 1 ½ teaspoons coarse sea salt
• Garnish chopped fresh parsley or thyme, if desired.

Instructions

1. In small bowl, mix together softened butter and honey until combined. Set aside.
2. Place the brussels sprouts and carrots in a 1-1/2-qt. microwave-safe dish; add water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and microwave on high for about 5 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until tender. Drain.
3. Add honey butter mixture to vegetables and stir gently until melted and coated evenly. Sprinkle with salt. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm.