rainbow carrots Archives - Taste With The Eyes

Baran’s 2239 ~ Rainbow Carrots with Hazelnut Truffle Aillade, Carrot Caramel, Hollandaise

Baran's 2239 ~ Rainbow Carrots with Hazelnut Truffle Aillade, Carrot Caramel, Hollandaise

Baran’s 2239 Baby Rainbow Carrots
Hazelnut Truffle Aillade, Carrot Caramel,
Browned Butter Hollandaise

Leave it to Chef Tyler Gugliotta of Baran’s 2239 to take the humble carrot and turn it into a root vegetable fantasyland. Visually stunning, the colorful carrot-garden-in-a-bowl has three wildly distinctive sauces: a heady hazelnut truffle aillade, a sweet and earthy carrot caramel, and the rich silky hollandaise made with nutty browned butter.

Baran’s 2239 is arguably the hottest restaurant in the South Bay. The culinary collaboration by owners and brothers, Jonathan and Jason Baran and their friend Chef Tyler Gugliotta, opened earlier this year in Hermosa Beach, California.

“Fantastic pedigree in the kitchen.” -Los Angeles Magazine

“Progressive. Delicious. Unexpected.” -LA WEEKLY

“Best New South Bay Restaurant” -LA WEEKLY

“Atmosphere is casual, food is not.” -Los Angeles Times

#4 restaurant for “Best Overall” restaurants in Los Angeles -OpenTable

Jon Baran and I have been colleagues for several years and enjoy discussing recipes and esoteric ingredients…and it turns out that Tyler’s dad, Chef Greg Gugliotta and I worked together decades ago at Chez Melange. Small. World.

It has been my honor and pleasure to shoot Tyler’s food. His dishes are inspired, innovative, refreshingly original. Baran’s 2239 super-seasonal menu is fun and adventurous, this carrot dish is a perfect example. I loved this dish and asked if he would share…

Thank you for this wonderfully imaginative recipe, Chef!

Baby Rainbow Carrot Recipe
By Chef Tyler Gugliotta

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Spicy Rainbow Slaw

A Spicy Kaleidoscopic Slaw

Napa Cabbage, Purple Cabbage, Korean Pear, French Breakfast Radish
Pink Carrot, White Carrot, Orange Carrot, Purple Carrot
Red Fresno Chile, Serrano Chile, Cilantro, Scallion
Sesame Oil & Rice Wine Vinegar Dressing

A sharp knife and vegetable peeler are all it takes to make this kaleidoscopic summer slaw. As a twist on the ubiquitous Asian Slaw – Korean pear, French breakfast radish, serrano chile, and red Fresno chile are added for additional sweet, spicy, and crunchy notes. The result is a truly irresistible wild salad pleasing to the eye and palate. Add bay shrimp and peanuts to take this slaw from a side dish to a meal.

Spicy Rainbow Slaw Recipe

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Saffron Matzoh Balls

Saffron Matzoh Balls

Paella, Risotto alla Milanese, Bouillabaisse, Persian Pilafs, Indian Biryani dishes… make room! We can now add Matzoh Balls to the list of international foods flavored with that mysterious orange-hued spice with the bright exotic metallic flavor – SAFFRON.

Some chefs – including one of my favorites – Michel Richard, say that with saffron’s sweet power, the minute you can taste the saffron in the dish, then there is too much. I have to respectfully disagree with the Chef here, and wish I could make these Saffron Matzoh Balls for him. They are unique, intriguing, conjuring memories of foods from far away places…the saffron is assertive and compelling.

With Passover around the corner, I’m experimenting with different ways to prepare Matzoh Balls. I recently read about a recipe for Matzoh Balls Wrapped in Bacon which sounds oh so delicious but clearly, that one wouldn’t fly at our Seder…

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Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Miso Butter

Organic Rainbow Carrots

Roasted with Toasted Sesame Oil

Splash of Tamari

Miso Butter with Ginger and Garlic

Sesame Seed Garnish

Who could pass up these beauties at the market?

Looking for a holiday side dish? Something colorful, tasty, not too complicated, unique, not too rich, that complements a variety of foods? Try roasted rainbow carrots with miso butter!

Preheat oven to 350°. Peel the carrots. Toss lightly with toasted sesame oil. Roast on a sheet pan or oven-proof dish in a single layer. (I found it is best to roast the purple carrots in a separate pan to keep the color from bleeding onto the other carrots).

Miso butter:

1 stick softened butter (I used Challenge Butter)
2 – 3 T. white miso (depending on saltiness)
1 1/2 t. garlic minced
1 1/2 t. fresh ginger minced

Mix all ingredients in the small bowl of a food processor. You can make the miso butter ahead of time and keep it on hand. It is great on vegetables, fish, noodles, and oh, please try it on a grilled rib-eye steak!

Melt some of your miso butter in a saucepan.

When the carrots are al dente, after about 25 minutes or so, remove from oven, add a splash of low-sodium tamari. Arrange on a platter. Then drizzle with melted miso butter, and finish with a black and white sesame seed garnish. This side dish has the lovely depth of umami flavor yet is not too heavy.

A Chance To Win

Last month, the folks at Challenge Butter sent me an email: “We are running a sweepstakes for a chance to win a 7-day/6-night vacation to the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana. It’s sure to brighten some spirits!” The sweepstakes runs through December 31st.

I purchase Challenge butter all the time. Happy to endorse their excellent product.

Bonne chance mon ami!