Recipes with carrots

Cajun-style gumbo built on a dark red-brown roux with smoked sausage, lentils, carrots, celery, and a kick of cayenne. Thick, smoky, and protein-packed in 75 minutes.

Traditional lasagne from Bologna uses handmade egg pasta, a long-simmered pork Bolognese with white wine and cream, silky bechamel, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. No mozzarella, no ricotta, just the real deal.

Swiss Aargau carrot cake made with ground almonds, grated carrots, kirsch, and cornstarch instead of flour. Finished with apricot glaze, fondant icing, and marzipan carrots.

Carrot cake cupcakes with walnuts, chocolate chips, and warm spices, topped with cream cheese frosting. Orange juice in the batter adds a bright, unexpected twist.

Vegetarian barley and bean soup with kidney beans, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes in a basil-oregano broth. A filling one-pot meal packed with fiber and protein.

Sweet and spicy couscous salad tosses fluffy whole wheat couscous with crunchy steamed vegetables, fresh mint and almonds, all coated in a currant dressing brightened with orange, cinnamon and cayenne. Vegan and make-ahead.

Don't be alarmed by the name because this scrumptious dish is savory down to the last forkful.

Vegetable pasta sauce loaded with zucchini, mushrooms, carrot and a secret of blended chickpeas that add body and protein to a red-wine tomato base. A hearty, vegan sauce that eats like a meaty ragu.

Bubbie's chicken soup, the classic Jewish-style comfort bowl simmered from a whole chicken with onion, carrot, parsnip, and a generous bunch of dill. Golden, soul-warming, and it freezes beautifully.

Bacon and cheddar beer soup with sauteed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions, simmered in chicken broth with a can of bacon-cheddar cheese sauce, beer, paprika and a hint of liquid smoke. A hearty pub-style chowder.

Whole wheat carrot spice quickbread with orange zest, golden raisins, and walnuts. A lighter, warmly spiced loaf that comes together fast with no yeast required.

Cold seafood pasta salad with shrimp, tri-color spiral pasta, zucchini, carrots, and bell pepper tossed in a creamy white wine Worcestershire dressing.

Traditional Irish pot-roasted chicken stuffed with oatmeal, bacon, and onion, braised with carrots and potatoes in giblet stock. Country Sunday supper from the Emerald Isle that turns a whole bird into a one-pot feast.

Easy kielbasa bean soup uses condensed bean and bacon soup as a smart shortcut, simmered with smoky Polish sausage, potato, carrot, onion, and celery. A weeknight pantry-staple soup ready in 35 minutes.

Salmon pate made with poached fresh salmon and smoked salmon, blended with butter, dill, and sour cream. Sealed with clarified butter for an elegant make-ahead appetizer.

Before winter shows up on your front door, try this scrumptious macaroni salad that goes perfect with grilled salmon.