Carrot Garnishes

Colorful carrots, crunchy peppers, and rotund radishes are just a few of the versatile vegetables that lend themselves to the art of food presentation.

Here are instructions for a garden's worth of garnishes that will make your reputation as a creative cook really grow. We'll talk about the different carrot garnishes.

Carrot Curls

Perk up a bowl of rice pilaf by trimming it with several carrot curls.
Turn an ordinary club sandwich into a company combo by spearing it with a small wooden skewer laced with a carrot curl.

One of the best ways to add color to broth-based soups is to float a carrot curl in each serving.

To make carrot curl garnishes:
  1. Peel carrot with vegetable peeler; place on cutting board. Cut off ends with paring knife; discard tops.

    Cut off ends of carrot with paring knife.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut off ends of carrot with paring knife.
  2. Cut paper-thin lengthwise strips from carrot with vegetable peeler.

    Cut paper-thin strips when making carrot curl garnishes.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut paper-thin strips.
  3. Roll up strips into curls; secure with wooden toothpicks. Place carrot curls in ice water to chill thoroughly. Remove from water; drain well.

    Roll up strips into curls.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Roll up strips into curls.
  4. Carefully remove toothpicks before using.

  5. Garnish as desired.
    Garnish with Carrot Curls.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Garnish with Carrot Curls.
Carrot Flowers

Coax the children into eating their carrots by cutting the carrots into flowers. You can even make their favorite flower, such as black-eyed Susans or daisies.

To make carrot black-eyed Susan flower garnishes:
  1. Peel carrot with vegetable peeler; place on cutting board. Cut off ends with paring knife; discard ends. Cut carrot in half crosswise.
    Cut carrot in half crosswise.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut carrot in half crosswise.
  2. Cut out a thin, shallow lengthwise wedge from side of carrot. Lift out wedge with tip of knife; discard wedge.

    Lift out carrot wedge with tip of knife.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Lift out carrot wedge with tip of knife.
  3. Give carrot a quarter turn. Cut out another wedge, as directed in step one. Repeat, turning and cutting two more times.

  4. Cut carrot halves crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices.

    Cut carrot halves crosswise.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut carrot halves crosswise.
  5. Sprinkle chopped capers or caviar onto center of each carrot flower. Use chives or thin strips of green onion tops for stems and cilantro or parsley sprigs for leaves.

  6. Garnish as desired.
    Garnish with Black-Eyed Susan Flowers.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Garnish with Black-Eyed Susan Flowers.

To make carrot daisy garnishes:
  1. Peel carrot with vegetable peeler; place on cutting board. Cut off ends with paring knife; discard ends, as pictured above. Cut carrot into 1/2-inch-long pieces.

  2. For each flower, set one carrot piece upright on board. Place the apple cutter/corer directly over the center of the carrot piece. Press down firmly and evenly, stopping about 1/2 inch from bottom.

    Press down firmly and evenly.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Press down firmly and evenly.
  3. Push down on the carrot piece with your thumbs as you remove apple cutter/corer.

  4. Carefully cut out center core of carrot at the base with tip of paring knife. Fill center of each flower with a black olive.

    Cut out carrot core with a paring knife when making carrot flower garnishes.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut out carrot core with a paring knife.
  5. Garnish as desired.
    Garnish with Carrot Daisies.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Garnish with Carrot Daisies.
Carrot Stars

Create colorful canapes by spreading cracker or party rye bread slices with your favorite cheese spread. Top with carrot stars.

To make carrot star garnishes:
  1. Peel carrot with vegetable peeler; place on cutting board. Cut the carrot with a paring knife at the spot where carrot begins to have a diameter of less than 1/2 inch. Discard thin end. Cut off stem end of carrot and discard.

  2. Stand carrot on wide flat end. Cut a thin lengthwise slice from one side of carrot piece.

    Cut a thin slice lengthwise.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut a thin slice lengthwise.
  3. Repeat four more times, turning carrot slightly after each cut, to make a pentagon shape with five equal sides.

    Repeat four more times.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Repeat four more times.
  4. Cut a groove in center of each flat side using citrus stripper or tip of vegetable peeler. Cut carrot crosswise into thin slices with paring knife to form stars.

    Cut carrot with a paring knife to form stars.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut a groove in the center of carrot.
  5. Garnish as desired.

    Garnish with Carrot Stars.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Garnish with Carrot Stars.