Carrots With Fennel and Pecans

Ingredients

• 2 cups carrots, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon toasted ground fennel
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot
• 1 dash salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons lightly toasted chopped pecans

Directions

1. 1

   Steam or blanch carrots until tender-crisp. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water or use fresh water.

2. 2

   Combine fennel seeds, maple syrup, 1 tablespoon cold water and arrowroot. Mix in with carrots and cooking water.

3. 3

   Gently heat, stirring until mixture thickens and carrots are fork-tender. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with pecans.

4. 4

   * To toast fennel seeds, heat a skillet over medium heat, then add seeds and toast until fragrant. Use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to crush the fennel seeds.