I feel like there are always certain movie scenes that always resonate with a target audience, and one of mine is from the Whit Stillman movie Metropolitan. The film follows a group of Upper East Siders during their Christmas break, a full two decades before Gossip Girl took the stage.
In the movie, one of the characters eventually tires of the antics of his friends and peaces out to his parents' house in Connecticut. He heads down to Grand Central Station, still clad in his well-tailored tux, and waves goodbye from the platform before boarding his train and high-tailing it out of the Big Apple.
I don't want to be overly dramatic and say that was my young adulthood, but it sort of was. And in that vein, I became an expert at figuring out the best eats in Grand Central.
The Eli's stand in the Grand Central Market was always a stop, and was the first place where I saw spiced carrots topped with a dollop of greek yogurt. It's a winning combination, and since become of my favorites. It's perfect for fall nights where you want cozy food with a hint of tangy richness.
SPICED CARROTS WITH GREEK YOGURT
Servings: 6 people
Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
2 lbs carrots
2/3 cup plain greek yogurt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds
1/2 tbsp anise seeds
1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
1/2 tbsp cumin seeds
1/2 tbsp fennel seeds
1/2 tbsp smoked paprika
1/2 tbsp kosher salt -- use less if using table salt!
1/2 tsp celery seeds
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper or silicone mat;
Peel the carrots and cut them to size;
Toss the carrots with oil and the combination of spices;
Pour the carrots onto the baking sheet, spreading them out into a single layer;
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of your carrots. They will be done when they can be easily pierced with a fork;
Take out the carrots, plate them, and top with a tablespoon or two of greek yogurt;
7.) Enjoy!
