Looking for a list of vegetables like carrots? You’ve come to the right place!
Carrots have a wonderful texture, they add crunch and nutrition to any dish, there are also many vegetables like carrots that can be used interchangeably. While you may be looking for something that has that same crunch, but want to try out different flavors, carrot replacements can be a simple find.
Vegetables Like Carrots That You Can Substitute
Daikon Raddish
The daikon radish is similar in size and shape to the carrot. Stemming from the root family of vegetables, it is a long, white variant from the radish family. Diakon radish provides a very crisp, sweet, and slightly peppery taste. Daikon can be used in a large variety of cooking methods including (but not limited to) raw, cooked, deep-fried, and pickled. Daikon radishes are also often seen in garnishes.
Like many root vegetables, daikon radishes do the best when planted in the summer with a plan to harvest them in the late winter. Because of their similarities, daikon radishes make great carrot substitutes.
Parsnips
Parsnips are another vegetable that is similar to carrots. The long, white, root vegetable resembles a carrot in appearance and in texture. Parsnips provide an earthy flavor – almost similar to a mix between a carrot and a potato. When cooked, parsnips tend to have a texture that is similar to that of a cooked carrot.
When growing parsnips, the ideal timing is not unlike a carrot’s ideal growing period. Parsnips should be panted between the months of April and June. Parsnips are a biennial root vegetable that has high endurance.
Water Chestnuts
While not a root vegetable, water chestnuts are a great substitute for carrots. Water chestnuts are an aquatic tuber vegetable that typically grows in wet fields in Asia. Where water chestnuts are similar to carrots, is in their texture. When looking for a substitute – water chestnuts can provide the same crunch that a carrot would, but with a different flavor. A water chestnut has a sweet and almost nutty flavor.
Squash
When thinking of a similar vegetable to carrots, squash is often not the first thing to come to mind. However, squash provides great texture and the slightly sweet flavor is similar to that of a carrot.
Planting squash can be a rewarding venture. Best planted in late spring, a squash plant can yield a good harvest throughout the next few months.
Zucchini
Similar to the idea of squash, zucchini is another vegetable that you may not think of as a substitution for carrots. When using zucchini as a substitution for carrots, it can provide great texture, both raw and cooked, and can be used in a number of different dishes.
Like squash, zucchini is best planted in late spring. This gives it the ideal temperatures to take root and flourish. Most zucchini plants will yield two harvests a year.
Beets
Beets are a root vegetable that grows in a similar fashion to that of a carrot. They can be planted in partial shade and form deep below the surface. Betts, like carrots, have a crunchy texture when uncooked and a soft texture when used in roasting or boiling. They have a taste that is similar to a carrot but with a more pronounced earthy flavor.
When planting beets, they are similar to carrots as they do best in nitrate-free soil that is free of debris. Beets grow between 6 and 8 weeks.
Cucumbers
With use in raw foods, cucumbers can be a great substitute for carrots. Similar in shape and texture, cucumbers can be used as a substitute for all types of carrots when consumed raw.
Cucumbers are a vegetable that needs more care than a carrot. It has a longer growing season, which means that typically you will not yield a harvest from anywhere from 45 to 80 days from the time of planting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a carrot a root vegetable?
When it comes to carrots, they are one of the most well-known root vegetables. The most commonly recognized as being orange vegetables with the green leafy stem that peeks above the soil. Carrots, however, come in many different colors, including purple, black, red, white, and yellow.
The reason that carrots are considered a root vegetable is that they grow beneath the soil. This means that the majority of the nutrients it takes for them to grow are directly absorbed from the soil.
To have carrots flourish, they need to be planted in a nutrient-rich mixture that includes both clay and sand. This ensures that they absorb the right minerals to grow. When root vegetables are planted in soil that has high nitrogen levels, the end result is a vegetable that ‘forks’, growing side roots in different directions.
What can I use instead of carrots for coleslaw?
Daikon radish makes a great substitute for carrots in coleslaw. With its similar texture, it provides a hearty, crunchy texture. Where the Daikon radish differs from the carrot is that it provides a mild peppery flavor.
Can I substitute carrots for baby carrots?
While it is often thought that carrots and baby carrots differ in level of sweetness and texture, baby carrots are in fact larger carrots that have been cut down in the factory. While the packaging makes them have a higher level of moisture, they have the same taste. Using carrots in lew of baby carrots will have the same flavor and desired texture.
What other vegetables are root vegetables?
Some of the most popular root vegetables are onions, potatoes, turnips and beets. Some vegetables that may surprise you as being root vegetables are vegetables such as garlic, fennel, and celery.
Root vegetables are any vegetables that grow for an extended period underground. They provide many different nutrients and have an extended harvest rate.
Health with a Crunch
Carrots and other root vegetables make an excellent addition to any dish. With crisp textures and bountiful nutrients, they offer healthy options that can be used in many different ways.
Root vegetables are some of the best vegetables to consume to add fiber and antioxidants to any diet. These vegetables are low in calories, fat, and antioxidants – they are also packed with flavor. Root vegetables like carrots also have the added benefit of providing carotenoids. Carotenoids are a naturally occurring booster found in vegetables that has been seen to decrease the risk of certain cancers and also provide protection for your eyes.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
