Carrot casserole is a delicious traditional preparation with its roots in the home cooking of several Latin American countries, especially popular during celebrations and holidays. This dish, whose name may vary depending on the country, is sometimes simply called "vegetable casserole" or is adapted with the main ingredient, such as "carrot casserole." In countries like Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, "cazuela" is a broad term for stews or baked preparations, while in other parts of Latin America, like Chile or Argentina, it may refer to stews; however, this specific version with carrots has become a symbol of a side dish at family gatherings and parties, where a dish that combines sweet, creamy, and crunchy elements is sought. The incorporation of cheddar cheese and mayonnaise gives it a characteristic creamy touch, while the topping of buttery saltine crackers provides texture and contrast, making this dish a comforting and festive option.
Carrot casserole for the holidays
How to Prepare Carrot Casserole for the Holidays
To begin, cook the sliced carrots along with the onion in a small amount of water until tender and then drain them well to remove excess liquid.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked carrots and onion with the shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste, making sure to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Pour the mixture into a previously greased 9x13x2-inch baking dish, spreading everything evenly so it cooks and browns uniformly.
Cover the preparation with buttery saltine cracker crumbs, which will provide a crunchy texture and a slightly salty touch that contrasts with the sweetness of the carrots.
Finally, bake the casserole at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 20 to 25 minutes or until it is very hot and the cheese has completely melted, ready to enjoy at your holiday gatherings.
Ingredients (8)
- Carrots
- Onion
- Cheddar Cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Buttery Cracker
Instructions (11 steps)
- 1 Cook sliced carrots and onion together in a small amount of water
- 2 drain
- 3 Mix carrots and onion
- 4 cheese
- 5 mayonnaise
- 6 sugar
- 7 salt
- 8 and pepper together
- 9 Pour into a greased 9x13x2-inch baking dish
- 10 Cover with cracker crumbs
- 11 Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and the cheese has melted