Carrot Spread (Ikra) for Winter

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Gather the ingredients for the carrot spread. It's best to make this at harvest time, when the carrots are young and juicy — carrot ikra from fresh carrots comes out very tasty and tender.

2. Step 2:

   

   Wash and peel the carrots — if they're young, you can just scrub them with a stiff brush under running water instead of peeling. Cut the carrots into large pieces and grind them in a food processor or blender. If you don't have one, a regular meat grinder works. Put the prepared carrots in a heavy-bottomed pot or sauté pan.

3. Step 3:

   

   Wash the tomatoes, cut out the stem ends, and cut them into a few pieces. If the tomato skins are tough, you can remove them by pouring boiling water over the tomatoes and then dropping them into cold water.

4. Step 4:

   

   Peel the garlic cloves and cut them into large pieces.

5. Step 5:

   

   You can grind the garlic and tomatoes right along with the carrots in the food processor.

6. Step 6:

   

   Add the prepared garlic and tomatoes to the sauté pan with the carrots. Stir in the salt, sugar, and vegetable oil, then set it over the heat. Once the mixture boils, lower the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Be sure to stir it now and then so it doesn't scorch on the bottom.

7. Step 7:

   

   Then pour in the vinegar, stir, and simmer over low heat for another 10 minutes. The carrot spread is ready.

8. Step 8:

   

   Prepare your jars ahead of time. Small jars are best for carrot ikra, so it won't sit around too long once opened. Wash the jars with baking soda and sterilize them by whatever method you prefer. The easiest is in the oven: set the wet jars neck-down on the rack of a cold oven, turn it to 300°F (150°C), and sterilize half-liter (1-pint) jars for about 15 minutes. Boil the lids and let them dry.

9. Step 9:

   

   Pack the carrot spread into the prepared jars, filling them firmly up to the shoulder. Seal them and let them cool at room temperature, upside down under a warm blanket. Store the carrot spread in a cool pantry.

10. Step 10:

    

    Enjoy!