Copper Penny Carrots – CopyKat Recipes

February 27, 2025

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Rising up, summer time gatherings at my grandmother’s home all the time featured one dish that disappeared sooner than every other – her Copper Penny Carrots. The primary time I attempted them, I used to be skeptical a few chilly carrot salad, however that first tangy-sweet chew gained me over immediately. The carrots, burnished to a deep copper shade from the marinade, seemed like stacks of shiny pennies within the serving bowl. My grandmother would all the time make a double batch as a result of they’d vanish so shortly, and leftovers tasted even higher the following day. Now that I make them for my circle of relatives gatherings, I’ve found they’re not only a nostalgic consolation meals but additionally a powerful facet dish that all the time prompts requests for the recipe.

Overhead view of copper penny carrots in a serving dish.

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What Makes Copper Penny Carrots So Particular?

This retro basic stands aside from odd cooked carrots with its distinctive sweet-and-sour marinade. The mix of tomato soup, vinegar, and brown sugar creates a tangy dressing that transforms easy carrots into one thing extraordinary. The carrots take in the flavorful marinade whereas sustaining their nice crunch, creating an ideal stability of texture and style. This dish improves with time, making it an excellent make-ahead choice for busy hosts.

Elements You’ll Want

Carrots – Present the muse of the dish with their pure sweetness and vibrant shade
Onion – Provides a savory counterpoint and slight crunch to stability the carrots
Inexperienced bell pepper – Contributes contemporary, brilliant taste and textural distinction
Tomato soup – Kinds the bottom of the marinade with its wealthy, barely candy tomato taste
Brown sugar – Deepens the sweetness and helps create the caramelized taste
Vegetable oil – Helps carry flavors and creates a clean dressing texture
White vinegar – Supplies the tangy “bitter” element that balances the sweetness
Worcestershire sauce – Provides complexity with its savory, umami notes
Mustard – Contributes a delicate sharpness and helps emulsify the dressing
Celery seed – Presents a particular fragrant high quality that’s quintessential to the dish
Basil leaves – Present a contemporary, natural be aware that brightens the general taste
Salt and pepper – Improve and stability all the opposite flavors

Gear Wanted

Massive pot for boiling carrots
Colander for draining
Saucepan for the marinade
Massive mixing bowl or serving dish
Slicing board and knife
Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients for copper penny carrots on a tray.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Carrots:

In a pinch, you could possibly use frozen carrots as a substitute of contemporary carrots.
One other concept to chop prep time – buy crinkle-cut carrots out of your grocery’s produce part.
Use rainbow carrots for a very fairly look.

The sweeter the onions, the higher on this recipe. Search for Vidalia or Walla Walla onions in your grocery retailer.)

You may substitute apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for the plain white vinegar within the recipe.

Learn how to Make Copper Penny Carrots

This copper pennies recipe is very easy to make. Right here’s what you do:

Convey the sliced carrots to a boil for five minutes.

Add the onions and inexperienced peppers.

Sliced carrots and chopped vegetables in a pan.

Drain the greens and place them in a big bowl or serving dish.
Place tomato soup, sugar, oil, vinegar, celery seed, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and basil in a saucepan to make the marinade dressing.

Copper penny carrot salad dressing ingredients in a pan.

Warmth the dressing till it simply begins to boil. Stir nicely.
Pour the dressing over the drained greens.
Cowl and funky the carrot salad fully.
Chop the basil leaves and sprinkle them on prime simply previous to serving the chilly salad.

Variations to Attempt

Spicy Copper Pennies

Add 1/4 teaspoon pink pepper flakes or 1 tablespoon diced jalapeño to the marinade

Rainbow Copper Pennies

Use multi-colored carrots (purple, yellow, white) for a shocking presentation.
Add pink bell pepper for added shade distinction

Natural Copper Pennies

Add one teaspoon of contemporary thyme leaves together with the basil
Substitute contemporary dill for the basil for a special taste profile

What to Serve With Copper Penny Carrots

The vacations usually are not the identical with out copper pennies, however this dish is so scrumptious it’ll brighten up your meal any time of the 12 months. It makes the right accompaniment to any outside grilled or barbequed meat.

As an alternative of salad fashion, this dish can be tangy and scrumptious, served heat with steak. It additionally goes nicely with fried rooster, roast turkey, or pork chops.

Storage and Make-Forward Directions

Serving temperature: Finest served at room temperature, making it good for gatherings
Fridge storage: Maintain in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days
Freezer storage: Freeze in hermetic containers for as much as 6 months
Make forward: This dish really improves with time! Make 1-3 days earlier than serving

Love carrots? Make sure to strive these carrot recipes!

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