Sweet and crunchy, carrots have been an important part of vegetarian diets. Carrots are basically root vegetables belonging to the Apeaceae or Umbelliferrous family which also includes parsley, parsnip, dill, cumin etc. A carrot plant has green lacy leaves and a long slender orange root that is edible. Baby carrots are tender but they are less flavourful because of their immaturity. These vegetables are believed to have originated about 5000 years ago. In fact, you will be surprised to know that formerly carrots were red, black, yellow, white and mostly purple in colour but not orange. They were first cultivated in Afghanistan and had purple exteriors with yellow flesh. Bright orange carrots were developed by the Dutch in the middle ages and today they are the most common ones. Besides their delicious flavour, carrots contain high amounts of beta carotene and other health-benefitting compounds such as Vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots offer s...