Chef John's Bourbon-Glazed Carrots

Ingredients

• 0.5 cups butter
• 2 pounds carrots , peeled, cut into equal-sized pieces
• 0.5 teaspoons salt , or more to taste
• 0.5 cups bourbon whiskey
• 0.33 cups brown sugar
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper , or to taste
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until foaming. Add carrots and salt; cook and stir in hot butter until liquid evaporates and carrots begin to brown around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes.

2. 2

   Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in bourbon carefully. Cook and stir until bourbon is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in brown sugar; cook and stir until carrots are almost cooked through, about 5 minutes more.

3. 3

   Increase heat to medium-high and cook until glaze thickens, 15 to 30 seconds. Season with ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Transfer carrots to a serving dish and garnish with thyme leaves.