Most carrot salads use only carrots and are served as a side dish. This fresh carrot salad is much more by using raisins, cranberries, nuts, and a honey-lemon vinaigrette that keeps it refreshing, light, and tastes great.
Table of Content
I cannot emphasize enough how easy and simple it is to make this salad. It takes less than 5 minutes to grate the carrots which is a wonderful and unique texture for a salad and another two minutes to make the salad dressing. The best part is, it tastes delicious can be made with many variations from pineapple to apples.
Why make this salad
- Along with being packed with vitamins and antioxidants, this carrot salad is a good source of dietary fiber and has no added fat.
- This grated carrot salad is a tasty treat for anyone who is a fan of carrots nad looking for something light and quick.
- There is no much chopping of veggies. In fact, I have used a box grater but you can use the food processor to make shredded carrots.
- This is an everyday salad that gets ready in just a few minutes.
- This is a French carrot salad with a simple honey vinaigrette dressing. But you can also a Moroccan twist with cumin powder and ground ginger to this salad.
- It works perfectly as a side dish to any main course be it fish, chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, or pork.
- The best thing about this salad is that you can make it ahead of time and chill in the fridge. Make-ahead means the carrots absorb so much more flavo and takes the raw bite out of the carrots.
- It is also a very versatile recipe and you can add or substract your favorite such as diced pineapple, apples, along with the grated carrots.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Carrots - The carrots, of course, are the stars of the show so buy juicy tender fresh carrots. The smaller ones are sweeter than the large carrots. Also frozen carrots are not the best candidate for this salad as the frozen tend to hold on to moisture and create mushy texture
- Raisins and Cranberries - dried cranberries and raisins are my choice but go ahead and change them to something you like. Try chopping some apricots, figs or even black currants.
- Nuts - I'm using pecans today but walnuts make a great choice too.
- Sweetness - for the dressing you can use honey or brown sugar
- Acid - I like to use fresh lemon juice, lime juice or apple cider vinegar for this salad.
- Optional ingredients
- Cumin - if you like the smokey flavor of cumin add ¼ teaspoon of cumin powder to the salad dressing.
- Mayo - while I think the honey lemon is a wonderful dressing, you can subsitute some of the olive oil for mayonnaise to give this salad a creamy texture.
- Dijon mustard - perfect if you like a bit of zing to your salad. Just ¼ teaspoon in the dressing would be lovely.
- Fresh parsley - you can add chopped fresh parsley or cilantro to the grated carrots as well.
French Carrot Salad Recipe
- Fruits - In a medium bowl combine the raisins and cranberries. Pour one cup of hot water over them. Leave to soften for 10 minutes then drain well and set aside.
- Dressing - In a small bowl or mason jar combine the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, and cumin powder. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Close the lid and give the jar a good shake. Or use a whisk to ensure everything is well combined.
- In a large bowl, add the grated carrots, parsley, sliced onions, followed by the drained cranberries, raisins, and nuts. Pour the salad dressing. Toss well to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Pro tip - I grated the carrots using the large side of the box grater but you can also use the food processor to make shredded carrots - Combine well. Enjoy!
Variations
- Moroccan carrot salad - if you like the smokey flavor of spices in your salad, add ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, along with the cumin power to the salad dressing.
- Orange carrot salad - subsitute half the lemon juice in the recipe with orange juice.
- Creamy carrot salad - add ¼ cup of mayonnaise, sour cream, or Greek yogurt to make a cremier salad dressing. A little dijon mustard is a great addition too.
More salad recipes
- Easy Beet Salad
- Cherry Tomato Salad, Tomato Mozzarella Salad
- Avocado Salad
- Chickpeas Salad
- Easy Celery Salad, Easy Cabbage Salad
- Carrot Zucchini Fritters
- Oven-Baked Carrot Sticks
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Printable Recipe
Fresh Carrot Salad
Print Pin Rate Share by Email Share on FB Save GrowCalories: 144kcal
Adjust Servings Here: 4 Servings
Description
Most carrot salads use only carrots and are served as a side dish. This fresh carrot salad is much more by using raisins, cranberries, nuts, and a honey-lemon vinaigrette that keeps it refreshing, light, and tastes great
Video
Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 lb (450 g) Large carrots (grated or shredded)
- ½ cup Spanish red onions (thinly sliced)
- ¼ cup Parsley
- ½ cup (50 g) Cranberries
- ½ cup (70 g) Raisins
- ½ cup (60 g) Pecans or walnuts (chopped coarsely)
Dressing
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- ¼ cup Lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon Honey (or sugar)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Cumin powder ((optional) )
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Fruits - In a medium bowl combine the raisins and cranberries. Pour one cup of hot water over them. Leave to soften for 10 minutes then drain well and set aside.
- Dressing - In a small bowl or mason jar combine the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, dijon mustard, and cumin powder. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Close the lid and give the jar a good shake. Or use a whisk to ensure everything is well combined.
- In a large bowl, add the grated carrots, parsley, sliced onions, followed by the drained cranberries, raisins, and nuts. Pour the salad dressing. Toss well to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pro tip - I grated the carrots using the large side of the box grater but you can also use the food processor to make shredded carrots
- Combine well. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving: 100- gCalories: 144- kcalCarbohydrates: 17.9- gProtein: 1.9- gFat: 8.3- gSaturated Fat: 1- gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7.3- gMonounsaturated Fat: 0- gTrans Fat: 0- gCholesterol: 0- mgSodium: 94- mgPotassium: 0- mgFiber: 3- gSugar: 11- gVitamin A: 0- IUVitamin C: 0- mgCalcium: 0- mgIron: 0- mg
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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Tara
Yum! This would be a great way to use some of my leftover carrots. The texture sounds incredible with the raisins, cranberries, and nuts mixed in.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Tara. Definitely great way to use up left over carrots.