Carrot salad
Tips
When making your homemade apple carrot salad, make sure to coat the surface of the apples well, with the freshly squeezed orange juice. This will prevent the pieces from turning brown and help them keep their crispness. When apples are cut or peeled, an enzyme in the fruit reacts with oxygen in the air, causing the flesh to turn brown. This process is called oxidation and is a natural chemical reaction that occurs in many fruits and vegetables.
Tips
Lemon juice or vinegar can have the same effect as orange juice due to their acidity. However, the flavour profile will be different, so using orange juice is a good way to add freshness as well as complement the sweetness of the carrots, red apples, and raisins.
Tips
Leftovers are perfect for lunch the next day whether you are staying at home or need a packed lunch for school or work.
Questions about carrot salad
With an easy recipe for carrot salad with raisins, making a crunchy and colourful salad takes almost no time. To learn more, read our answers to the most frequently asked questions here below.
Ingredients
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Freshly squeezed orange juice
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3 tbsp |
|---|---|
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Coarse salt
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½ tsp |
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Pepper (to taste)
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|
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Red apple, diced (approx. 125 g)
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1 |
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Carrots, coarsely shredded (approx. 450 g)
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6 |
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Raisins
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100 g |
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Flat-leaf parsley (cut up into shreds)
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2 dl |
Try our easy recipe for carrot salad
Considering how quick and simple it is to make a raisin carrot salad at home, there is no reason not to give it a go. Raw carrots have a great crunch and a slightly sweet flavour. They pair nicely with apples and raisins as the combination can create a sweet-tart and tangy contrast to the earthy flavour of the carrots. In addition, chopped apples add more of the crunchy texture for which the dish is known, while the raisins add a nice chewy contrast.
Tossed with a simple dressing consisting of seasoned orange juice, the dish is quite refreshing. The freshly squeezed orange juice is vibrant and zesty. It provides the salad with a wonderful brightness that is perfect for the hot summer months.
Serve a refreshing raw carrot salad for lunch or dinner
Packed with crunch, this carrot salad with raisins is great for both dinner and lunch. It is filling, without being heavy, and pairs nicely with a lot of different types of meat, seafood, and grains such as quinoa or farro if you are looking to turn it into a heartier meal. Its freshness and lightness make it a great dish for summer.
On its own, it makes for a good snack, and it is also great for packed lunches. Just make sure to pack it in a container with a tight-fitting lid, so the crispness of the fresh produce is preserved for your enjoyment. All in all, it is a simple and quick dish to prepare, and the bright orange colour adds a vibrant touch to any meal.
Experiment with different variations
Mixing up a classic carrot salad is a great way to keep your cooking fun and the eating experience interesting. There are many popular versions of the dish around the world, so why not find some inspiration in some of the most used ones?
Remember that you can always mix and match ideas and ingredients to create the perfect version for you and yours.
French carrot salad
French carrot salad, also known as carottes râpées, is a popular side dish in French cuisine. It typically consists of grated or shredded carrots that are dressed with a simple vinaigrette dressing.
If you want to add a French twist to your carrot salad, try adding a vinaigrette made of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. This vinaigrette is what makes it a French carrot salad.
Moroccan carrot salad
The flavours of the Moroccan carrot salad are bold and complex, with the sweet and earthy flavour of the carrots being complemented by savoury spices.
Add a Moroccan touch to your own carrot salad by boiling or steaming the carrots until they are tender, then allowing them to cool before you mix them with the other ingredients. You can also find inspiration in the savoury spices and make a dressing with olive oil and lemon juice mixed with garlic, cumin, paprika, and fresh coriander.
Carrot salad with pineapple
A popular choice that is also very summery is to make a carrot salad with pineapple. Bite-sized pieces of pineapple mixed with shredded carrots have a sweet and tropical taste with a slightly tangy and acidic flavour. To enhance this flavour, it can be tossed with pineapple juice as opposed to orange juice. Either way, a pineapple carrot salad has a distinctly exotic feel that makes it an interesting take on the traditional recipe.
Cucumber carrot salad
Adding cucumber makes it particularly thirst-quenching and thus perfect for the summertime. If you have a spiraliser attachment to one of your kitchen tools, you can use it to turn the vegetables into noodle-like strings that are sure to be a hit with the children in your life.
Try using different nuts and dressings
A good way to make this recipe your own is to play with the textures. Adding crunchy nuts or seeds such as toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds can add a nice contrast to the softness of the shredded carrots.
You can also use different dressings. The dressing can change the overall flavour profile entirely. You can use a classic vinaigrette, a creamy dressing like ranch or Caesar, or experiment with bright Asian-inspired flavours such as lime or ginger. Use different herbs to pair with your dressings of choice, for example, opting for coriander to go with an Asian vibe or chives to freshen the richness of creamier dressings like ranch.
Are you looking for other great summer recipes? Look no further than our recipes for grilled corn on the cob, tzatziki or cheese tartlets. You might also want to try a summery dessert, for example, rhubarb crumble or blueberry muffins.
