Carrot salad

Carrot salad

15 min
Carrot salad is a true classic and nearly every family has their own beloved version. In our rendition, the dish is made with raisins, apples, parsley, and, of course, carrots. The dressing is simply freshly squeezed orange juice seasoned with a little salt and pepper, making the popular side dish incredibly easy to make. It pairs nicely with many other dishes and is sure to be a winner for children and adults alike.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/carrot-salad/

Instructions

  • Mix orange juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
  • Coat the apples with the dressing and add carrots, raisins, and half of the parsley.
  • Garnish with the remaining parsley.
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Enjoy!
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.

What is carrot salad?
Carrot salad is a side dish made with fresh carrots that are typically shredded or thinly sliced. They are usually mixed with other ingredients such as herbs, dried and fresh fruits, or a dressing made with oil and vinegar or fresh fruit juice. It can be served cold or at room temperature, and it is a refreshing dish that can be customised to your taste. It is easy to make and can be a great way to incorporate great summer produce into your meals when it is in season.
How to make carrot salad?
Vibrant side dishes are an important part of any meal and a fresh, crunchy carrot salad with raisins, apples, and parsley makes for a wonderful summer side to enjoy when you are grilling in the backyard. To get started, prepare the dressing by mixing freshly squeezed orange juice with salt and pepper. Use it to coat first the apple cubes then the shredded carrots, raisins, and half the parsley. Mix the ingredients well and garnish with the remaining herbs for a finishing touch. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
What to serve with carrot salad?
Consider serving it with grilled chicken or fish for a light and fresh summer meal. Roasted vegetables such as sweet potatoes, beets, or Brussels sprouts are also great matches as they will complement the sweet, earthy flavour of the carrots. Serving it with or adding a grain like quinoa or couscous can make the dish more filling and provide some additional texture. Finally, crusty bread is also a good accompaniment.
When to eat raw carrot salad?
Raw carrot salad is great for lunch as well as dinner. If you make a big serving, it can easily do for lunch. Add, for example, raisins, pineapple, or bulgur to make it more filling. A smaller serving is a good side for dinner. It goes well with, for example, meat or fish or baked root vegetables. The perfect time of year to enjoy this classic dish is summertime. In the summer months gardens as well as local shops, are bursting with sun-ripened, flavourful summer produce with which to make delicious salads. Try making a homemade salad with carrots in summer for a flavour-packed side dish bursting with freshness.

Ingredients

Freshly squeezed orange juice
3 tbsp
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Pepper (to taste)
Red apple, diced (approx. 125 g)
1
Carrots, coarsely shredded (approx. 450 g)
6
Raisins
100 g
Flat-leaf parsley (cut up into shreds)
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.