Raw Carrot Salad

This is our simple raw carrot salad recipe. You may have seen it on Tik Tok. It’s made with slices of carrots, fish sauce, rice vinegar, lime and maple syrup served as a delicious side dish. If you loved our Korean cucumber salad you’ll love this too.

Simple Carrot Salad

When it comes to salads, most people envision a medley of leafy greens or cabbage salad with shredded vegetables, and a tangy dressing. However, one salad that often gets overlooked but deserves the spotlight is the humble yet incredibly flavorful raw carrot salad. Packed with nutrients, bursting with color, and offering a satisfying crunch, this shaved vegetable salad is a refreshing addition to any meal or a vegetarian dish on its own.

The primary ingredient of regular or carrot salad and raisins, as the name suggests, is this orange vegetable. Widely known for their vibrant orange hue and exceptional nutritional value.

They are also an excellent source of beta carotene and antioxidants that helps maintain healthy vision, skin, and immune function. They can help support and improve gut health, which can indirectly aid hormonal balance too. Some swear by them being a great way to tame excess estrogen and/or consume as a weight-loss-friendly food.

You may have seen this carrot salad on Tik Tok like our Pizza Toast that reached over a million views and wanted to try it. Most of the items needed are already in your fridge which is nice, others are linked in the recipe card below so you can make it over and over again (I got you covered).

Ingredient Notes

This is based off of making it with 3 large carrots peeled. If you wanted to make a larger batch feel free, just multiply that to make more dressing too so each piece is nicely coated. You will create this shape with a regular peeler to remove the outer skin to throw away, then peel rest with the same peeler into a bowl to get thin strips.

To start your sauce you are going to add some fish sauce and rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar works) for that zing of wow to your dish.

As far as your lime juiced I always recommend that you use from fresh but you could use a bottle if need be.

As for Salt to bring more of a savory element to this goodie I like one that has a bit larger granules that are Kosher but table salt will work too. I just like the added texture where it is a bit larger pieces you can feel on your tongue.

Maple syrup is added for a bit of sweetness. I have used agave nectar before which works. Followers have messaged me stating that they have used a sugar-free variety of variety from Splenda and they raved about it so that is a possibility too.

And you want to use good extra virgin olive oil (or some prefer coconut oil) to coat the outside of each piece. Some sesame seeds on top add a bit of texture and make it pretty.

Variations

If you don’t like this shape you could shred them like we do in our Carrot Casserole. Either shape works, you just want small so the dressing can really coat it to give you that bold flavor in each bite.

You can add toasted nuts or seeds too like walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds all complement the natural sweetness and add a crunch. Totally optional of course, another are raisins or dried cranberries.

You could also consider adding some finely chopped herbs like fresh parsley, cilantro, or mint. They infuse their unique flavor into the dish and add more color too. The possibilities are endless really when made homemade.

Carrot Salad Dressing

This is really is just a simple vinaigrette, or lemon-based dressing works wonders. A classic combination of olive oil, lime or lemon juice, salt, and rice vinegar allows the natural flavors of the carrots to shine with a cool refreshing element. If you prefer a creamier dressing, consider whisking in a dollop of Greek yogurt or tahini too!

Tips for Success

1. Start with fresh, crisp carrots. Rinse to remove any debris.
2. Peel them after removing the outer layer for this look.
3. You can also grate, slice into dials, or use a mandoline to create thin, matchstick like pieces.
4. The choice of carrot shape can influence the overall texture of the, so feel free to experiment and see which you prefer.

Once your ingredients are mixed, allow the flavors to meld together by refrigerating the salad for at least 30 minutes. The marinating time allows the carrots to soften slightly while still retaining their satisfying crunch. When ready to serve, garnish with a sprinkle of nuts or sesame seeds for an extra visual appeal.

This raw carrot recipe offers a host of health benefits. As mentioned earlier, this veggie is excellent source of vitamin A and fiber. Adding nuts or seeds includes heart healthy fats, plant based protein, and texture so you will want seconds.

Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish, a light and refreshing lunch, or a nutritious snack, French carrot salad raw or with this Asian dressing of sorts is an excellent choice. Its simplicity and versatility make it an ideal addition to any meal plan or dietary preference. All you need is a bowl and peeler to make this.

How do you make a vegetable salad spicy?

To make spicy carrot salad add a shake of red pepper flakes. For tang add 1 tsp dijon mustard, there are tons of tweaks you can make. Like you can add other veggies too, we show you how in our carrot cucumber salad recipe. Before you jump to recipe here are a few questions I have received so far;

Other easy carrot recipes you’ll love

When you enjoy it for day 2 I would recommend making our TikTok salmon sushi cups with it for a great duo. You can use any filling really but this one is fantastic with carrots for carrot lovers.

Use it for this!! Using a grater makes the pieces even smaller which means they will soak up even more of this vinaigrette. The two other things I use raw carrots for is in my meatloaf as well as zucchini carrot muffins for breakfast.

FAQ