Raw shredded carrot salad with lemon is the perfect light and healthy side dish. This simple recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and comes together in just minutes! Plus, it's loaded with nutrients and delicious flavors - you'll love it! Perfect as a side dish for BBQs and potlucks, or as meal prep for school and work lunches.
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This shredded carrot salad is one of my all-time favorite sides. The carrots are sweet and crunchy and pair perfectly with the tangy lemon juice. It's a great combination and nearly impossible to put your fork down.
It's also super quick and easy to make, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!
This carrot salad is the perfect side dish for some of my favorite smoker recipes, such as Smoked Chuck Roast, Chili Lime Chicken, Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill, and Smoked Burgers.
This cold carrot salad also goes with any meal, any time of the year, and is a perfect side dish to serve on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
I also serve it with cozy comfort food like Classic Meatloaf or low-calorie mains like Tuna Patties and Air Fryer Tilapia.
It goes with pretty much anything! It even tastes fantastic on its own! 🙂
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Why you will love this recipe
- This is an easy recipe that only takes 5 minutes to make.
- It is one of the healthiest side dishes, as carrots are loaded with nutrients.
- It can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
- This grated carrot salad is made with natural ingredients and tastes fantastic! It is so light and refreshing. You will love the simple combo of a shredded carrot with tangy lemon juice.
- It goes with anything from weeknight dinners to holiday feasts. It has the perfect amount of crunch.
- It is a great side, or can be used as a cold veggie salad in lunches. It is also perfect for meal prep because it stays fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. I love it served right after it's made and after it's been sitting in the juice for a few days. Either way, it's delicious!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Only three simple ingredients are needed for this raw carrot salad recipe.
- Raw Carrots. (Obviously 😊) Choose the best, freshest carrots you can, preferably organic carrots. We grow enough carrots in our garden to last the entire year. We store them in our root cellar in a bin with sand which keeps them fresh and crisp.
- Lemon juice. You can use fresh or bottled lemon juice for this salad.
- Cane sugar. I used cane sugar, but feel free to use white sugar, coconut sugar, or your favorite sweetener. Honey would also be a good substitute, but my daughter is allergic, so we never use it. Adjust the sugar to taste.
How to make carrot salad
For exact measurements of ingredients and detailed instructions, see the recipe card below.
I'm not kidding when I say this salad is super easy to make.
First, wash and peel your carrots with a vegetable peeler. Then shred them in your food processor using the shredding blade. You can also use the grating attachment on your KitchenAid mixer or use a box grater and grate them. I used a food processor; it shreds them in about 1 minute. 😊
If grating the carrots by hand, use the large holes of a box grater, not the small holes.
Next, place shredded carrot or grated carrot in a large bowl, and add sugar.
Next, add lemon juice.
Toss well until the shredded carrots are covered in lemon juice.
Transfer to a serving bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid and place the salad in the fridge until ready to serve.
Stir before serving.
Enjoy!
Variations
There are so many variations for this simple salad. Some fun ones to try are:
- If you want a bit of crunch, add chopped nuts or seeds.
- For a bit of color, add chopped green onions, fresh dill, fresh parsley, or fresh cilantro.
- For a bit more sweetness, add in raisins or dried cranberries.
- Make a more robust salad by adding shredded cabbage or Brussels sprouts.
- Try using different dressings or top with feta cheese.
- For a different flavor, use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- For a Hawaiian flavor, mix shredded carrots with pineapple juice instead of lemon juice, and add fresh diced pineapple.
- Make a Moroccan raw carrot salad by adding extra virgin olive oil, chickpeas, raisins, slivered almonds, chopped garlic, ground cumin, and black pepper.
Equipment
To make this delicious salad, you will need:
- Vegetable peeler.
- Either a box grater or a food processor
- A large mixing bowl
- Tongs for mixing, or a wooden spoon
Storage
To store this raw carrot salad so it will stay fresh and crispy, place it in an airtight container. Then, place the salad in the fridge for up to 4 days. Mix before serving.
This salad does not freeze well.
How to serve
This tasty side dish goes well alongside any grilled or barbecued meat, sandwiches, or by itself. It keeps well in a cooler, is perfect for potlucks, and tastes great in school and work lunches. I make a big bowl of this salad and serve it in lunches for the entire week.
Top Tips
- Use a food processor to shred the carrots. This will save you time and ensure that the carrots are evenly shredded.
- Go easy on the sweetener. Carrots are naturally sweet vegetables, and some varieties of carrots are sweeter. Our carrots are pretty sweet, so I don't need to add much sweetener. Instead, taste as you go; you can always add more sugar later if needed.
- Toss everything together until evenly mixed, then taste and adjust the sweetener as necessary.
- Let the carrot salad sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- When you are ready to serve, give it a quick stir, making sure to grab some yummy juice that has moved to the bottom of the bowl and add it on top.
More side dishes
If you've tried this Raw Shredded Carrot Salad With Lemon, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!
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📋 Recipe
Raw Shredded Carrot Salad With Lemon
Equipment
- A food processor; or
- A box grater
- Large bowl
- Spoon for mixing and serving
Ingredients
- 5 cups raw carrots shredded or grated
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup lemon juice fresh or bottled
Instructions
- First, wash and peel your carrots. Shred them in a food processor, or use a box grater to grate them.
- Place shredded carrot in a large bowl. Add sugar and lemon juice. Toss well until the shredded carrots are covered in lemon juice. Taste and adjust the sweetener as necessary.
- Cover the carrot salad with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to serve. Stir before serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Use a food processor to shred the carrots. This will save you time and ensure that the carrots are evenly shredded.
- Go easy on the sweetener. Carrots are naturally sweet vegetables, and some varieties of carrots are sweeter. Taste as you go; you can always add more sugar later if needed.
- Toss everything together until evenly mixed, then taste and adjust the sweetener as necessary.
- Let the carrot salad sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge to let the flavors meld together.
- When you are ready to serve, give it a quick stir, making sure to grab some yummy juice that has moved to the bottom of the bowl and add it on top.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Exposing the grated carrots to air is what can cause them to turn brown. However, because these carrots are tossed in lemon juice, they won't turn brown. Also, keep plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid on the carrot salad.
The easiest method is to use a food processor. If you don't have one, use a box grater. Place the grater on a cutting board and, using a downward motion, move the carrot from the top of the grater to the bottom. Repeat this motion until 1-2 inches of carrot remain. Keep your fingers out of the way!
It takes about 1.25-1.5 large carrots or 2.5-2.75 medium carrots to make 1 cup of grated carrots. I used seven large carrots for this recipe to get 5 cups of shredded carrots.
Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A, which is essential for healthy skin, vision, and immune function. They also improve your thyroid health, help to prevent migraines, and support liver health. Raw carrot fiber also improves metabolic rate, which can help with weight management due to its low calorie and high nutrient density. They also help regulate blood pressure and maintain normal heart function. In addition, carrots contain antioxidants that help to protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer. Raw carrots also can help to balance hormones and prevent excess estrogen accumulation. This is due to carrots' special fiber that helps bind estrogen and remove it from the body. In summary, carrots are whole food, meaning they contain all the nutrients needed for good health.
Lexa
We love this salad. I’ve made it at least 5 times this year for dinner and it’s always delicious! My husband keeps asking me to make it again!
Joanna
I remember a similar dish from my childhood in Poland. It is delicious and I must start making it again! Eating raw veggies is such a great way to keep your gut healthy. And do yummy!
Jeri
This is such an easy recipe to make, enjoy!
Anaiah
Love easy salads like this one! The lemon in this carrot salad gives it a nice tart flavor and the sugar added a nice hint of sweetness. It's the perfect recipe to make when I'm short on time and makes the perfect side dish for dinner.
Addie
Definitely a new favorite for us! So fresh!
Kayla DiMaggio
This carrot salad was so fun to make! I loved the simple flavors! Sometimes simple is truly the best!
Jeannie
I love carrots because they are super healthy, never had a carrot salad before and will add this to my side dish next time.
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/
Gosh, mom used to make this salad for us when we were kids! It really brings back memories... Besides, it is so easy to make and so yummy. I have to make it and check if it has the same taste I remember from long ago!
Linda
This carrot salad is so refreshingly good! Love the combo flavors of sweet and tangy in one bite
Freya
I have a bunch of carrots them from the local farm shop that I have no idea what to do with: this is perfect!
Raquel
What a great summer salad idea! Love that it is just a few ingredients too!
Julia
Carrots make such a bright and colourful addition to a salad. I love this idea, thank you for sharing.
Millie Mae
Well it sure is my new favorite side dish! Thanks for sharing this!
Jeannie
I just got a pack of fresh carrots now I know what to do with them, I'm always up with easy and quick recipes.