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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Carrot Salad

    Published: Jul 3, 2021, Last Modified: June 20, 2022 by Jeri - This site uses cookies - See the privacy policy linked in the footer - This post may contain affiliate links - This blog generates income via ads

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Long pin for homemade carrot salad
    Long pin for homemade carrot salad

    Have you ever had Carrot Salad? If not, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. Surely it can't be that good; it's just shredded carrots after all, right? Wrong!! After just one taste, you might have a new favorite side dish. Carrot Salad is a fresh and light raw veggie salad made with simple ingredients that's BIG on flavor. You might wonder why it tastes so darn good and why you can't stop eating it. This is a simple yet delicious salad that comes together in only 5 minutes with just 3 ingredients. Perfect as a side dish for BBQs, school and work lunches, as well as meal prep.

    Carrot salad served in a white serving bowl and topped with lemon wedges. this …

    The first time I had carrot salad, I was surprised at how delicious it was! This carrot salad recipe is closely related to coleslaw....you could call it carrot slaw! The grated carrots soak up the sweet, tangy lemon juice, and it's nearly impossible to put your fork down.

    This shredded carrot salad is the perfect side dish for some of our favorite grill recipes, such as Smoked Chuck Roast, Chili Lime Chicken, Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill, and The Best 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. But, of course, we also enjoy it served with cozy comfort food like Classic Meatloaf.

    Freshly made carrot salad served in white bowls with wedges of real lemon
    Jump to:
    • Why we love this grated carrot salad
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • How to make carrot salad
    • Top Tips
    • How to serve
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • More side dishes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • More Favorite Recipes
    • 💬 Comments

    Why we love this grated carrot salad

    This salad is one of the quickest and easiest and healthiest side dishes to make! The whole salad comes together in 5 minutes, and it can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

    Another reason we love this salad is it is made with natural ingredients and tastes amazing! It is so fresh and light and goes with anything.

    It can be served as a side dish or used as a cold veggie salad in lunches, and it's perfect for meal prep because it stays fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. I love it served right after it's made, and I love it after it's been sitting in the juice for a few days. Either way, it's delicious!

    Ingredients

    Only 3 simple ingredients are needed for this carrot salad recipe.

    • Carrots. (Obviously 😊) Choose the best, freshest carrots you can, preferably organic carrots. We grow our own carrots in our garden, and we grow enough 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 use 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.
    Ingredients for carrot salad on a cutting board, freshly grated carrots, lemon juice, and cane sugar

    Equipment

    To make this recipe, you will need:

    • Either a box grater or a food processor
    • A large mixing bowl
    • Tongs for mixing, or a wooden spoon

    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 of all, wash and peel your carrots. Then shred them in your food processor, or use a box grater and grate them. I use a food processor; it shreds them in about 1 minute. 😊

    Next, place shredded carrot or grated carrot in a bowl, and add lemon juice and cane sugar. Toss well until the shredded carrots are covered in lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid and place the salad in the fridge until ready to serve. I personally believe that the flavor gets better after it sits in the juice for a few hours.

    Freshly shredded carrots in the food processor
    Add cane sugar to freshly grated carrots in a white bowl
    Add lemon juice to cane sugar and shredded carrots in white bowl
    Use a spoon to mix lemon juice, cane sugar, and shredded carrots well

    Top Tips

    To make this salad even better, there are a few tips I would like to share with you. First of all, go easy on the sweetener. Carrots are a naturally sweet vegetable, and some varieties of carrots are sweeter. Our carrots are quite sweet, so I don't need to add much sweetener. Taste as you go, you can always add more sugar later if needed.

    Another tip is that I find that the flavors meld together if you let the carrot salad sit for a few hours in the fridge after you make it. 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.

    That's all there is to it! This is such an incredibly easy salad, and it is undoubtedly one of the most delicious sides I have ever made.

    Freshly made shredded carrot salad served in 2 small bowls with lemon wedges, with a large serving bowl of carrot salad in the background

    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.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    How do you keep grated carrots from turning brown?

    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.

    How do you shred carrots for 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!

    How many carrots equal a cup?

    It takes about 1.25-1.5 large carrots, or 2.5-2.75 medium carrots to make 1 cup of grated carrots. For this recipe, I used 7 large carrots to get 5 cups of shredded carrots.

    Homemade cold carrot salad served in 2 small serving dishes and 1 large serving bowl, all served with lemon wedges

    More side dishes

    • Coleslaw Recipe - Insanely Good and Creamy
    • Easy Baked Beans - So Delicious
    • Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
    • How To Make Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
    • Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes

    If you’ve tried this Carrot Salad Recipe or any other recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!

    You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Please tag me in your photos at @windingcreek_ranch. I would love to see your pictures!

    📋 Recipe

    Carrot salad served in a white serving bowl and topped with lemon wedges.

    Carrot Salad

    Have you ever had carrot salad? If not, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. Surely it can't be that good; it's just shredded carrots after all, right? Wrong!! After just one taste, you might have a new favorite side dish. Carrot Salad is a fresh and light raw veggie salad made with simple ingredients that is BIG on flavor. You might wonder why it tastes so darn good and why you can't stop eating it. This is a simple yet delicious salad that comes together in only 5 minutes with just 3 ingredients. Perfect as a side dish for BBQs, school and work lunches, and meal prep.
    5 from 36 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: All Recipes, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: carrot salad, carrot salad recipe, carrot slaw, summer recipe, side dish
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 84kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • A food processor; or
    • A box grater

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups carrots shredded or grated
    • ⅓ cup cane sugar
    • ⅓ cup lemon juice fresh or bottled

    Instructions

    • First of all, wash and peel your carrots. Then shred them in your food processor, or use a box grater and grate them. I use a food processor; it shreds them in about 1 minute.
    • Place shredded carrot or grated carrot in a bowl, add in cane sugar and lemon juice. Toss well until the shredded carrots are covered in lemon juice.
    • Cover the carrot salad with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to serve. Stir before serving.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutritional information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only.
    Storage:  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.9g | Protein: 0.9g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 747mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 14.9g | Calcium: 33mg
    L❤️VE this recipe? PIN it for later! 😊Mention windingcreek_ranch or tag #windingcreek_ranch on IG!
    A picture of Pinterest account.

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    Comments

    1. Joanna

      November 14, 2021 at 12:42 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Jeri

        November 17, 2021 at 7:08 pm

        This is such an easy recipe to make, enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Anaiah

      August 04, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    3. Addie

      August 04, 2021 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely a new favorite for us! So fresh!

      Reply
    4. Kayla DiMaggio

      August 04, 2021 at 12:06 pm

      5 stars
      This carrot salad was so fun to make! I loved the simple flavors! Sometimes simple is truly the best!

      Reply
    5. Jeannie

      August 04, 2021 at 7:06 am

      5 stars
      I love carrots because they are super healthy, never had a carrot salad before and will add this to my side dish next time.

      Reply
    6. Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/

      July 11, 2021 at 3:50 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    7. Linda

      July 06, 2021 at 12:20 am

      5 stars
      This carrot salad is so refreshingly good! Love the combo flavors of sweet and tangy in one bite

      Reply
      • Freya

        July 11, 2021 at 2:52 am

        5 stars
        I have a bunch of carrots them from the local farm shop that I have no idea what to do with: this is perfect!

        Reply
    8. Raquel

      July 05, 2021 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      What a great summer salad idea! Love that it is just a few ingredients too!

      Reply
    9. Julia

      July 05, 2021 at 2:00 am

      5 stars
      Carrots make such a bright and colourful addition to a salad. I love this idea, thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Millie Mae

      July 05, 2021 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      Well it sure is my new favorite side dish! Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    11. Jeannie

      July 04, 2021 at 11:47 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply

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    I'm a busy mom who loves to cook but doesn't have time to spend hours in the kitchen. My goal is to help you make tasty meals quickly so that you can spend more time on what matters most-- family!

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