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Carrot Salad – A French Classic Recipe
- 10 mins total
- 10 mins prep
- serves 4 people
Skip To The Recipe
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Carrot Salad.
Growing up in France, the school “cantine,” or cafeteria, lunch was a class of its own.
A full meal from beginning to end. Grated carrots were somehow always part of the menu.
Served by themselves and never combined with other vegetables or greens.
I grew up eating grated carrot salad at least twice a week. The French dress it very lightly with vegetable oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper with chopped parsley.
I have to admit I am not a fan of carrots. You will never see me grab one, peel it and just bite into one.
Just not my thing, I guess. I always considered carrots and rabbit food rather than people’s food. Was I ever wrong!!
However, one thing that I adore is this classic French recipe for a grated carrot salad.
What makes this salad so special?
I always enjoyed the fresh and crisp bite of this dish. It all lays on the thickness or coarseness of how you grate the carrots. Silly, right? But that is where the secret lies.
But do not let it fool you. There is more to grating a carrot than most people think.
If you grate the carrots too coarsely, it will take forever to chew them.
Grate them too thinly they will turn into mush, and you do not want that either.
You can go three ways here to make the perfect carrot salad:
- Use your KitchenAid attachment, with the finest shredding and they are just perfect.
- An old-fashioned stand-up box grater with a large hole grate, which is getting harder and harder to find on our days.
- And my all-time favorite, Vitamix food processor with the smallest #3 grate. Cut them 3 inches long for a more uniform shredding carrot.
I use my food processor at least once a week and I do not know what I would do without it. If using the hand box grater, you may want to toss the core. Do not worry about the core if using the food processor.
TIPS to a perfect French Carrot Salad
- The lemon adds that perfect bite to it while balancing off the sweetness of the carrots. However, a good French vinegar will be a good substitute if you must.
- Light flavorless oil is best with this recipe. Do not use strong extra virgin olive oil. It will alter the flavor and you will completely change the taste.
- The chopped parsley brings out another bitter element that balances off nicely.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, that is pretty much all you need.
- I decided to add cranberries to it. Quite delicious, I may add.
- Chopped pistachios are fun too. Make sure that they are not chopped too small.
- Toasted pine nuts are another great alternative. Brings some crunchiness to it.
- Raisins can replace cranberries. Adding the toasted pine nuts with the raisins adds some complexity to this dish.
- A great side dish to any fish and poultry dinner.
- Serve them alone in a small side dish to keep their sweet flavor separate from other ingredients on your plates.
During the warmer months, this salad will come on handy as it is very refreshing and does store well overnight. And because there is no mayonnaise, you can keep it out as well and it will not turn on you.
Make extras as it will keep well in the refrigerator for a couple of days, with great leftovers.
Benefits of eating carrots
Carrots are extremely nutritious and packed with nutrients that our body needs daily.
Potassium, vitamin A, K, and C. Beta-carotene, and antioxidants. Great for your heart as well as being good for your eyes.
Although they do contain more natural sugar than any other vegetables.
Looking for other delicious recipes?
You may want to try making:
Roasted Carrots with Orange Brown Butter and Sage
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Mustard Dressing
And let’s not forget: carrot soup, glazed carrots, or honey glazed. A very versatile vegetable.
Equipment and ingredients you need for this delicious carrot salad.
Nutrition Facts
Carrot Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 120
Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 44mg2%
Potassium 211mg6%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Vitamin A 10445IU209%
Vitamin C 10.5mg13%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Carrot Salad
- 10 mins total
- 10 mins prep
- serves 4 people
Ingredients
-
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch lengths
-
2 tablespoons lemon juice
-
3 tablespoons olive oil
-
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
-
a handful cranberries (optional)
-
salt
-
pepper
Instructions
-
Grate the carrots by pushing them lengthwise along the grater teeth. Or if you have a food processor use the finest shredder attachment.
-
Toss the grated carrots with lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, cranberries, salt, and pepper. Taste the carrots and adjust the seasoning according to your taste buds.
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Love this carrot salad so much! So easy, healthy, and delicious!
Thank you!
Anything with carrots commands my attention!🥕This salad is now on my must-make list. Thank you kindly for sharing this simply delish dish!
The pleasure is all mine Connie.
Enjoy!
I could eat carrot salad every day! Love the addition of cranberries here 🙂
I love cranberries, but if you do not have any on hand, raisins, will be wonderful as well.
Enjoy!
i love this classic carrot salad recipe. I make this all the time
Isn’t it the best!
This sounds so delicious!
My family cannot get enough of it.
This carrot salad looks so healthy and delicious. I will gladly eat this everyday.
Thank you, Saif! Enjoy it!
This carrot salad was so delicious! I loved how easy it was to make! The perfect side dish!
Thank you.
I love how simple this was to throw together! Great side dish
Thank you.
How wonderful! I love the addition of cranberries – YUM!
They give it another level of sweetness.
Enjoy!
Love how easy it is to make! I’m a big fan of crunchy salads and this one hit the spot!
Thank you!
such a tasty recipe. we love adding this to all our meals
Thank you!
Enjoy!
I have been obsessed with this recipe ever since you posted it!
I hope you will make it.
Bon Appetit!
Wow, this is such a great idea and it is absolutely delicious!! Such a great recipe, thanks!
I am glad you enjoyed it.
wow that’s one way of eating carrots that I love.
SO yummy!!! And adding craisins was genius. It’s my new favorite carrot salad.
Great salad with only a few ingredients!
I had a giant bag of carrots in the fridge and needed a salad for our steak yesterday. This salad was really easy to whip up and we loved the simple flavours.
I love how simple this comes together and the cranberries are a great flavor burst!
I use to always have carrot salad at family events but forgot about it until I saw this recipe cannot wait to be re introduced this
This carrot salad looks delicious perfect treat.
Thank you and enjoy!
So good and easy to make! Love a yummy salad recipe – thanks!
Simply Delicious. Thank you.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it!