Best Raw Carrot Salad Recipe

Packed with vibrant flavors and numerous health benefits, this raw carrot salad is a delicious salad that is perfect for any meal.

This light salad has a delightfully balanced flavor profile that comes together in minutes with very few ingredients.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions + Tips
• Variations
• FAQ’s
• Full Recipe Card (printable)

Why You Will Love This Carrot Salad 

Bursting with Nutrients: Raw carrots are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, making them a great addition to any diet.

Crunchy carrots: The crisp texture of raw carrots adds a satisfying crunch to this salad.

Easy recipe: With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can make a tasty side dish.

Versatile: You can customize this salad to your liking by adding different herbs, spices, or even protein sources.

Budget-Friendly: Carrots are a budget-friendly vegetable, making this salad affordable.

Delicious: Last but not least, this salad is simply delicious! 

Carrot Benefits

Carrots are good for you due to their numerous health benefits. Carrots are excellent antioxidants and are a good source of fiber.

Plus they provide vitamin K for bone strength as well as vitamin C, potassium, and manganese.

Carrot Salad’s Main Ingredients

To make this delicious salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Carrots: Choose fresh, firm carrots. 

Soy Sauce: A splash of soy sauce adds a savory and umami flavor to the salad, opt for low-sodium soy sauce.

Oil: I use extra-virgin olive oil, but avocado, coconut oil, or sesame oil is also good.

Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness and balances out the flavors.

Basil or other fresh herbs: You can use basil, fresh parsley, fresh dill, or any other herbs you like. I use basil, which is growing beautifully in my garden.

Chili Pepper (optional): If you like a bit of heat, add some chili pepper to the salad. I like it in mine!

Sea salt and Black Pepper: To taste.

How To Make This Carrot Salad

Step 1

Wash and peel the carrots, then use a vegetable peeler or mandolin to shred the whole carrots lengthwise into thin strips, more like carrot ribbons.

You can also grate them if you prefer a finer texture.

Step 2

In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and chopped basil.

Mix well to create a flavorful dressing.

Step 3

Toss the carrot strips with the dressing until evenly coated. (If you’re using chili pepper, sprinkle it over the salad and toss again)

Season with salt and black pepper.

Serve and enjoy your delicious raw carrot salad!

Top Tips

• Use a vegetable peeler, julienne peeler, or mandolin to easily shave the carrots into thin strips.
• For the best flavor, marinate the carrots in the dressing for at least 10 minutes before serving.

What Could I Add to Shaved Carrot Salad? 

 Here are a few suggestions:

• Add some grilled chicken, tofu, or chickpeas to make this salad more filling.
• Toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or sesame seeds to add some crunch to the salad.
• Apples, pears, or dried strawberries can add a touch of sweetness to balance out the savory flavors.
• Crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese.
• Leafy greens like spinach, kale, or cabbage.
• Grains like quinoa, farro, or couscous.
• Asian flavors like rice noodles, ginger, and green onions.

Dressing Variations

You can experiment with a variety of herbs, spices, and dressings to create different flavor profiles.

Here are some additional seasonings you can consider adding to your raw carrot salad:

Lemon juice or lime juice: For a tangy and refreshing element.

Ginger: To bring a zesty kick to the salad.

Garlic: Provide a savory and aromatic flavor to the dish.

Dijon Mustard and white vinegar or apple cider vinegar: Swap it for soy sauce, for a slightly pungent flavor.

How to Store

This salad is best served fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Freezing is not recommended, carrots have a high water level, which can cause them to become mushy when frozen and thawed.

You can also prep this salad ahead of time by shaving the carrots and making the dressing in advance.

Store the two separately in the refrigerator and combine 10 minutes before serving.

Faq’s

Do I Need to Peel Carrots for Carrot Salad?

It’s a personal preference whether to peel carrots or not. The skin of a carrot is safe to eat and contains most of its nutrients. 

Can I Use Pre-Shredded Carrots?

Yes, you can use pre-shredded carrots for convenience. 

Are Raw Carrots Healthier Than Cooked Carrots?

Both raw and cooked carrots have their own unique health benefits.

Raw carrots are higher in vitamin C, while cooked carrots are higher in beta carotene.

It’s best to incorporate both into your diet for maximum benefits.

Why Is Raw Carrot Salad Good for You?

Raw carrot salad is good for you because it is packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber.

How often should I eat raw carrot salad?

Incorporating raw carrot salad into your diet a few times a week can be a great way to boost your intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

However, it’s essential to maintain a balanced and varied daily diet by including other vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains as well.

What Experts Say About Raw Carrot Salad

This health food trend is gaining massive popularity on TikTok.

With over 52 million views with the hashtag #rawcarrotsalad,  many users claim that the carrots can balance hormone health, improve digestion, relieve migraines, and regulate moods.

This theory originates from dr. Ray Peat, an American biologist, who argues that raw carrots contain a specialized and unique fiber that can selectively bind to endotoxins and excess estrogens and remove them safely from the body.

However, there is currently limited scientific evidence to support this specific effect of raw carrot fiber. 

I am not an expert on the subject, but I have read some studies and I can say that eating raw carrots is definitely not bad for you.

I also talked to Joanne Stekler to get her opinion and her thoughts:

“It seems that there were folks on TikTok claiming various unproven medical benefits beyond just being a healthy salad. My PubMed search on the topic came up with the null set, i.e. zero evidence. So please wash your carrots well, and enjoy this recipe!”

Joanne Stekler from uglyducklingbakery.com

Simple Raw Carrot Salad

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