Easy Shredded Carrot Salad

Really...what are baby carrots?

You know that those “baby” carrots in your refrigerator aren’t really young carrots, don’t you? As much as I appreciate the convenience of those pinky-sized carrots, their flavor, and texture reminds me of Styrofoam packing peanuts. Probably because in reality they’re mature carrots, machine milled into uniform stubs.

Hopeful that all those green carrot tops were the sign of a bumper crop, I was a bit disappointed with their size. Yes, there were plenty of carrots to harvest - but they were essentially mini carrots.  What they lacked in length, they more than made up for in flavor and texture- complex sweetness with a satisfying crunch.

Simple ingredients, wonderful combination

No question, home-grown carrots make this recipe extra sweet. A bag of pre-grated carrot however, will make this recipe so simple that you will make it more often. The trade-off is up to you.

Toasting Almonds

For the small batch of toasted almonds needed for this recipe, I use a small, dry frying pan on the stovetop. Heat the almonds over medium heat and stir frequently until they are uniformly brown. Resist the temptation to step away from the stove -they'll scorch as soon as you turn your back! So... hang around for the 4-5 minutes it will take to toast them properly.

Print Recipe

Easy Shredded Carrot Salad

Sometimes you just need a go-to, easy-to-throw-together side dish. This carrot salad is just that dish. The toasted almonds add an unexpected crunch and flavor profile, while the cranberries are morsels of sweetness and color.

Prep Time15 mins

Chilling time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 15 mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 169kcal

Author: Karen

Ingredients

Dressing

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about ½ lemon
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon sugar

Salad

• 1 bag 10-oz shredded carrots (about 3 cups)
• ⅓ slivered almonds toasted
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries, cut in half
• ⅓ cup diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

Instructions

• Whisk together the dressing ingredients and set aside.
• In a large bowl stir together the salad ingredients, toss with dressing. Chill the salad for 2 hours before serving.

Notes

Agreed- nothing beats the flavor of fresh grated carrots, but this recipe can be lightening quick to make if you start with a bag of pre-shredded carrots.