Raw Carrot Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This raw carrot salad will sweep you off your feet! Vibrant carrots are grated then left to soften in a tangy, sweet, savory, and creamy dressing that ties it all together. Add some fresh herbs, cranberries for sweetness, and crunchy pecans for texture, and you’ll be craving this every day – lucky it only takes 15 minutes to whip up!
This raw carrot salad shows that simple ingredients can deliver big flavor. When you’ve got a salad like this that just has a few kitchen staples as its ingredients, you want a dressing that can bring all of it together. This raw carrot salad is proof that a handful of simple ingredients can deliver seriously big flavor. When a salad is this stripped back, the dressing really matters — and this one does all the heavy lifting. It’s tangy, lightly sweet, savory, and just a little creamy, coating the carrots to soften them slightly while letting their natural sweetness shine. It’s one of those salads that surprises people in the best way.
Shredded carrots are tossed with fresh parsley, green onions, chewy dried cranberries (or raisins), and toasted pecans for crunch. The dressing brings everything together with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, a touch of mayo, Dijon mustard, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for balance. The vinegar gently tenderizes the carrots, the sweetness rounds things out, and suddenly this simple bowl becomes something you’ll want to make on repeat.
Variations to try
The carrots work really well with this dressing, the tangy apple cider vinegar perfectly contrasts with the carrots sweetness and the acidity tenderizes them! The salad can be quite versatile, melding with many variations. Here are our top picks:
- Carrot ribbons: Instead of using your box grater, make ribbons with a peeler or mandolin! They’re thinner and wider so it will change the texture.
- Additions: Chopped dill, feta, chopped nuts, grated beets, diced cucumber, olives, avocado, pistachios, sunflower seeds, lemon juice, everything bagel seasoning, or roasted chickpeas are just some of the toppings we’d suggest mixing and matching.
- Viral raw carrot salad: In 2023, raw carrot salads were trending on social media! To make TikTok’s viral version, thinly slice your carrots with a peeler to make ribbons, then add sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, lime juice, and soy sauce. Add sesame seeds and fresh cilantro!
- Asian salad recipe: For another rendition of raw carrot salad with an Asian twist, make this Asian salad.
Raw Carrot Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large carrots
- ¼ cup minced parsley
- ¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- ¼ cup toasted pecans (coarsly chopped)
- 2 green onions (sliced)
The Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon EACH: apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and honey (can sub maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Start by whisking the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon EACH: apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and honey, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 pinch salt and pepper
- Grate the carrots using the large holes on a box grater and add them to a large bowl with the parsley, cranberries, pecans, and sliced green onions.4 large carrots, ¼ cup minced parsley, ¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins, ¼ cup toasted pecans, 2 green onions
- Pour the dressing over the top and mix well. Let the salad sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop and the carrots to soften slightly. Mix once more before serving.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
You’re very welcome!
I love that so much. Thank you for sharing, Caroline!
I’m so happy it was a hit!
This is so good! The dressing is amazing and the pecans add the best flavor
I’m really happy you enjoyed it!
The flavors were so fresh and vibrant, and the crunch of the carrots was so satisfying. It’s definitely going to be a regular in my meal rotation.
I’m thrilled that this salad is going to be a regular at your table!
This is my mother-in-law’s favorite salad to make. Though she’s never added cranberries, I’m loving that touch. I’ll suggest it for our next meal together. Cheers
I hope she enjoys the cranberries!