A refreshing French Carrot Salad featuring freshly grated carrots, diced shallots, and chopped parsley, this vibrant dish is both eye-catching and delicious. The zesty lemon-honey-Dijon dressing adds a tangy-sweet twist, making it perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light side dish. Give this delightful salad a try, and you’ll be amazed at how it brightens up your meal!
What Is A French Carrot Salad?
French Carrot Salad, also known as “Carottes Râpées,” is a simple and refreshing salad made with raw, grated carrots, and a lemon-based dressing. It’s a popular dish in France, often served as a light appetizer or side dish. The combination of fresh ingredients and the bright, tangy dressing creates a flavorful and nutritious dish that pairs well with a variety of meals.
What In Carrot Salad?
Carrots, shallots, and parsley. Let’s delve into these ingredients!
Carrots: For this French Carrot Salad, small carrots are ideal for optimal salad sweetness and flavor. Look for ones with a vibrant orange color; this indicates that they are fresh and packed with nutrients. Fresh carrots should be firm and smooth–avoid soft, limp, or shriveled ones, as they may be past their prime. Smaller, thinner carrots are often sweeter and more tender than larger, thicker ones. Large carrots can sometimes have a tougher texture and a more pronounced core.
Shallots: Shallots are a fantastic ingredient that adds a delicate, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of garlic. Choose firm, plump shallots with dry, papery skins. Avoid any with soft spots or sprouts. Peel the papery skin, trim the ends, and finely dice the bulb for this salad. Substitution: If you can’t find shallots, you can substitute them with garlic for a similar taste profile.
Parsley: Fresh flat-leaf parsley is a versatile herb that adds a burst of color and a bright, herbaceous flavor. Look for fresh, vibrant green leaves without any wilting or yellowing. The stems should be firm and not slimy. Make sure to get flat-leaf Italian parsley, as opposed to curly for this recipe. Flat-leaf parsley has a more robust flavor and curly parsley is used more commonly as a garnish.
Quick Lemon Dressing
This bright, tangy dressing has a slightly sweet profile that enhances the flavors of the carrots. I adapted it a bit from my favorite Lemon Vinaigrette! So, while not completely traditional for a French Carrot Salad, it’s delicious!
Here’s what’s in the dressing:
- Lemon: Bottled lemon juice doesn’t offer the same flavor as fresh lemons. Use real lemons and include lemon zest to enhance the vinaigrette’s brightness.
- Olive oil: A high-quality olive oil will significantly impact the flavor of the dressing. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil for this recipe.
- Dijon mustard: We prefer Grey Poupon® Dijon for its taste. Be sure to use Dijon mustard, not yellow mustard, as there is a considerable flavor difference.
- Honey: This dressing strikes a balance but leans slightly towards the sweet side. To achieve a less sweet dressing, reduce the honey or add it gradually, adjusting to taste.
- Salt and pepper: No dressing is complete without salt and pepper. Add these seasonings according to your taste preference!
Quick Tip
We love zesting the lemons with a microplane and then juicing them with this citrus juicer. When zesting, zest only the very outside bright yellow part of the lemon. Avoid the white pith below the peel which is very bitter and will make the dressing taste sour.
[shortcut] Honey measuring hack! Who else hates how difficult it is to get honey from the measuring cup to the bowl?! Try this: lightly spritz the measuring cup with nonstick cooking spray and then add the honey. Watch as it glides nicely (and cleanly) out! [/shortcut]
How To Enjoy French Carrot Salad
I simply can’t get enough of this amazing salad! I love preparing it at the start of the week and using it as a topping or slaw in various dishes. In my opinion, the salad’s flavor improves as it rests, and it adds a delightful twist to otherwise ordinary meals. Here are some ways we’ve been enjoying this scrumptious salad:
- As is! Right out of the bowl–it is truly delicious! Add a few raisins or dried cranberries to change it up a bit.
- As a side: Add alongside grilled chicken, pork, beef, or fish. It adds a nice refreshing and crunchy element to your meal.
- In a wrap or sandwich: Add carrot salad to wraps or sandwiches for extra crunch, flavor, and nutrition. It pairs well with ingredients like hummus, avocado, and various deli meats.
- With grains or legumes: Mix carrot salad with cooked grains like quinoa, farro, bulgur, or couscous, or toss it with legumes such as chickpeas or lentils for a more substantial and filling dish.
- As a topping for greens: Use carrot salad as a flavorful topping for a big garden salad, creating a more diverse and interesting salad.
- In a grain bowl or salad bowl: Incorporate carrot salad into a grain bowl or protein bowl along with other ingredients like roasted vegetables, diced baked chicken breast, and a drizzle of dressing for a complete and satisfying meal.
- As a slaw for tacos: Make some chicken tacos and try a few spoonfuls of this French Carrot Salad as a tasty slaw–unique, but so good!
Storage
This French Carrot Salad can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It gets juicy and more flavorful (like a good Coleslaw) as it sits. Toss again before serving.
Use Leftover Carrots In These Recipes:
- Roasted Carrot Salad with a citrus dressing
- Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting
- Carrot Soup with roasted pumpkin seeds
- Moroccan Carrot Salad with couscous
- Simple Air Fryer Carrots
French Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots peeled and grated/shredded (5 cups)
- 1 tablespoon shallot (tightly packed) finely diced (or minced garlic)
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped (flat-leaf not curly parsley)
Dressing
- 1 large lemon (zested and juiced)
- 3 teaspoons honey
- ½ tablespoon good Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- CARROTS: Peel and grate the carrots using the large holes of a box grater or a food processor fitted with a grating attachment. You should have about 5 gently packed cups of grated carrots. Transfer the grated carrots to a large bowl.
- SALAD: Mix in the finely diced shallots and finely chopped parsley.
- DRESSING: Zest a lemon to get ¼ tsp zest and juice to get 2 tablespoons juice. In a wide-mouth glass jar, combine the dressing ingredients, seasoning to taste (I add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper). Secure the lid and shake the jar until the dressing is well combined, ensuring the honey doesn't settle at the bottom.
- DRESS SALAD: Pour the dressing over the carrot mixture and stir until the ingredients are evenly coated. For the best flavor, let the salad marinate in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before serving. Give it another toss before serving.
- STORAGE AND USES: This salad can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It gets more flavorful/soft/juicy (like a slaw) as it sits. Toss again before serving. We love eating it with (or on top of) so many dishes. Check out Note 1 for lots of ideas on how to use this salad!
Video
Recipe Notes
- As is! Right out of the bowl--it is truly delicious!
- As a side: Add alongside grilled chicken, pork, beef, or fish. It adds a nice refreshing and crunchy element to your meal.
- In a wrap or sandwich: Add carrot salad to wraps or sandwiches for extra crunch, flavor, and nutrition. It pairs well with ingredients like hummus, avocado, and various deli meats.
- With grains or legumes: Mix carrot salad with cooked grains like quinoa, farro, bulgur, or couscous, or toss it with legumes such as chickpeas or lentils for a more substantial and filling dish.
- As a topping for greens: Use carrot salad as a flavorful topping for a big garden salad, creating a more diverse and interesting salad.
- In a grain bowl or salad bowl: Incorporate carrot salad into a grain bowl or protein bowl along with other ingredients like roasted vegetables, diced baked chicken breast, and a drizzle of dressing for a complete and satisfying meal.
- As a slaw for tacos: Make some chicken tacos and try a few spoonfuls of this salad as a tasty slaw--unique, but so good!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
