Some people might ask... why an Asian Carrot Salad recipe? My response is simple: it is just so refreshing. It has a really nice carrot crunch followed up with a slightly sweet, citrusy dressing. It is also versatile. You can spice it up with hot peppers, chili paste or red pepper flakes... or keep it nice and mellow.
This Asian Carrot Salad recipe is: Low Carb, Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan.
SPIRALIZED ASIAN CARROT SALAD RECIPE
My Asian Carrot Salad recipe just kinda fell together for me a couple years ago. I was playing around with the spiralizer one afternoon and started eating the spiralized carrots with a set of chopsticks. Who knows why. They were just there and it looked like fun.
Although I love carrots, they didn't taste like anything special. I had a lime, some oil and raw honey. One thing led to the next for the dressing. I started dipping the carrots into the dressing and really enjoyed the combination.
Since then we have enjoyed this Asian Carrot Salad with different levels of heat, onion and sweetness. The recipe in this post goes right down the middle with very little heat, but plenty of suggestions on how to add it to your liking.
HOW TO MAKE AN ASIAN CARROT SALAD
Here are the steps to making this salad:
- Spiralize or shred the carrots. It is best not to buy pre-shredded or sliced carrots. They will either be too dry or completely saturated.
- Mix together the ingredients for the salad dressing in a small bowl.
- Combine the ingredients for the carrot salad in a larger bowl.
- Add the salad dressing sparingly, mixing well with each addition. It needs to be lightly dressed, not swimming in dressing.
- Hold in the refrigerator to maintain crispness.
It's really quite an easy side salad to make for just about any occasion. The best part is that there are no ingredients which will spoil in the sun, so it is great to take to an outdoor gathering.
ADDITIONAL RECIPES
Here are some other really tasty carrot side dishes:
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots
Summer Carrot Salad Recipe
Roasted Carrots and Fennel
Thyme & Butter Braised Carrots
Spiralized Asian Carrot Salad
A light and refreshing salad with a citrus zing. Punch up the heat with hot peppers to pair with other spicy dishes or leave it spice free for a delightful side dish.
Ingredients
For the Asian Carrot Salad
- 3 Large Carrots, Spiralized or Shredded
- ¼ Cup Scallions, Sliced on the diagonal
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Cilantro, Chopped
For the Carrot Salad Dressing
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Honey
- 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- 1 Pinch Lime Zest
- 1 Pinch Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the Salad Dressing ingredients.
- Spiralize or shred the carrots into a large bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients for the carrot salad.
- Dress the salad carefully, adding some of the dressing and mixing well. Continue to add until the salad is nicely dressed.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and chill until ready to eat.
Notes
Here are some nice options for this salad:
- Substitute thinly sliced red onion for the scallions.
- Add in some diced, hot Fresno peppers for some heat.
- Add in some red pepper flakes for a different kind of heat.
- If it gets too hot, add in some more honey.
- No cilantro? Add in some basil or flat leaf parsley.
The Asian carrot salad does not like to sit overnight. The salt tends to draw out the moisture from the carrots.
Keeping the salad chilled before serving will maintain maximum crispness for the carrots!
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Amount Per Serving Calories 96
PLEASE NOTE: The nutritional data is provided by NutriFox and may not be 100% accurate.
