Why an Asian Carrot Salad recipe? My response is simple: it is just so refreshing. It has a nice carroty crunch and a slightly sweet, citrusy dressing. It is also versatile. You can spice it up with hot peppers, chili paste, red pepper flakes... or keep it nice and mellow.
My Asian Carrot Salad recipe kinda fell together for me a couple of years ago. I was playing around with the spiralizer one afternoon and started eating the spiralized carrots with chopsticks. Why? Because they looked fun, and I had the time!
Although I love carrots, they're not exactly special. But I had a lime, some oil, and raw honey... one thing led to the next, and this dressing was born. I started dipping the carrots into the dressing and greatly enjoyed the combination. Since then, we have enjoyed this raw salad with different heat levels, with and without onion, and varied sweetness. This recipe is mildly hot and has plenty of suggestions on adjusting it to your liking.
This recipe is: Low Carb, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Vegan
Table of Contents
7 Reasons To Love This Recipe
I have made this Asian carrot salad recipe countless times for its unmatched flavors. It may also become one of your best carrot salad recipes for reasons like;
- Incredibly simple preparation.
- Perfect BBQ or summer side dish.
- Delicious, bright dressing that can double as a fish sauce or pork and chicken marinade!
- Ready in minutes from start to finish.
- Low-carb friendly.
- Fun presentation with spiralized carrots.
- Perfect crowd-pleasing salad. Even kids love it.
Is Asian Carrot Salad Low-Carb?
Yes. While carrots are relatively higher in carbs than other vegetables, you can still enjoy Asian carrot salad in moderation on a low-carb diet. Remember, a low-carb diet recommends 130 g net carbs daily.
This raw veggie dish is low-carb with 7 g net carbs per serving. Moreover, you can lower the carb count by replacing honey with a low-carb sweetener like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
Asian Carrot Salad Ingredient List
You need just a few simple ingredients to pull off this Asian-style carrot salad recipe:
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
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 pinch lime zest
- 1 pinch salt & pepper
Ingredient Substitutions
Replace some of the ingredients with these substitutes if you want to swap a certain thing:
- Scallions: Use chives, green onions, or finely sliced red onion that has been soaked in water for 10 minutes and drained to reduce the onion edge.
- Cilantro: Swap with fresh parsley mixed with some fresh basil.
- Olive oil: MCT, coconut, or avocado oil are great options.
- Honey: Replace with a liquid low-carb sweetener or add in ½ teaspoon of monk fruit sweetener. This will also reduce the overall carb load.
- Lime juice: Lemon juice will add similar fresh and bright flavors
Additional Ingredients
Use any of these optional ingredients to heighten the Asian carrot slaw's flavors:
- Fresh herbs: Add julienned mint, basil, or Thai basil for a nice, herbaceous twist.
- Nuts: This is a salad with sesame seeds, but it also tastes fantastic with nuts. I like to toast pine nuts or almond slivers for a great nutty flavor. Chop up some peanuts or cashews if toasting nuts is not your thing.
- More veggies: Add finely chopped celery, bell pepper, or radish for added depth of flavor.
- Proteins: Add grilled chicken or shrimp to transform this spiralized carrot salad from a side dish to a main dish.
Note: The additional ingredients are not part of the original recipe. They are only used to improve the flavor of the simple salad.
Preparation Tools
To make carrot slaw Asian-style, you need these tools:
- 2 mixing bowls (large and small)
- A grater or spiralizer
- A knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A mixing spoon
How To Make Asian Carrot Salad: Complete Guide
Cooking Method
- No-cook recipe
Preparation Steps
- Gather the tools and ingredients.
- Wash, peel, and spiralize or shred the carrots in a large bowl.
- Slice the scallions diagonally.
- Chop the cilantro.
- Add the salad dressing ingredients to a small bowl. Mix well.
- 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.
Step 1: Gather the tools and ingredients.
Step 2: Wash, peel, and spiralize or shred the carrots in a large bowl.
Step 3: Slice the scallions diagonally. Chop the cilantro. Add the remaining ingredients for the carrot salad.
💡 My Pro Tip
No spiralizer? Don't worry! You can still make delicious shredded carrot salad Asian-style with a box grater. Use the largest grating side (not the big slicing side!) to grate the carrots rather than spiralize. You may need some additional carrots as the spiralizer adds a lot of volume to the portion size that grating does not. Another great option is a vegetable peeler. Peel the outside of the carrot and discard. Then, start peeling away, creating carrot shavings for a carrot ribbon salad. You could also buy pre-grated or shaved carrot sticks at the grocery store.
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Buy pre-shredded carrots to cut prep time.
- Make the sauce ahead of time.
- Spiralize ahead of time and combine when ready.
What To Serve With Asian Carrot Salad?
Asian carrot salad is a perfect side dish for various meals. I enjoy it during summer with BBQ and grilled dishes. Try these amazing pairing options:
- Seared Ahi Tuna: The seared ahi tuna has a delicious, crunchy sesame crust that pairs beautifully with the refreshing, crunchy salad.
- Grilled Chicken Wings: The savory wings offer a tasty and protein-rich addition to the Asian raw carrot salad.
- Crispy Golden Rotisserie Chicken: For a balanced meal, serve the crispy chicken pieces of this delicious rotisserie on a bed of this delicious salad.
- BBQ Lamb Chops: Serve the savory lamb chops alongside the textural Asian carrot salad for a nice flavor and texture contrast.
Storage Instruction
- The elegant salad stores well, though the salt will draw liquid out of the carrots and make the dressing thin. Save some dressing in a separate container and drain the carrots when ready to use. Add new dressing, and you’re good to go. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Conclusion
This Asian Carrot Salad is one of the best summertime salad recipes out there. It's easy and quick and fits any occasion. The best part is that none of the healthy ingredients will spoil in the sun, so it is perfect for an outdoor gathering like a BBQ party. You don't even have to use spiralized carrots to achieve great results. Use grated carrots or ribboned carrots from the store. Bring the delicious recipe to life with additional ingredients like ground pepper or hot sauce.
Hopefully, you will try the wonderful salad soon and enjoy its flavors. In the comments below, share your thoughts and questions about the recipe. Please write in the comments any questions or suggestions you may have. You can also find us on Facebook or Instagram.
Other Salad Recipes To Try
Need more raw veggie salad ideas? Check out my best-rated recipes:
FAQs
Raw carrots are versatile and thus pair well with various flavors and textures, including guacamole, salsa, cheese, nuts, and several salad dressings.
While they are not as low in carbs as other vegetables highly recommended for keto diets, you can include carrots in your keto diet with keen moderation.
Asian Carrot Salad
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
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 pinch lime zest
- 1 pinch salt & pepper
Instructions
- Gather the tools and ingredients.
- Wash, peel, and spiralize or shred the carrots in a large bowl.
- Slice the scallions diagonally.
- Chop the cilantro.
- Add the salad dressing ingredients to a small bowl. Mix well.
- 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
- 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.
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
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2 Responses
Made this as a side for the kids tonight and they very much enjoyed it, thank you
Hi Marie:
This is a wonderful note- and I am so happy to hear that they liked it!
Have a fantastic day-
Scott