Carrot Salad is a side dish that’s bright tasting and bursting with goodness and flavor. Shredded carrots, pineapple, and raisins are tossed in a simple creamy dressing.
This fresh alternative to a classic coleslaw recipe is a simple dish, and one that’s coming back into style. Once you try this carrot salad recipe you’ll see why.
It seems like carrots are often overlooked as the central element in a dish, but they shouldn’t be. We use them all the time! From glazed carrots to roasted, they are inexpensive, and available year round and keep for ages in the crisper section of your refrigerator without losing their sweetness or crunch.
How to Make Carrot Salad
This is a simple dish to make, especially if you have a food processor! If you don’t have a food processor, a cheese grater works just fine!
This recipe is as easy as can be:
- Shred carrots.
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour so the flavors meld.
Ingredients in carrot salad include raisins, sour cream, mayonnaise, pineapple and a hint of vinegar. We use canned pineapple but if you have fresh on hand, chop it finely and use that! A delightful and exotic variation is Moroccan carrot salad! In this version, you would use lemon juice instead of vinegar, a clove of minced garlic, and cumin and cinnamon spices.
How to Shred Carrots
This is one recipe where a knife alone won’t do. You’ll definitely need a shredding blade of some kind to get the carrots just the right softened texture.
Shredding blades are found on mandolins, box graters and food processors.
- Food Processor: Cut the tops and ends off each carrot and cut into 2-3 inch pieces. Fit your food processor with the shredding blade and pulse until shredded.
- Box Grater or Mandolin: Simply wash, peel and cut the tips off the carrots, but don’t cut into pieces. It will be much easier to shred them while they are still whole. Box graters and mandolins have two shredding sizes. You’ll want to use the larger one. The finer blade turns the carrot to a messy pulp. Be prepared for a good arm workout!
Shredded carrot salad can be made ahead, and leftovers will keep for about three days in the refrigerator. I wouldn’t advise freezing it though as the sour cream can separate and curdle.
But guess what? You can freeze raw shredded carrot! Just place any unused portion into a plastic freezer bag and it will keep for up to four months. Add the shredded carrot to soups, Chicken Stew, casseroles and more!
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Grape Salad – kid-friendly
- Ambrosia Salad – my mom’s recipe
- Millionaire Cranberry Salad – great for potlucks!
- Waldorf Salad – a classic
- Watergate Salad – my daughter’s favorite
Shredded carrot and raisin salad is a sweet and savory side dish, and great for enhancing meaty entrees. Serve it with something succulent and savory, like pulled pork barbecue, rotisserie chicken or ham.
Favorite Side SaladRecipes
Creamy Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups shredded carrot about 6 large
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup raisins
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple lightly drained, 1 can
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Video
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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made this for a salad supper. I saw the version for Moroccan salad by adding cinnamon, cumin & garlic. omg, so good.
Your version sounds delicious Cathy!
I will enjoy the recipes
Excellent
I have made this recipe several times. It is terrific. Today, however, I didn’t have crushed Pineapple, so I used tidbits. Obviously a little chunkier, but still delisious.
Loved your Creamy Carrot Salad
If you plump the carrots in Hot water first, this tastes better
Thanks for the tip Susan.
Plump the carrots ?
Didn’t you mean plump the raisins ?
I don’t think you can plump carrots…
Can’t wait to try these recipes
I will enjoy the recipes!
Definitely! Have fun cooking Lupe.
Looking forward to trying this
Let us know how it turns out Barbara! Enjoy!
This looks delicious. What type of raisins?
I use yellow raisins.