Description
Moroccan-inspired shredded carrot salad brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your table. Crisp carrots mingle with tart cranberries, creating a refreshing side dish that sparkles with citrusy notes and delicate spices, making you crave each vibrant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) shredded carrots
- 1 large apple, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup (150 grams) dried cranberries
- 0.25 cup (30 grams) chopped toasted walnuts
Dressing Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
- 0.5 tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) sugar
- 0.25 teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) salt
Instructions
- Peel and grate carrots into fine, delicate strands using a box grater or food processor, ensuring uniform texture throughout the salad.
- Core and dice apple into small, precise cubes, preventing browning by immediately incorporating into the mixing bowl.
- Create a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt until silky and well-integrated.
- Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until they release a fragrant, nutty aroma and turn golden brown.
- Combine grated carrots, diced apple, plump dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a vibrant and colorful base.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, gently folding with a spatula to ensure every component is evenly and delicately coated.
- For enhanced flavor development, allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before serving, letting the ingredients harmonize.
- Serve chilled as a refreshing side dish or light lunch, garnishing with additional chopped walnuts if desired for extra crunch.
Notes
- Toasting walnuts beforehand releases their rich, nutty essence, creating a deeper flavor profile that perfectly complements the bright, crisp carrots.
- Refrigerating the salad for 15-30 minutes allows the dressing to gently infuse each ingredient.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg