Description
This vibrant Carrot and Orange Salad combines the natural sweetness of fresh carrots with juicy orange segments, complemented by a zesty dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and honey. Garnished with fresh mint and toasted nuts, this refreshing salad is perfect as a light appetizer or a healthy side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and grated
- 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (Optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or almonds, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare Carrots: Peel and grate the carrots using a grater or food processor. Place the grated carrots into a large mixing bowl.
- Segment Oranges: Peel the oranges, removing all the white pith, and cut them into segments. Add the orange segments to the bowl with the carrots.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey (if using), salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Combine Salad and Dressing: Pour the dressing over the carrot and orange mixture. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
- Add Garnishes: If using, add the chopped fresh mint leaves and toasted nuts to the salad, and toss lightly again.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or divide it into individual plates. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- Peeling the oranges thoroughly to remove pith prevents bitterness in the salad.
- Honey or maple syrup is optional and can be omitted for a less sweet dressing.
- Toasted nuts add a lovely crunch but can be excluded for a nut-free option.
- For best texture, serve the salad within a few hours of preparation.
- This salad can be made vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No cooking required, mixing and assembling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: carrot salad, orange salad, fresh salad, healthy salad, Mediterranean salad, vegan option, easy salad recipe