This quick and easy Carrot Raisin Salad is a healthy and delicious slaw you can throw together in minutes! Fresh carrots tossed with cabbage, raisins, pistachios, parsley and a sesame dressing. Ready in just 20 minutes!
It doesn't have to have greens to be a salad!
Carrots are my all-time favorite vegetable. They are so crunchy and earthy and flavorful. They deserve to be the star of a salad, not just a topping.
In this salad, fresh, crisp carrots are definitely the star!
Grated carrots are the base of the salad. Stir in some red cabbage, raisins, pistachios, parsley. Then toss with a quick sesame dressing. And you've got a super quick yet incredibly flavorful salad.
This salad would make a great Easter side dish. Or a fresh option for summer cookouts and gatherings.
It's ready in just a few minutes and sure to please my fellow carrot lovers (and normal people too).
Jump to:
Why I love this Carrot Raisin Salad
- Dietary needs - this slaw is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, and refined sugar free
- Super easy side - with just five ingredients and a super quick dressing, this salad is very easy to make and quick to prepare
- Sweet & crunchy - just what a slaw-salad should be. The crunchy carrots pair perfectly with sweet raisins. And my other favorite slaw add-in, pistachios, make an appearance too!
- Literally so quick - If you have the ingredients at home, you can have this slaw ready in just a few minutes!
- Salad without the greens - there are tossed veggies and a dressing, so this is definitely a salad. But it doesn't feel like a sad, boring salad
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Carrots: carrots taste best when you buy them whole and grate them yourself, so I highly recommend this. But buying pre-grated carrots is a great time-saver if you're in a pinch
- Red Cabbage: cabbage adds a pop of purple color as well as some good crunch. Plus, doesn't everyone have a random half a cabbage in their fridge? Just chop it up and throw it in! (Green cabbage is fine too.)
- Raisins: apparently there's some controversy about raisins. Some people love them and others hate them. Carrots and raisins pair really well together, so I do recommend them. But if you're a raisin hater, you can use dried cranberries or dried cherries
- Pistachios: either raw or dry roasted pistachios are fine. You can use salted or unsalted.
- Parsley: aromatics like parsley add some fresh earthy flavor. A bit of fresh parsley in this salad is worth it!
Dressing
- Lemon Juice: fresh lemon juice helps brighten up this salad
- Dijon Mustard
- Maple Syrup: for a completely fruit-sweetened dressing use date syrup instead
- Tahini: carrot and sesame is another classic flavor combination, so tahini is the perfect ingredient to add that sesame flavor. Plus, a bit of fat in the dressing helps with digesting the raw veggies
- Salt & Pepper
How to make this Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad
Step 1. Make the dressing. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, tahini, salt and pepper.
Step 2. In a large bowl toss the carrots, cabbage, raisins, pistachios, parsley, and dressing. Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Carrot Raisin Salad
This salad makes a great side dish. Serve alongside your favorite protein-packed meals, like:
- Smoky Tofu
- Vegan BLTs
- Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
- Vegan Egg Salad
- Chickpea Patty Burgers
- Tofu Satay Skewers
- Portobello Burgers
FAQ & Expert Tips
I recommend serving this salad immediately to optimize freshness.
If you have leftovers, place them in an air tight container and store in the fridge. The salad will last up to a week.
Carrots are pretty hardy, but if you want to optimize freshness you can sprinkle some lemon juice on the salad - the acid helps keep the ingredients from going bad.
If you know you'll have leftovers, you can wait to stir in the pistachios, to keep them from getting soggy.
Personally, I love when raisins soak up some moisture and get nice and plump, but you can also wait to stir in the raisins until right before you eat.
If you want to add some extra flavor to the salad, feel free to stir in your favorite veggies or other add-ins. Some suggestions:
- Grated raw beets
- Sliced brussels sprouts
- Green cabbage
- Sliced apples
- Scallions
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this carrot salad. Thank you for healthy and easy recipes that fuel our bodies with nutrients. Amen.
More Slaws and Salads
Tried this recipe?
Please leave a review in the comments section below and post on Instagram tagging me @elizabeths_table. You can also stay in touch with me on social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok or by subscribing to my newsletter.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Carrot Raisin Salad with Cabbage (Vegan)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Carrots peeled and grated using a box grater
- 1 Cup Shredded Red Cabbage
- ½ Cup Raisins
- ⅓ Cup Pistachios
- 2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley
Dressing
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Tahini
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, tahini, salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl toss the carrots, cabbage, raisins, pistachios, parsley, and dressing. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Comments
No Comments