Description
Mexican-inspired carrot salad celebrates fresh ingredients with zesty lime dressing. Crisp carrots and tangy cilantro create a simple side dish perfect for summer gatherings you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) carrots, peeled
- 1 red apple, shredded
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup pecans, chopped and toasted
- 3 tbsps mayonnaise
- 3 tbsps Dijon mustard, coarse-grain
- 3 tbsps apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsps honey
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper, ground
- 2 tbsps parsley, fresh and chopped
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl until smooth and well-combined, creating a creamy, tangy base for the salad.
- Ingredient Integration: Add grated carrots, diced apples, toasted pecans, raisins, and chopped parsley to the dressing, carefully mixing to ensure every morsel is evenly coated and distributed throughout the salad.
- Final Styling and Serving: Gently toss the mixture to marry the flavors, allowing the dressing to permeate the ingredients. Serve immediately for maximum crispness, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours to let the flavors develop and intensify, transforming this vibrant side dish into a delectable culinary experience.
Notes
- Toast Nuts Perfectly: Gently heat pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning and develop a rich, nutty flavor without bitterness.
- Grate Carrots Uniformly: Use a box grater’s medium holes for consistent texture, ensuring even dressing distribution and preventing watery or overly chunky results.
- Dress Strategically: Mix dressing separately before adding vegetables to guarantee smooth, even coating and prevent soggy ingredients.
- Chill for Flavor Depth: Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to mingle and develop more complex, harmonious taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 5mg