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This crunchy grated carrot salad is one of those simple recipes I come back to again and again. It’s bright, fresh, and incredibly nourishing—perfect as a quick snack or a vibrant side when your meals need a little lift.
I created this for my 21-Day Cleanse because it’s an easy way to boost fiber, support digestion, and give your body steady energy in the middle of the day. The natural sweetness of carrots paired with citrus makes it feel light and refreshing, while still being satisfying.
Table of Contents
What is a Carrot Salad?
A carrot salad is a fresh, crunchy dish made with raw shredded carrots and a simple dressing. The most common version is light and citrusy (like a French carrot salad), while others are creamy with mayo.
What makes this carrot salad recipe special is the balance. Instead of weighing it down with mayo or heavy ingredients, it leans on whole, plant-based foods to create texture and satisfaction. The raw sunflower seeds add a subtle crunch and a boost of protein and healthy fats, while the lemon and orange juice bring a clean, zesty finish that keeps you coming back for another bite.
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Carrot Salad Tips
- If you can, grate whole carrots yourself. It takes a few extra minutes, yet the flavor and texture are noticeably better than pre-shredded.
- Taste as you go. Citrus can vary, so adjust the lemon or orange to get that perfect balance of bright and fresh.
- If you want to make it more filling, add chickpeas or extra sunflower seeds. That little boost turns it into a more satisfying snack. I did that in my Marinated Celery Salad and readers loved it!
- For deeper flavor, lightly toast the sunflower seeds before adding them. It’s a small step that makes a big difference. Use extras in my Upgraded Green Goddess Salad.
- And if you want to lean into a more classic French-style carrot salad, try adding a bit of fresh fruit like apples or raisins.
Serving Suggestion
This carrot salad isn’t meant to be the main event—and that’s the beauty of it. It’s a supportive recipe. One you can prep ahead, portion into small containers, and grab when you need something quick that still aligns with your goals. It’s especially helpful during a reset or cleanse, when having nourishing options ready can make all the difference.
More Healthy Carrot Recipes
If you love this grated carrot salad, use the rest of the bag in your fridge or pull some more from the garden to use in these recipes:
If you make this carrot salad, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. Little recipes like this may seem simple, yet they’re often the ones that help you stay consistent—and that’s where the real transformation happens.
Crunchy Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup cilantro stems removed and chopped
- ¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
- dash black pepper, ground
- dash sea salt, unrefined
Dressing
- 2 tbsp orange juiced
- 2 tbsp lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Whisk together orange juice, lemon juice and olive oil. Set aside.
- Combine shredded carrot, cilantro and sunflower seeds on a plate.
- Drizzle dressing over salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- You can use whole carrots and grate them for stronger flavor.
- Swap out the sunflower seeds with hemp hearts (still nut-free) or sliced almonds.
- Does cilantro taste like soap to you? If so, use parsley instead.
- Feel free to use the carrots of your choice. When I created this salad for my Plant-Based Cleanse, I used rainbow carrots because they’re fun!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
Yes, you can save time with pre-shredded carrots. Just know freshly grated carrots have a sweeter flavor and softer texture, which makes the salad taste even better.
If cilantro isn’t your thing (or tastes like soap), swap it with fresh parsley. It still gives a bright, fresh flavor without overpowering the salad.
Add chickpeas, extra sunflower seeds, or even hemp hearts. These boost protein and healthy fats, helping you stay full longer.
Yes, you can prep it a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge. For best texture, add the dressing right before serving or refresh it with a squeeze of lemon.
I LOVE this carrot salad, but then again I live most carrot salads:). SGS recipes never disappoint!
Great salad. Easy to make. Prefer a lighter olive oil so it doesn’t overpower the other flavors.
It was a good side dish. It would have been nice to break it up with another veggie/green.
Not your grandma’s carrot salad!
I love carrots so this salad will be one of my favorites
Carrots are rawesome, glad you love it!
I loved the crunch of the salad. It’s simple and light. The sunflower seeds gave it an extra crunch. It made a perfect side dish.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really liked the carrot salad but substituted pumpkin seeds for the sunflower. The salad dressing was nice and light but I will get 4 servings out of it. I paired it with baked cod and it was delicious!
Great seed substitute!
Sorry, but I also am not a fan of carrots (or cilantro) as the primary ingredient of a veg salad. Give me lots of greens any day with a few shredded carrots as garnish, but not carrots as the salad base.
Again flavors I would never have thought would go together make a great salad. Sweet and clean with a little crunch.
The dressing tastes really good with the carrots.
This was pretty good. I’ve never had carrot salad before so I have nothing to compare it to. The dressing was light and refreshing.
Loved this one! I thought it was going to be too simple, but often in simplicity there’s perfection. This was crunchy, light, and refreshing. The perfect compliment to many meals, particularly in the warmer months.
It was okay just not one of my favs.
Overall we liked the idea and the ingredients went very well together. I think my carrot pieces might have been a little bit unruly! I would make them half the size next time. The dressing was delightful. While this is not our favorite of the other seven recipes we would make it again and use multi-colored carrots.
This recipe couldn’t be simpler or a better combination of flavors and textures! It’s a win.
So simple, but so tasty. I shredded whole carrots into long strips with a vegetable peeler – so lovely. But if I’d bought shredded carrots, this would have been an almost instant salad. Perfection!
Yes! Matchstick carrots would make it easier!
I loved the carrot and sesame seed flavors but thought the lemon was a little to strong.
Very good!!!
Very refreshing!!!
Never had a carrot salad quite as tasty as this
My family enjoyed it and all the flavours were enjoyed they said it was very tasty they loved the crunch
Rawesome, glad the family enjoyed it!
The salad was better than I thought it would be. Next time I will put on less dressing, it was a little too sweet. It’s a good side or snack.