Crunchy Carrot Salad
Servings: 2
This crunchy carrot salad is one of those simple recipes that quietly becomes a staple in your kitchen. It’s fresh, vibrant, and comes together in minutes—yet delivers so much flavor and nourishment in every bite. The naturally sweet carrots pair perfectly with bright citrus and fresh herbs, creating a light, refreshing dish that works as a snack or an easy side.
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
- Shred your own carrots if you can. Freshly shredded carrots are noticeably juicier and sweeter than the pre-bagged kind, which tend to be dry. A box grater or food processor gets it done in 2 minutes — or buy whole carrots and use a julienne peeler for prettier, crunchier ribbons.
- Toast the sunflower seeds for next-level crunch. Two to three minutes in a dry skillet until golden and fragrant — it deepens their nutty flavor and makes the "crunchy" in this salad's name really deliver. Watch closely; they turn fast.
- Not a cilantro fan? Fresh parsley, mint, or dill all work beautifully here — mint leans bright and summery, dill leans tangy. Use the same ¼ cup and this salad becomes a whole new recipe each time.
- It gets better as it sits. Unlike leafy salads, carrots don't wilt — 15-30 minutes in the citrus dressing actually softens and sweetens them. Make it ahead for meals, but add the sunflower seeds right before serving so they stay crisp.
Nutrition
Serving: 2cups, Calories: 286kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Sodium: 91mg, Potassium: 575mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 21564IU, Vitamin C: 24mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 1mg
