A French Carrot Salad that’s as fresh and juicy as it gets, made even better with the addition of cranberries. This dish is the perfect healthy, colorful side dish or a crisp, refreshing salad all on its own!

French Carrot Salad in a bowl
Table of Contents

French carrot salad is not just any salad. It’s a delightful blend of textures and flavors, combining the sweet crunchiness of carrots with a zesty Dijon mustard dressing. Dried cranberries and sunflower seeds are added for extra flavor and texture.

Preparing this French Carrot Salad recipe is incredibly simple. Serve it alongside virtually anything. For a nourishing light dinner option, I adore pairing it with boiled eggs. The combination is not just visually strikingโ€”it’s a testament to the simple joy of eating well.

French Carrot Salad with cutlery

Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

  • Carrots – Use the freshest organic carrots you can find โ€“ no need to peel them. You can buy shredded carrots in the supermarket, but for a truly fresh grated carrot salad, I highly recommend shredding them at home using a box grater.
  • Cranberries – Dried cranberries add a delightful sweetness to the salad! You could substitute them with raisins.
  • Parsley – Fresh, flat-leaf parsley brings flavor and color.
  • Shallot – Sautรฉed in a bit of olive oil to make it milder in taste and more digestible. Works with an onion or red onion too. Can be omitted if preferred.
  • Carrot Salad Dressing: Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper. Instead of apple cider vinegar, you can use lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or white balsamic vinegar. Honey can substitute for maple syrup.
French Carrot Salad Ingredients

Visual Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Heat a skillet with ยฝ tablespoon of olive oil. Add shallots and sautรฉ them for 5 minutes. โ†’ You can also use them raw in the salad, but sautรฉing makes them milder and more digestible!
  2. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
French Carrot Salad Recipe Step 1-2
  1. Place carrots, shallot, cranberries, parsley, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. โ†’ Let the salad sit in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor!
French Carrot Salad Recipe Step-3

Variations

  • Use this white French salad dressing for a different twist.
  • Add a bit of grated ginger for an extra kick.
  • Substitute sunflower seeds with pumpkin seeds or chopped nuts. For an added crunch, toast them without oil in a skillet until golden brown.
  • Replace the shallot with finely chopped green onions.
  • For a sweet and fruity touch, add diced or grated apple.

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Product Recommendations

For a wonderful crunch, I love using a coarse grater from Microplane (best used with a protective glove)! For a quicker option, the electric version works wonders.

Storage Instructions

This salad can be prepared up to a day in advance and stored in the fridge, allowing the flavors to meld together even more.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Stays fresh for 3 days.

More Salad Recipes

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5 from 1 vote

French Carrot Salad

A French Carrot Salad that's as fresh and juicy as it gets, made even better with the addition of cranberries. This dish is the perfect healthy, colorful side or a crisp, refreshing salad all on its own!
Servings: 4
calories :70kcal
Prep :10 minutes
Total :10 minutes

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Plus, enjoy weekly doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb carrots, coarsely grated
  • ยฝ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 3 tbsp dried cranberries
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds

Dressing

Instructions
 

  • Heat a skillet with ยฝ tablespoon of olive oil. Add shallots and sautรฉ them for 5 minutes. โ†’ You can also use them raw in the salad, but sautรฉing makes them milder and more digestible!
  • Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Place carrots, shallot, cranberries, parsley, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. โ†’ Let the salad sit in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor!

Notes

Leftoversย can be stored for 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.ย 

Nutrition

Calories :70kcal
carbohydrates :14g
Protein :1g
fat :1g
fiber :4g
sugar :7g

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