French Grated Carrot Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
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A French classic—carottes râpées—this iconic carrot salad is simple, vibrant, and beloved in every corner of France, from bustling markets to cozy home kitchens.
I first discovered this grated carrot salad when I was 20 years old and living as a college student in France, and it’s been a staple in my kitchen ever since. I’m always puzzled why it’s not more popular in the States, but one bite of these parsley-specked carrots doused with lemon and olive oil and you’ll know why it’s standard fare in every French bistro, market, and family kitchen.
With just 15 minutes of prep time and a handful of ingredients, the salad is not only a cinch to make, but it also keeps well and is good for you. If you have time, let it sit for a few hours before serving—the flavors really come together that way. It’s perfect for picnics or as a light side dish with egg salad sandwiches or grilled chicken.
While this carrot salad recipe sticks to a few simple, essential ingredients—as the French often do—there are plenty of ways to mix it up if you’re in the mood. Try this carrot slaw with dried cranberries and walnuts for a touch of sweetness, or my Moroccan-spiced carrot salad for a little extra warmth and complexity.
“My French grandma used to make this salad, so it brings back sweet memories. Sometimes I toss in a few pistachios or almonds for a little protein, but it’s wonderful as written!”
What You’ll Need to Make French Carrot Salad
- Carrots: The sweet, crunchy base of the salad that gives it its fresh flavor and texture.
- Dijon mustard: Brings a tangy kick and helps the dressing come together.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a pop of brightness that balances out the sweetness of the carrots and honey.
- Vegetable Oil and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: A mix that keeps the dressing light and flavorful—olive oil alone would be a little too strong here.
- Honey: Adds just enough sweetness to round out the tanginess of the lemon and mustard.
- Fresh Parsley: Brings a fresh, herby flavor and a burst of green color.
- Scallions: Add a mild onion flavor and a little bit of crunch without overpowering the salad.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Shred the carrots. Peel the carrots, then shred in a food processor. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the dressing. In a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, lemon juice, honey, vegetable oil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly whisking the ingredients helps emulsify the dressing, so it clings nicely to the carrots instead of pooling at the bottom.
Step 3: Toss the salad. Add the shredded carrots, parsley, and scallions to the bowl, and stir gently to coat them in the dressing. Toss everything well, then taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Since carrots can vary in sweetness, you might want an extra pinch of salt or squeeze of lemon to balance the flavors.
Step 4: Serve. Cover or store in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. (If you have time, let the salad sit for 15 to 30 minutes before serving—it gives the carrots a chance to absorb the dressing and the flavors to meld.)
More Salad Recipes You May Like
French Grated Carrot Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Shredded carrots tossed with a light, citrusy vinaigrette—this refreshing salad is crisp, bright, and ready in minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, peeled
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
- 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, to taste
- Heaping ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 finely sliced scallions (or 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots)
Instructions
- Shred the carrots in a food processor. Set aside.
- In a salad bowl, combine the dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, vegetable oil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the carrots, fresh parsley and scallions (or shallots) and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Notes: Depending on the sweetness of the carrots, you may want to add more or less honey. Also, if you make this salad ahead of time, be sure to check the seasoning again before serving as the flavors tend to mellow.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: about 3/4 cup
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 253 mg
- Cholesterol: 0
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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This is a healthy salad. It’s great for a side dish or sometimes I eat it for lunch. Last week I tripled the recipe and brought it in for my daughter’s class. She had to make something from France and I thought of this simple classic salad.
This is absolutely delicious! So easy to make too. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Love carrots in a salad or that make the salad. Sounds lite and refreshing. Will make it soon.
Took this to a family BYOD (bring your own dish) and it was a hit!!!! Everyone loved it. A beautiful color to add to the assortment of dishes brought. I will always take this from now own
The perfect side dish to take along to a party!
i had so many carrots this past summer, so i searched for a new recipe and found this one. i tried it and found it to be so yummy. i did add more honey and dijon mustard. also i used only olive olive. and i added lemon zest. i live in japan and have made it for several pot luck meals. everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. it’s surprisingly delicious and easy; however my cheap food processor wouldn’t do the carrots, so i have always hand grated them which took ages, but was well worth it! thank you!!
Yummy! Thanks for sharing
I tried this tonight and loved it. Linked to it on FB and btw I was out of honey due to baklava making earlier in day so used Agave nectar. The dijon, parsley and sweet stuff were a nice savory change from the orange juice dressing I usually use that the kids hate… this one is a total keeper Thank You
Why is there two different kinds of oil? Can I just use the Olive oil?
LOVE this recipe! We were just in Las Vegas and ate ate Mon Ami Gabi French cafe where we were served a warmed baguette with sweet butter and a carrot salad. It was amazing and I couldn’t get it off of my mind. I found your French carrot salad recipe and it is perfect! So delicious! Now I must go buy a baguette!
I made this salad as stated, but added one more teaspoon of honey. I LOVE this salad!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe. The dressing makes it heavenly. It’s so simple, and so refreshing. I will be making this regularly now, for sure. Thank you!