You’ll Love This Chimichurri Carrot Salad Recipe Even If You Hate Carrots
Do you find it hard to eat carrots right out of the bag? Me too. This chimichurri carrot salad recipe will make you fall in love with carrots again.
Difficulty Level: easy
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of red onion
- 2 cups freshly shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup chimichurri sauce
- 1 Tablespoon of goat cheese to garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Gather your ingredients and then dice a red onion
Take 1/4 cup of the red onion and add to a serving bowl
Shred fresh carrots using a
like this one from Williams Sonoma
Pat the carrots dry with a cloth or paper towels
Add the freshly shredded carrots to the same serving bowl
Salt and pepper to taste and mix together the onions and carrots
Add the chimichurri sauce to your carrot salad mixture
Mix well until all of the carrot slices are coated in the sauce
Top with goat cheese and serve cold
Let’s be honest. Carrots are not the most irresistible vegetable. While some people enjoy snacking on carrot sticks, I cannot relate to that at all. I actually hate carrots because they don’t keep very well in the fridge and can be hard to pair with certain flavors. As a result, I developed this chimichurri carrot salad recipe to completely transform the flavor of carrots.
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This twist on a more traditional carrot salad breaks down the thickness and tough texture of a carrot into thin, sweet pieces that can be easily enjoyed. It makes the perfect side dish alongside a protein like chicken, beef, or even tofu. Fresh ingredients always make a difference, so while you can absolutely use pre-shredded carrots, I encourage you to try fresh carrots. The main reason for this is because pre-shredded carrots can dry out and rob you of their sweet flavor as a result.
Chimichurri is an herb sauce made with oil, vinegar, parsley, cilantro, oregano, garlic, and spices. It originates from Argentina and can pack a zesty, herby, and spicy flavor. I personally like my chimichurri sauce on the spicier side, so I will add red pepper flakes when I make it myself. However, for this chimichurri carrot salad recipe, I used Trader Joe’s pre-packaged chimichurri sauce to save some time and make it easily accessible for all foodies.
Once you taste this chimichurri carrot salad, you’ll see why the two flavors pair so well together. The natural sweetness and raw flavor of carrots compliment a strong herb sauce very well. It softens the savory flavor, which is also why I decided to top the salad off with goat cheese. Goat cheese has a slightly tart, but plain flavor that softens many strong dishes. If you don’t like goat cheese, you can top with feta as an alternative.
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When thinking about what to pair this dish with, I would recommend taking inspiration from the flavors in the chimichurri sauce. For example, it includes parsley, garlic, and cilantro. Dishes that can compliment this flavor include plain and yet good quality meats. I’d probably pair this with a seared steak or grilled chicken. However, it can also compliment many Middle Eastern or Indian recipes. I have served it with curry chicken and potatoes, which created a well-rounded meal rich in spices and warmth.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong trying this new version of carrot salad. It’s super easy to whip up, but you’ll impress your family and friends based on its unique flavor profile. Plus, the green color of the chimichurri mixed with the bright orange color of carrots makes for a very visually appealing side plate.
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