Citrus Carrot Ribbon Salad (Printable)

Delicate carrot ribbons paired with lemon, orange, herbs, and a honey dressing for a bright, fresh dish.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large carrots, peeled
02 - 1 small cucumber, seeds removed

→ Citrus

03 - 1 lemon, zest and juice
04 - 1 orange, zest and juice

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - Salt, to taste
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons roasted pistachios or almonds, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Use a vegetable peeler to shave the carrots and cucumber into long, thin ribbons. Place them in a large salad bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, orange juice, lemon and orange zest, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the carrot and cucumber ribbons. Add chopped mint and parsley. Toss gently to coat all vegetables evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual plates. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes and tastes like you put in way more effort than you did.
  • The citrus dressing is tangy and sweet without being heavy or complicated.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better as the flavors soak in.
02 -
  • If you make this ahead, wait to add the nuts and herbs until right before serving or they'll wilt and get soggy.
  • Cold carrots are harder to peel into ribbons, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes if they've been in the fridge.
  • Don't skip the cucumber seeds step, I learned this the hard way when my beautiful salad turned into a puddle.
03 -
  • Use a Y-shaped peeler instead of a straight one, it gives you more control and wider ribbons.
  • Zest the citrus directly over the bowl so the oils spray right into the salad.
  • If the dressing tastes too sharp, add a pinch of sugar or another drizzle of honey to smooth it out.
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