Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

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My family's Italian Carrot Salad Recipe is legendary! You just need 25 minutes to make this delicious carrot side dish featuring a red wine vinaigrette and basil. We serve it for every occasion because it's easy, diet-friendly and everyone loves it!

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (1)

Mom always says the best Italian food consists of just a few simple ingredients. Isn't that a great recipe for life, too?

This Italian Carrot Salad features crisp-tender carrots, a red wine vinaigrette and basil coming together to make magic. It's similar to this Italian Bean Salad and simple tomato salad and tastes like a million bucks.

Mom has made this carrot salad recipe my entire life. When she says we're having "the carrots" with dinner, no one has to ask what kind!

It's the perfect side dish for barbecues, potlucks or dinners at home. Since it’s made without mayonnaise, it holds up well outdoors.

Plus, it’s vegan, gluten-free, low-calorie and contains no added sugar, so it works for people with various dietary restrictions.

You have to make this! And don't miss these other Italian side dishes.

Recipe ingredients

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (2)

Carrots: Start with whole, raw carrots. They’ll have the best flavor and texture.

Basil: Fresh basil leaves add incredible flavor and a pop of green to accent this dish. Dried basil won’t taste as good here.

Red Wine Vinegar: This provides the signature, tangy flavor for the carrot salad dressing. If you’d prefer not to use it, substitute plain white vinegar for the closest flavor, or use white balsamic vinegar to add a hint of sweetness.

Olive Oil: We always use regular olive oil, which tastes milder than extra virgin olive oil. Use what you prefer.

How to make carrot salad without mayo

See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (3)
  1. Peel the carrots and trim off the ends.
  2. Cut the carrots into planks and boil them until they're crisp-tender. Rinse with cold water and drain them in a colander (affiliate link).
  3. Place the boiled carrots in a bowl with the oil, vinegar, seasonings and basil.
  4. Toss the ingredients with two spoons to combine.

Recipe tips

  • Don’t overcook the carrots, or they’ll be too mushy for this salad. You want to be able to stick a fork in with a little resistance.
  • Plan to make this simple carrot salad at least an hour ahead of time, so it has time to marinate and cool off. You can leave it at room temperature for up to two hours before it needs to be refrigerated.

How to serve it

Serve this carrot side dish at room temperature or slightly chilled. It’s so refreshing and delicious! It looks beautiful in a platter (affiliate link).

It goes great with Pork Tenderloin with Glaze, Italian Chicken Cutlets or Broiled Cod. Or you can enjoy these carrots as the main event for lunch!

Just make sure to have plenty of Italian Bread to dip into the oil and vinegar mixture. You’re in for a treat!

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (4)

Frequently asked questions

How do you store Italian Carrot Salad?

Store any leftover marinated carrot salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Do you need to reheat leftover carrot salad?

When you take these carrots out of the fridge, you’ll notice the vinaigrette dressing has congealed. Don’t reheat the leftovers, though, because it will soften the carrots too much, and the salad will lose its refreshing taste.

Just take the carrot salad out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving it. Then toss it with two spoons, and it'll be perfect.

If you haven’t planned ahead and really want to eat some right away, you can use the microwave for a few seconds just to take the chill off.

What are the benefits of cooked carrot salad?

Cooked carrots are healthier than raw carrots, according to a study cited by Prevention magazine. Cooked carrots allow the body to absorb more of carrots' beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene turns into vitamin A, which helps improve the health of our eyes, skin and immune system.

More Italian favorites

  • Italian Potato Salad with Green Beans
  • Marinated Roasted Bell Peppers
  • Broccoli Rabe with Garlic
  • Sautéed Escarole
  • Eggplant Caponata
  • 63 Italian Appetizers

Enjoy!

If you try this Italian Carrot Salad recipe, be sure to leave a comment and a rating!

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (5)

Italian Carrot Salad Recipe

My family's Italian Carrot Salad is legendary! You just need 25 minutes to make this delicious side dish featuring a red wine vinaigrette and basil.

4.67 from 6 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 105kcal

Author: Mamma C

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds whole carrots
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 6 medium basil leaves

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Fill a large pot ⅔ full with hot water. Set it on the stove over high heat and add a couple teaspoons of salt to the water. Cover the pot.

  • While the water is heating, rinse and peel the carrots. Trim off and discard the ends. Cut each carrot in half so that it is 3-to-4 inches long. Cut each piece in half the long way to make the carrots thinner. If you have a thick carrot, you might want to cut it in half again the long way.

  • When the water is boiling, add the carrots to the pot. When the water returns to a boil, lower the heat and cover the pot. Boil the carrots for 10 minutes, or until they are done to your liking but not mushy. (Check by inserting a fork in one or tasting it.)

  • While the carrots are cooking, stack the basil leaves and roll them tightly into a cylinder shape. Slice the cylinder of basil into pieces about ¼ inch wide. This will give you ribbons of basil (chiffonade).

  • When the carrots are done, drain them in a colander in the sink and run some cold water over them to stop the cooking. Transfer the carrots to your serving bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Gently toss everything together with two spoons.

  • Serve at room temperature. (You can make it one or two hours ahead of time and let it marinate at room temperature, if you wish.) Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Notes

This is vegan, gluten-free, low-calorie and contains no added sugar, so it works for people with various dietary restrictions.

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 25260IU | Vitamin C: 8.9mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

(Recipe Source: Adapted from my Mom, who doesn't measure anything when she makes this. Originally published on January 4, 2016 and updated now with new photos and additional information. Photos by Kanyi Muraguri for Cooking with Mamma C.)

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Italian Carrot Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is raw carrot salad good for you? ›

Raw carrots, being fibrous, naturally promotes bowel regularity which positively affects digestion and elimination as well! Optimal liver and thyroid function Since the raw carrot salad assists in eliminating excess estrogens and endotoxins, this also reduces the heavy load the liver carries.

What is carrot salad made of? ›

1In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper for the dressing until smooth. 2Add the carrots, apple, pecans, raisins, and parsley to the dressing mixture; toss together to coat. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 day.

What are the benefits of carrot and vinegar salad? ›

The raw carrot salad recipe includes (obviously) one or two raw carrots that are grated using a food processor or hand peeler, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and salt and pepper. Reported benefits of eating this salad include hormonal balance, reduced acne breakouts, and better digestion.

Is it okay to eat raw carrots everyday? ›

You can have carrots daily and as part of a healthy, balanced diet. You are unlikely to get carotenemia (turning your skin an orange-yellow color) unless you eat too many carrots and other carotene-rich foods too often. Is chewing on carrots good for you? Yes.

What time of day should I eat raw carrot salad? ›

Dr. Peat found that estrogen levels can be reduced by consuming a simple carrot salad once or twice per day, ideally with breakfast and/or lunch. The carrot salad doesn't just detoxify estrogen, it also removes endotoxin from bad bugs and is antifungal.

What is diced onion celery and carrot called? ›

The French flavor base called mirepoix is a combination of onion, carrot and celery generally cut to the same size. It's used in a ratio that's 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and carrot. Saute in Butter. Mirepoix is the start of many French dishes, such as coq au vin and lamb stew.

Do you have to peel carrots for salad? ›

Because a carrot's skin isn't as thick as other root vegetables (like potatoes) or winter squashes, carrots are perfectly safe and delicious to eat without peeling so long as they are properly cleaned. When it comes down to it, peeling carrots or keeping the skin on is a matter of personal preference.

Should I blanch carrots for salad? ›

Blanching makes colors pop. It creates bright verdant beans and flashing orange carrots, and produces a crisp crudite bite. Now, more challenging veggies aren't raw at one extreme or limp on the other, but perfecto.

Do carrots clean your gut? ›

The fiber in carrots (and any high-fiber vegetables, actually) acts like a natural vacuum cleaner in your gastrointestinal tract, picking up debris as it runs through your body. Carrots can also help keep gut cells healthy, supporting a decreased risk of illness and improving your health overall.

What happens if we eat cucumber and carrot daily? ›

Carrots and cucumber (peeled) are rich in dietary fibre, which slows digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels. They also contain antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that improve glucose metabolism, leading to a hypoglycemic response.

What is the healthiest vinegar for salad? ›

Balsamic vinegar contains beneficial antioxidants, no fat, and very few calories. (You can read more about its health benefits here.) It packs a lot of flavor into a small amount, so it goes a long way on salads.

Can you eat carrot tops raw in a salad? ›

Before we get to the sauce, let's talk carrot tops! They have a lightly sweet, earthy flavor that's like a cross between carrots and parsley, and they're delicious raw or cooked.

How to make carrots softer for salads? ›

Blanching, or partially boiling a vegetable for a few minutes in unsalted water, soften carrots just enough to run a knife through them but doesn't heat the centers, so it doesn't alter their flavor.

How often should you eat raw carrot salad? ›

Keep in mind that there are side effects of eating an abundance of carrots, as enthusiasts of the carrot salad suggest eating one (made of two raw carrots) daily. And you may have heard that eating lots of carrots can turn your skin orange. Carotenemia is a condition caused by high carotene levels in the blood.

Is raw carrot good for your gut? ›

The fiber in carrots (and any high-fiber vegetables, actually) acts like a natural vacuum cleaner in your gastrointestinal tract, picking up debris as it runs through your body. Carrots can also help keep gut cells healthy, supporting a decreased risk of illness and improving your health overall.

Do raw carrots detox estrogen? ›

Carrots also contain high amounts of insoluble fiber, which studies have shown can help the body detox excess estrogen. However, it is important to note that blindly making big dietary changes can have negative consequences.

How do raw carrots help hormones? ›

The hormone-related health benefits of carrots may have to do with their fiber content. Since carrots are high in fiber, they can help support and improve gut health, which can indirectly aid hormonal balance. “Like most vegetables, carrots are high in fiber, which improves gut health," Forrester confirms.

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