Description
This vibrant carrot salad is a refreshing and simple side dish perfect for dinner, brunch, or packed lunches. Featuring julienned carrots, sweet Medjool dates, crunchy pistachios, fresh herbs, and a tangy tahini-lemon dressing, it offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors. Easy to prepare and perfect make-ahead, it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, julienned
- 3 Medjool dates, pitted and diced
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
- ⅓ cup finely chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup mint leaves (optional)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Use a julienne peeler to julienne 1 pound of carrots and place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle 3 pitted and diced Medjool dates over the carrots.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of tahini, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 grated small garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon of cumin, and ¼ teaspoon of sea salt until well combined.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the julienned carrots and dates. Toss thoroughly to coat the ingredients evenly.
- Add nuts and herbs: Sprinkle ¼ cup of chopped pistachios and ⅓ cup of finely chopped cilantro over the salad, then toss gently again to distribute.
- Garnish and serve: Scatter ¼ cup of mint leaves (if using) on top for a fresh garnish. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
- This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making it a great make-ahead option.
- For a nut-free version, omit pistachios or substitute with toasted sunflower seeds.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey according to taste.
- Use fresh herbs like cilantro and mint to add brightness and contrast to the sweetness of the dates.
- If unable to julienne carrots, thinly slice them or use pre-shredded carrots as an alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean