This simple Carrot and Apple salad is perfect next time you're looking for easy recipes to snack on or add to lunch or dinner as a healthy side dish! Even my favorite recipe testers, my nieces and nephew, approved. 😊
As a dietitian, I love raw carrot salads because carrots add color and sweetness along with antioxidants and vitamins A & C! They pair so well with tart apples, a little bit of ginger, and a creamy Greek yogurt salad dressing like in this apple carrot salad.
So if I'm not roasting my carrots or making carrot cake overnight oats, this salad is how I'm using up the rest of the bag of carrots I bought to make my Lemon Chicken Orzo soup!
If you're looking for more healthy salads to snack on, try my carrot cucumber salad which is a similar recipe with crunchy carrots, cucumber, and a sesame ginger dressing. My cucumber sweet pepper salad or Mediterranean chickpea salad are great options too!
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This carrot and apple salad is made using simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes but be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom for the measurements!
- Carrots - I suggest using large carrots and using a box grater to grate them. The grated carrots absorb the flavor of the dressing. Baby carrots lack the natural sweetness of larger carrots so be sure to grab whole carrots if possible.
- Apples - use a firm apple variety that will grate without getting mushy. My favorite to use for this recipe is a Honeycrisp apple.
- Ginger Root - to add a kick of spice and more antioxidants.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - fresh squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and enhances the natural sugars in the carrots and apples. It’s also high in vitamin C, an important nutrient for immune health.
- Greek Yogurt - using Greek yogurt as a healthier option to replace the mayonnaise or sour cream often found in carrot apple salad makes this recipe lower in saturated fats and calories but still adds creaminess. You can replace plain yogurt with whipped cottage cheese if you prefer.
- Kosher Salt - to tie everything together and enhance the other flavors.
- Optional - extra virgin olive oil - a small amount of extra virgin olive oil balances out the sweetness of the apples and adds heart healthy fats. You can leave it out or substitute with avocado oil if you prefer.
How to Make Carrot and Apple Salad
Below are the directions for how to make this easy recipe with photos I hope are helpful!
- Step 1: Grate the apples and carrots with a box grater and the ginger with a citrus zester. Alternatively, you can finely chop the apples and carrots with a sharp knife, use a julienne peeler to grate them, or pulse them in a food processor.
- Step 2: Combine the apples, carrots, ginger, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, kosher salt, and olive oil (if using) to a large bowl. Give everything a good mix to make sure it's coated.
Hint: apples will brown quickly after being grated. Tossing them in some lemon juice right after they're grated can help prevent this!
Video of How to Make Carrot Apple Salad
Here's a video showing how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Dietitian Tip
Replacing mayonnaise often found in carrot and apple salads cuts down on the saturated fats and calories in the dish while still making it creamy and adding a bit of tangy flavor!
Variations
The best part about this carrot and apple salad is that you can customize it to your taste. Below are some ideas.
- Apple Carrot Slaw - turn it into a slaw by adding some shredded purple cabbage or green cabbage!
- Sweeter - add a pop of sweetness with raisins or chopped dates.
- With Added Crunch - add chopped walnuts, pecans, or sliced almonds for a bit of crunch.
Equipment
You'll need a box grater to grate the carrots and apples and a zester to grate the fresh ginger!
Storage
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to choose a firm apple variety like a honeycrisp, Granny smith, or fuji apple.
- Use the medium or large side of the box grater when grating the carrots and the large side for the apple.
- Be careful not to cut your knuckle when grating the carrots. I usually stop about 1-2 inches from the edge of the carrot to prevent an injury!
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich option. Carrots provide beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in your body and helps support eye health. Apples contain dietary fiber to support gut health and antioxidants. Greek yogurt adds a small amount of protein while fresh ginger adds more antioxidants!
Absolutely! If you do choose to use packaged grated carrots, I suggest giving them one more run through with a sharp knife.
This salad goes great as a side dish with balsamic chicken and brown rice or smoked paprika salmon and roasted vegetables! It also works well as a side dish with pork.
Absolutely! Any creamy yogurt will work here.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with a Carrot and Apple Salad:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Carrot and Apple Salad Recipe with Greek Yogurt
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots (about 3 cups grated)
- 1 apple (I use a Honeycrisp, about 2 cups grated)
- ½ tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Grate the apples and carrots with a box grater and the ginger with a citrus zester. Alternatively, you can finely chop the apples and carrots with a sharp knife, use a julienne peeler to grate them, or pulse them in a food processor.
- Combine the apples, carrots, ginger, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, kosher salt, and olive oil (if using) to a large bowl. Give everything a good mix to make sure it's coated.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to choose a firm apple variety like a honeycrisp, Granny smith, or fuji apple.
- Use the medium or large side of the box grater when grating the carrots and the large side for the apple.
- Be careful not to cut your knuckle when grating the carrots. I usually stop about 1-2 inches from the edge of the carrot to prevent an injury!
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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