French Carrot Salad (Carottes Râpées)

This simple French Carrot Salad is proof that the best recipes are often the simplest.

Made with freshly shredded carrots tossed in a bright lemon dressing, it’s light, refreshing, and surprisingly flavorful. Known in France as Carottes Râpées, this everyday salad appears on café menus, family tables, and school lunch trays throughout the country.

I first tried it after my sister encouraged me to give raw carrots another chance. One bite and I understood why this humble salad has remained a French favorite for generations.

With just a handful of ingredients, it’s quick to prepare, keeps well in the refrigerator, and pairs beautifully with almost any meal.

Why You’ll Love This French Carrot Salad

• Quick and easy to make
• Simple pantry-friendly ingredients
• Naturally gluten-free
• Light and refreshing
• Great make-ahead side dish
• Keeps well in the refrigerator
• Easy to customize with herbs, nuts, fruit, or seeds
• Perfect for lunches, picnics, and potlucks

How Many Calories and WW Points?

According to my calculations each serving has just 75 calories and 2 WW Points.

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(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

2 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Fresh lemon juice – Bright and zesty, lemon juice is the star of the dressing. No lemon? Try fresh lime juice or even a splash of apple cider vinegar.
• Shredded raw carrots – Provide sweetness, crunch, and a beautiful orange hue. Any variety works. Yellow or purple carrots are fun, too.
• Olive oil – Adds a touch of richness to balance the acidity and sweetness. No olive oil? Avocado oil works well, or skip it for an oil-free version.
• Sugar – Just enough to mellow the tang and enhance the natural sweetness of the veggies. No sugar? Substitute honey, maple syrup, agave or your favorite non calorie sweetener.
• Mustard – Adds a subtle tang and depth that balances the sweetness of the sugar and the acidity of the lemon juice. It keeps the dressing from tasting flat while helping to emulsify it.
• Parsley and/or chives – Brightens up the salad and balances the sweetness. No parsley or chives? Fresh mint, cilantro, or dill can also work. Or skip it if you are out.
• Salt and pepper – Heightens the flavors. Add to taste.

Recipe Notes

I slightly adapted this simple French shredded carrot salad, Carrottes Rapees, from one of my latest cookbook acquisitions, The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day (affiliate link), from Wine Moranville.

I used only 1 tablespoon of olive oil—instead of 2. This decreased the calories by more than 100.

We all loved it so it’s going into my regular rotation salad and vegetable rotation. Enjoy!

How to Make Shredded Carrot Salad

Step 1: Prepare the carrots

Peel and grate the carrots into long, thin shreds. Place them in a large bowl.

Step 2: Make the dressing

In a small bowl (affiliate link), whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, and Dijon mustard until smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Assemble the salad

Pour the dressing over the carrots.

Add the parsley and/or chives and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Toss well until all the carrots are evenly coated.

Step 4: Chill

For the best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Give it another quick toss before serving.

Recipe Notes & Variations

This classic French carrot salad relies on just a few simple ingredients, so fresh lemon juice and good-quality carrots make a noticeable difference.

I reduced the olive oil from the original recipe, which lightens the salad considerably while still providing plenty of flavor.

The salad tastes even better after it has rested for a little while, making it an excellent make-ahead side dish.

If you enjoy a brighter flavor, add an extra squeeze of lemon juice just before serving.

Variations

This shredded carrot salad can be changed in a multitude of ways to suit your tastes:

• Substitute honey, maple syrup or your favorite sweetener for the sugar.
• Substitute mayonnaise for the olive oil.
• Add thinly sliced fennel and/or radish.
• Substitute fresh cilantro or dill for the parsley.
• Add some thinly sliced green onion/scallion.
• Add a sprinkling of sunflower seeds.
• Add a handful of golden raisins, dried cranberries or chopped dates.
• Add shredded or chopped apple.
• Add chopped nuts such as pistachios or walnuts.

What to Serve with French Carrot Salad

This salad pairs well with:

• Grilled chicken
• Rotisserie chicken
• Salmon
• Tuna salad
• Quiche
• Egg dishes
• Sandwiches and wraps
• Soup
• Picnic lunches

It’s also wonderful as part of a simple French-inspired lunch with crusty bread, fruit, and cheese.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover carrot salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The carrots will soften slightly as they sit, but the flavor continues to improve.

Give the salad a quick stir before serving.

If you’ve made this shredded carrot salad, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Source: The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day (affiliate link)

More Healthy Carrot Recipes You’ll Love

• Weight Watchers Carrot Salad with Raisins & Walnuts
• Simple Shredded Beet & Carrot Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing
• Slow Cooker Curried Carrot Soup
• Easy Carrot Apple Slaw
• Slow Cooker Carrots with Apple Glaze
• Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal