A fresh, sweet and zingy salad which is simple to prepare and delicious to eat. It’s best to make this orange and ginger carrot salad in advance so the carrots get a chance to absorb the flavours. This makes it perfect picnic and party fare.
It’s always useful to have some simple but delicious and portable food up one’s sleeve for this time of year. Our British summers can be quite changeable and embarking on a picnic or al fresco dining is often a last minute affair. Higgidy quiches are ideal for these occasions, as is this orange ginger carrot salad, which fits the bill perfectly.
Finish up with some of my strawberry cream cakes and maybe a glass of iced tea or strawberry rose mint fizz.
Orange & Ginger Carrot Salad
Whilst the Brits seem to go in for coleslaw in a big way, the French tend to keep their salads more simple. Carrot salad is one of their most popular. They like grated carrots dressed simply with a classic French dressing. This is the equivalent of Coco Chanel’s little black dress – it goes with everything. My orange ginger carrot salad has a little more va va voom and dare I say, is even better.
This simple carrot salad is not only speedily put together with ingredients I generally have to hand, but it’s perfect for picnics. This is mostly because it keeps well and is best made in advance so the carrots have a chance to soak up the flavours. There’s no need to check the weather forecast at hourly intervals before making it either.
Turns out this simple carrot salad is the perfect accompaniment to my bunny chow. Just in case you’re wondering, that’s bean curry in a bread bowl.
Orange is a classic flavour pairing for carrots, but combine it with lime and you have a sweet zingy taste sensation. The ginger brings a bit of tropical heat, which is so often lacking in our summer. The spring onions or chives, on the other hand, give a welcome savoury note. I’m sure Coco would approve of the elegance and simplicity of just a few ingredients which allows the citrus and ginger to shine through. Zut alors.
Higgidy
Higgidy, the Sussex based maker of delicious pies and quiches, sent me some of their summer quiches and veggie rolls in order to take part in their #higgidypicnic pop-up challenge. I was delighted as Higgidy is already a firm favourite with us.
The little peperonata & feta quiches were as good as they sound and matched the carrot salad in colour almost perfectly. The contrast in flavour and texture, however, was quite different. The feta and red pepper veggie rolls are a great vegetarian alternative to sausage rolls and also work very nicely with my simple orange ginger carrot salad.
The only complaint I had was their total moreishness. Luckily, there are only six in a box and with two of us sharing, I wasn’t able to be as greedy as I might otherwise have been.
We often take picnics down to our plot. These Higgidy quiches and veggie rolls are a wonderful grab and go godsend when the rain stops and the skies clear. I’ve made several batches of the salad to go with them. And this gives us the requisite sustenance to keep us cheery and energised as we work. We’ve had a lot of damp weather this year, so we’ve also picnicked inside. On the dining room table in fact. But who’s counting?
Look out for on pack promotions for a chance to win Joules picnic goodies. I was sent a rather fabulous Joules picnic beaker, which as you can see from the photographs, my flowers drank from rather than me. Next time, I might get a look in.
If you fancy having a go at making your own Higgidy pies, there’s a cookbook. Head over to my review of the book to see if you think it might be worth acquiring.
Other Side Salad Recipes You Might Like
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this simple orange & ginger carrot salad, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more carrot recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Orange & Ginger Carrot Salad. PIN IT.
Simple Carrot Salad – The Recipe
Simple Orange and Ginger Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 225 g (8oz) carrots scrubbed, topped and tailed
- ½ orange (I used a clementine this time) – juiced
- ½ lime juiced
- 1 thumb size knob root ginger peeled
- 6 spring onions (scallions) or handful of chives
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (I used flax seed oil this time)
- pinch fine sea or rock salt
- black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Grate the carrots using a food processor or hand-held grater and place into a large mixing bowl.225 g (8oz) carrots
- Grate in the ginger.1 thumb size knob root ginger
- Chop the spring onions or snip the chives and add to the bowl with the remaining ingredients.½ orange, ½ lime, 6 spring onions (scallions), 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, pinch fine sea or rock salt, black pepper
- Give it a good stir, cover and leave to marinade for 2-12 hours.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
As this simple orange and carrot salad is even better on days two and three, I’m sending it off to Cook Once Eat Twice with Searching for Spice.
Carrots are so delicious at this time of year, all newly dug and beautifully sweet. This makes my carrot salad eminently suitable for Simple and in Season with Feeding Boys.
Eating Al Fresco is what this salad was made for, so I’m also sharing it with Munchies and Munchkins.
Other #higgidypicnic Posts You Might Like
- Backgarden picnic with Higgidy via My Fussy Eater
- No mayo apple slaw via Celery & Cupcakes
- Picnic time with Higgidy and bananatella muffin recipe via Munchies and Munchkins
Thanks to Higgidy for sponsoring this post. I was not expected to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks to my readers for supporting the brands that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.
Lisa says
Love the idea of this refreshing salad. I’m been quite keen on carrots lately. Thanks so much for sharing with NCR. I am working on the roundup and it should appear soon.
Choclette says
I’ve just made a purple carrot salad which is pretty good too Lisa 🙂
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi says
You cannot, cannot beat a tasty treat with store cupboard items!
Choclette says
Well I’m not quite sure I’d want my carrots stored for too long in the cupboard, but I know what you mean.
Katie Bryson says
What a lush alternative to coleslaw for a picnic – I adore all the flavours you’ve put together here. Thanks so much for hooking up with this month’s round of Simple and in Season 🙂
Choclette says
Thanks Katie, orange and ginger is a bit of a classic, but sometimes simple is best.
Fiona Maclean says
I do like the sound of this salad. I’m seriously into ginger – and I already make a ginger carrot soup so this sound fab
Choclette says
It’s a really simple salad, but really delicious, especially if you leave it a while for the flavours to marinade.
Heidi Roberts says
I love a grated carrot salad there are so many dressings that work with it too!
Choclette says
You are so right Heidi, carrots are a good vehicle for absorbing flavours.
Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen says
This salad looks really nice and summery and how lovely orange and ginger!
Choclette says
Thanks Alida. It’s absolutely delicious and goes with all sorts of things.
Eb Gargano / easypeasyfoodie.com says
Oooh what a lovely take on carottes rapées – reminds me of when I was working in Paris. This was an absolute staple in the canteen. I probably had it just about every day! I imagine this salad goes wonderfully with those rather marvellous quiches!! Eb x
Choclette says
Haha Eb, me too. I was a student in Lyon for a few months and it was a staple in the canteen there too 🙂
Corina says
I love grated carrot salads and this sound lovely with the ginger and lime. I have to say I’m not a fan of classic coldslaw and would much rather eat something like this. It would indeed be lovely for a picnic! Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice
Choclette says
Thanks Corina. I agree, this is a lot lighter and fresher than classic coleslaw.
Daphne Goh says
I adore carrots, whether its cooked, added to raw carrots or simply juiced. Your carrot salad looks vibrant and delicious and so simple to make too. 🙂
Choclette says
Carrots are very useful vegetables and a beautiful colour too Daphne 🙂
Lucie @bctinykitchen says
I love a carrot salad, I often dress mine with sweet chilli sauce or orange juice and date syrup. Looks like i’ll need to give this a try and add it to the repertoire.
Choclette says
Sweet chilli sauce sounds like a good plan Lucie 🙂
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
What lovely bright salad recipe, perfect for these hot days. I’m really enjoying the Higgidy products, excellent quality.
Choclette says
Thanks Helen. The Higgidy quiches and rolls are really good and so useful for picnics and food on the go too.
Emma @ Supper in the suburbs says
I love love love carrot salad. You’re right it really does go with everything. Your version sounds fab!
Choclette says
Thanks Emma. I had no idea carrot salad was so popular. It’s not really something you see when out and about.
Janice says
We had an instant picnic today, but as it was with a 3 year old, a 5 year old and a 92 year old it consisted of sandwiches mainly egg mayo and cheese! For me a little Higgedy quiche and a carrot salad would be ideal as I have always loved raw carrots and they are my go to snack, especially when fasting!
Choclette says
Oh but that sounds lovely Janice. Were all 4 generations represented?
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I’ve made something similar and it was really good. The flavours work really well together. Love the veggie Higgidy Pies.
Choclette says
Yes Jac. I’m a fan of Higgidy pies and these quiches and rolls were fab.
munchies and munchkins says
This looks so good. I love grated carrot and the fresh simplicity of this really appeals to me. Loving the new Higgidy range. xx
Choclette says
Thanks Rebecca, it’s a lovely salad for sure and it did go very nicely with the Higgidy quiches and rolls.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
We love raw carrot salad too. This looks simple and tasty.
Choclette says
Thanks Angie. Sometimes we forget I think that simple can be extremely good.
Shaheen says
I love carrots in salad, esp. Moroccan inspired ones, this would make a fab change.
Choclette says
Ooh now I want a Moroccan inspired carrot salad Shaheen 🙂
Henk Kooiman says
I love any variety of carrot salad so I bet I’d like this one too !
Choclette says
I think I need to be more adventurous in my carrot salads. I’ve clearly not tried enough.