Shaved Rainbow Carrot Sesame Salad

This Rainbow Carrot Sesame Salad is full of flavor and the perfect way to use up the bag of carrots sitting in your fridge. It makes a great side dish for just about any protein, and it’s easy to prep ahead of time.

A few weeks ago, I was tasked with making dinner for my brother and 6 of his 22-year old friends. We only had burger patties, chips, watermelon, and a two gigantic bags of carrots that were starting to wilt. After foraging for a few pantry ingredients (tamari, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, etc.), I came up with this shaved carrot salad – it was the only thing I could think of! Luckily, it was a hit, so after testing a few more times, here we are.

This salad is a surprisingly perfect complement to burgers – it’s crunchy, fresh, slightly spicy and easy to prep. Plus, I love that it’s just a single main ingredient. I’m not always a huge fan of basic chopped salads, but I love easy, flavorful salads like this that really highlight one beautiful vegetable. We’re also currently playing around with a similar spicy cucumber salad – keep an eye out for that one!

Build the carrot salad

Carrots pair well with salty tamari (or soy sauce), nutty sesame oil, tangy rice vinegar, aromatic garlic and ginger and a slight kick from red pepper flakes. We also tossed in some toasted sesame seeds for extra crunch and deep, nutty flavor. We love them toasted! Fresh cilantro, scallions and a squeeze of lime make for a refreshing garnish. They’re optional, but encouraged! Rainbow carrots are also optional, but they’re gorgeous and we love using them whenever possible. Regular carrots are totally fine, too!

Don’t fear the mandoline

When it comes to shaving the carrots, there are a few options. The easiest/most accessible tool to use is a vegetable peeler. Although it’s easy and quick, it’s not my first choice. The carrot pieces end up a bit to thin for my taste and you often end up with a lot of leftover odds and ends. My dog is usually happy to take care of those (he’s OBSESSED with carrots), but I find it much easier to use a mandoline.

It’s easy to use once you get the hang of it. And each shaving is exactly the same width, so you won’t end up with inconsistencies. We have a few different types of mandolines, but I always end up using this super basic Japanese mandoline. I just love the feel of it and I’ve never had any issues with it!

It’s absolutely essential to have hand protection when using a mandoline – you don’t want to end up losing a finger. My husband bought me a pair of these cut-proof gloves a few years ago and they’re a lifesaver. I never use the mandoline without them!

Looking for more easy, one-vegetable side dishes like this Rainbow Carrot Sesame Salad? Try these Dill Roasted Radishes, Crispy Smashed Potatoes or Harissa Roasted Carrots.

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