How to Make a Simple and Classic French Carrot Salad

Make this classic French carrot salad for your next brunch or lunch. It goes beautifully with Gruyère Quiche or Quiche Lorraine, or you can add it as a side dish to a sandwich, a burger, or a picnic. It’s so delicious and easy to make that you’ll want to make it all the time if you haven’t already.

I love casual French bistro food. It’s usually quite simple and so delicious. Maybe the outdoor sidewalk seating, the fresh air, and the surrounding neighborhoods make it taste even better. But regardless, it’s one of my favorite things to do in France.

Ingredients to make a classic French carrot salad

There are just a few simple ingredients. The best part is that they are all pantry items, so if you have carrots and fresh parsley, this salad can be on the table in as little time as it takes to grate the carrots!

For the salad

• Carrots
• Fresh parsley

For the Salad Dressing 

• Dijon mustard
• Honey
• Cumin
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Special equipment needed to make this recipe

• A julienne peeler 
• A whisk
• A vegetable peeler – I have this one from OXO, and it is by far the best one I’ve ever used. I bought an expensive one at Williams Sonoma years ago, but this one is easier to use and always the first one I reach for when peeling carrots, potatoes, or even parmesan cheese on a salad.

Instructions for making simple French carrot salad

For the salad

1. Peel and Julien the carrots (you could also use a box grater or a food processor with a shred attachment).
2. Chop the parsley, removing the thicker stems and discarding them.

For the dressing

1. Add the mustard, honey, cumin, and salt and whisk together. Add the olive oil and whisk until you have the desired consistency.
2. Add the julienned carrots and toss gently.
3. Add in the fresh parsley and toss again.
4. Serve immediately!

Can I substitute or add some ingredients?

You can customize this to what you like. Here are a few suggestions:

• Add lemon juice to the salad dressing for a fresh lemony flavor.
• Swap out the fresh herbs – if you don’t like parsley or want to use whatever fresh herb you have on hand, try cilantro, dill, chives, or basil.
• You might even want to add golden raisins, nuts, apples, or pineapple. 

I prefer to keep this French carrot salad simple with limited ingredients, but that’s just me. Either way, if you love carrots, this salad will be delicious!

Can this be made ahead of time?

Unfortunately, this simple salad cannot be made far ahead. If you store the leftovers in the refrigerator, they will get soggy and will not be the same delicious salad as when served fresh. But it’s so simple to make that it’s not really necessary to make ahead. And you know I love a make-ahead dish, but this comes together in just a few minutes and tastes so much better fresh!

To save time, peel and julienne the carrots earlier and cover them with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. The dressing is just a few ingredients whisked in the same bowl, so it’s not really necessary to make it ahead of time.

I hope you’ll give this simple French carrot salad a try. It’s one of those recipes that feels a little special, even though it couldn’t be easier. Let me know if you make it or add your twist!

You might also like these other French recipes

• French ratatouille galette
• Summer melon salad