This carrot apple and walnut salad is so simple and delicious. My hubby and I couldn't stop eating it!! @natashaskitchen

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This Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad is quick and easy; my kind of salad! My husband and I both kept going back to the bowl for refills and nearly finished the entire batch between the two of us, but you know what? It. felt .good!

This salad is loaded with healthy ingredients. The lemony dressing and plump raisins make it irresistible.

This carrot apple and walnut salad is so simple and delicious. My hubby and I couldn't stop eating it!! @natashaskitchen

There’s something about sunflower oil that gives any salad a Slavic kick. It’s that secret little ingredient that makes salads taste more “authentic” to my Ukrainian taste buds (afterall, Ukraine and Russia are two of the largest producers of sunflower oil).

It’s so aromatic and adds great flavor. If you haven’t tried it, I think you should give it a whirl. P.S. If you have the option, it’s best to buy un-refined sunflower oil – it tastes better and is a little better for you.

Ingredients for Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad:

1 lb (about 5 large) carrots, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
2 apples (we used granny smith), peeled, cored and sliced into matchsticks
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped, lightly toasted
1/2 cup raisins
Juice of 1 medium lemon (3 Tbsp, divided)
3 Tbsp sunflower oil (3 Tbsp)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper to taste

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-4

How to Make Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad:

1. Toast walnuts on a dry skillet until golden then remove from heat to cool (keep an eye on them; they can burn quickly).

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad

2. Soak raisins in 1 cup boiling hot water for about 1 minute to soften them up. Drain well and set aside.

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-2

3. Cut carrots into matchsticks and place them in a large mixing bowl. P.S. We recommend this Borner Julienne Grater – these julienne slicers are hard to find, but we bought ours on Amazon.

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-5

4. Cut apples into matchsticks and toss them with 1 Tbsp lemon juice right away to prevent browning. I used a granny smith apples but most apples will work well. 

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-3

5. Add soaked raisins and toasted walnuts to the bowl.

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-7

6. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 3 Tbsp sunflower oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Pour the dressing over salad and stir until combined. This salad stores really well in the refrigerator for several hours and the tiny bit that was leftover was still good the next day.

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad-6

This carrot apple and walnut salad is so simple and delicious. My hubby and I couldn't stop eating it!! @natashaskitchen

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad

4.67 from 21 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
This carrot apple and walnut salad is so simple and delicious. My hubby and I couldn't stop eating it!! @natashaskitchen
This carrot and apple salad is quick and easy; my kind of salad! It is loaded with healthy ingredients. The lemony dressing and plump raisins make it irresistible. There's something about sunflower oil that gives any salad a Slavic kick. It's that secret little ingredient that makes salads taste more "authentic" to my Ukrainian taste buds (afterall, Ukraine and Russia are two of the largest producers of sunflower oil). It's so aromatic and adds great flavor. If you haven't tried it, I think you should give it a whirl. P.S. If you have the option, it's best to buy un-refined sunflower oil - it tastes better and is a little better for you.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4
  • 1 lb about 5 large carrots, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
  • 2 apples, we used granny smith, peeled, cored and sliced into matchsticks
  • 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped, lightly toasted
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • Juice of 1 medium lemon, 3 Tbsp, divided
  • 3 Tbsp sunflower oil, 3 Tbsp
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Toast walnuts on a dry skillet until golden then remove from heat to cool (keep an eye on them; they can burn quickly).
  • Soak raisins in 1 cup boiling hot water for about 1 minute to soften them up. Drain well and set aside.
  • Cut carrots into matchsticks and place them in a large mixing bowl.
  • Cut apples into matchsticks and toss them with 1 Tbsp lemon juice right away to prevent browning (I used a granny smith apples but most apples will work well.
  • Add soaked raisins and toasted walnuts to the bowl.
  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 3 Tbsp sunflower oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Pour the dressing over salad and stir until combined.

Notes

This salad stores really well in the refrigerator for several hours and the tiny bit that was leftover was still good the next day.
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Carrot Apple and Walnut Salad
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $

Final Final Picmonkey Hashtag bannerThis carrot apple and walnut salad is so simple and delicious. My hubby and I couldn't stop eating it!! @natashaskitchen

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Ruth Bowman
    February 28, 2022

    Hi Natasha, I just made this recipe from memory last night. It’s one of my favorites!! I also added 1/2 sliced pineapples with real juice, 1/4 c chopped parsley & 1/2 cup organic coconut. It’s amazing, nutritious & refreshing ~ thank you! My heart is with the Ukrainian people **o**

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 28, 2022

      That sounds wonderful. I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Reply

  • Loretta
    January 17, 2022

    Love this salad, Natasha! I tried it as written the first time and liked it quite well. Then I tried it with a bit of added celery per another reviewer, which brought up the walnut flavors – too much so for my taste. Lastly, I tried it with added grated ginger (on the microplaner) and had an “oh-wow-yum!” reaction.

    In general, I’m not terribly fond of carrots, but I need to eat them every day. This salad will definitely make that easier for me. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 17, 2022

      Yum! great idea! Thank you for sharing those tests with us, Loretta! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Kirsten
    October 28, 2020

    Thank you for the recipe! I made mine with what I had on hand, so shredded rainbow carrots, chopped dried cranberries, and roasted sunflower seeds.
    It was perfect!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 28, 2020

      Perfect and colorful just like fall! We love this salad and I’m so glad you did too!

      Reply

  • patricia allan
    May 7, 2020

    Lovely, I always add chopped celery to mine as in a waldorf. We all love this salad!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 7, 2020

      It is so good! Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

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