This salad comes together quickly. I confidently make it as a last-minute addition to a meal when you want something fresh with a bit of crunch. I serve it with a spicy, warm bowl of dal and rice.

Carrots are the bulk of the recipe; however, at times, I combine them with shaved beetroot. The sunflower sprouts add a bit of colour and more crunch, with the sesame seeds providing that nutty earthiness. The dressing enlivens everything, adding a sweet, tangy, zingy lift. It can be made with cucumbers or fennel; it doesn’t require an exact recipe. Normally, I do one or two carrots, depending on the number of people. I usually make a good amount of the dressing to use throughout the week.

This simple salad is a joy to make. It can be ready within minutes and has been requested often whenever served. The dressing is from this salad recipe, which I make often.

shaved carrot salad

preparation 20 minutes

serves 6 as a side dish

ingredients

3 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

4 medium/420g carrots

two handfuls of sunflower sprouts

3 Tbsp sesame seeds

salad dressing

1 Tbsp finely grated fresh ginger

1 Tbsp finely grated fresh turmeric

3 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp agave or honey

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

⅛ tsp fine rock salt

prepare the salad

  1. Toast the sesame seeds in a skillet over medium heat. This will only take a few minutes until they get a little colour and become fragrant. Set aside to cool.
  2. Remove the carrot tops, wash, and trim the carrots. Using a sharp vegetable peeler, peel carrot ribbons into a salad bowl. Apply pressure as you peel to achieve thicker ribbons. Chop the end pieces, which are challenging to ribbon, and add them to the salad.
  3. Wash and dry the sunflower sprouts, then add them to the shaved carrots. Set aside while you prepare the dressing.

prepare the dressing

  1. Grate the ginger and turmeric (skin and all) and whisk the lemon juice, agave/honey, salt, and oil together. Taste and add extra sweetness if needed.
  2. When ready to serve, sprinkle the sesame seeds over the salad and pour the dressing. Gently lift the shaved carrots and distribute the dressing through the salad without overmixing. Sprinkle over a few nasturtium flowers if you have them in the garden.