Moroccan carrot salad is a Middle Eastern classic!
bold with cumin, cilantro, harissa, and garlic, yet so easy to make!
Ready to make something delicious with THAT bag of carrots you’re not sure what to do with? This Moroccan carrot salad is like no other, and in this post, you’ll find out why.
This post is all about the perfect Moroccan carrot salad recipe. This recipe includes just a few simple ingredients but is packed with strong, vibrant flavors.
Moroccan food is rich in spices, flavors, and vegetables. It often features slow-cooked stews, vibrant salads, and a mix of sweet and savory flavors, creating truly unique, delicious dishes.
Why you’ll love this Moroccan carrot salad:
- Can be made ahead: This salad tastes even better after a few hours or even a day! It really soaks up the flavors and is great for meal prep.
- Healthy: Carrots are good for you! Paired with garlic and fresh herbs, how can you go wrong?
- Goes well with so many things: It pairs wonderfully with roasted meats, couscous, feta cheese, or can even be enjoyed on its own.
What Makes This Carrot Salad So Special?
- The spices: Cumin, salt, pepper, and harissa are key ingredients in many Moroccan dishes, adding bold, earthy, and spicy flavors. These simple yet impactful seasonings elevate salads, stews, and roasted dishes with a warm, aromatic kick that’s characteristic of North African cuisine.
- The texture of the carrots: The carrots cook just enough to stay firm, giving them a nice crunch while softening slightly. Dress them while still hot to allow the flavors and spices to fully come through. Once chilled, the carrots pair perfectly with the other ingredients, resulting in a deliciously flavorful salad.
- Simple ingredients you probably have on hand: This salad is a great way to turn THAT bag of carrots you’re not sure what to do with into something delicious. Plus, the other ingredients are probably already in your pantry.
- Meal prep-friendly: Unlike other salads, this one actually gets better over time—not too much though haha! The flavors intensify, blend together, and the carrots really absorb the dressing. Plus, the carrots maintain their delicious texture, making this salad perfect for meal prep.
- Different from your everyday salads: This salad is truly one of a kind. It offers a refreshing break from the usual, delivering bold, vibrant flavors and a focus on cooked carrots. It’s a flavorful new alternative to your everyday salads.
Moroccan Carrot Salad Ingredients
- Carrots: When in season, carrots are incredibly flavorful, sweet, and delicious. This salad really brings out their natural flavor. You want the carrots to be firm—not wrinkly or too large. Boil them just until al dente in water infused with lemon juice, sugar, and salt, allowing those flavors to soak into the carrots.
- Herbs: The traditional herb for this salad is cilantro, but if like my boyfriend, you’re not always a fan, parsley works just fine. While it may not be traditional, it is super tasty.
- Garlic: This salad packs bold garlic flavor. Always use fresh garlic when making salads. Add it raw to the dressing, but because the carrots are dressed while still hot, the heat helps mellow the garlic, preserving its fresh, vibrant taste.
- Harissa: Harissa is a bold, spicy paste made from chili peppers, garlic, and a mix of spices like cumin and coriander. It adds a smoky, tangy kick to dishes and brings a burst of flavor that makes everything taste better. You can buy it pre-made, either in spicy or sweet versions. Plus, it adds a nice deep red color that’s always fun! If you don’t have harissa, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of harissa with: ½ teaspoon chili flakes + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika OR ½ teaspoon sriracha + ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- Cumin: Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor and is a Middle Eastern staple. It adds depth and balances out savory and spicy flavors. Mix it with the hot carrots to intensify the flavor of the cumin.
- Olive oil: Always use high-quality olive oil, especially in salads. With so few ingredients, you’ll really taste each one, so make sure the olive oil stands out.
- Lemon juice: Always use fresh lemon juice. The store-bought stuff lacks the brightness of fresh lemons.
- Salt and pepper: Seasoning is key. Be sure to salt and pepper your salad well. In this case, the pepper should shine through in the flavor.
Moroccan Carrot Salad | Tips
- Storage: Store your salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors continue to develop and intensify over time.
- Adjust the spices: Feel free to adjust the amount of cumin, harissa, or garlic to suit your taste. If you like it spicier, add more harissa or a pinch of chili flakes.
- Serving: For the best flavor, serve the salad chilled. Letting it sit in the fridge for a few hours allows the carrots to fully absorb the dressing.ssing.
If you love Middle Eastern salads, you should check out my tabouli recipe!
My Tabouli Salad Recipe
This tabouli salad is packed with fresh herbs and dressed in a light lemon dressing. It’s another Middle Eastern classic and a must-try! Don’t miss out on this amazing salad!
Check out the video I created—it really shows just how easy this salad is to make. Plus, it features Oli, which is always a plus!
I find that Oli gets especially interested whenever I’m cutting and peeling veggies. He loves watching me prep the carrots, and I let him smell the peels. He also gets curious about different, new smells, like lemon, cumin, and parsley. I always make sure to let him smell from a distance so he can choose whether to get closer or not—cats have such a strong sense of smell, and it can be overwhelming for him.
Moroccan Carrot Salad
Make this simple and flavorful Moroccan carrot salad—packed with cumin, garlic, and cilantro. A fresh, vibrant addition to any dish!
Ingredients
Cooking the carrots
- 8 medium carrots (about 600 grams total)
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 heaping tsp harissa paste (see recipe notes for substitutes)
- 1 handful cilantro leaves, chopped (you can also use parsley)
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4-6 tbsp lemon juice, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Peel and cut the carrots into 1 cm or ½-inch discs or half-discs. Use a crinkly-cut knife if you have one.
- In a large pot of water over medium-high heat, add salt, sugar, and lemon juice (the ingredients from the 'cooking the carrots' section). Add the carrots and cook for 10-15 minutes, until al dente (soft but with a bite).
- While the carrots cook, prepare the sauce by mixing all the ingredients. Start with 4 tbsp of lemon juice, adding more if needed after mixing with the carrots.
- When the carrots are done, strain them and mix with the sauce while still hot.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. For the best flavor, let the salad rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour so the carrots can soak up the flavors.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy cold.
Notes
If you don’t have harissa, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of it with one of the following:
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon sriracha + ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
Now that you have the perfect Moroccan carrot salad recipe, what are you waiting for? Grab that bag of carrots you’re not sure what to do with from your fridge and start cooking. From the moment you decide to make it to the first bite, it’ll take less than 30 minutes. Of course, it’ll taste even better if you let it rest for a bit. It’s quick, easy to make, and full of flavor—you’ll absolutely love it!
