This colorful carrot cranberry salad is crunchy, sweet, and super-easy. It comes together in minutes.
You can proudly serve this salad at your holiday table. Even though it’s simple, it’s tasty, attractive, and appetizing. I came up with this recipe when I decided at the last minute to attend a pot-luck luncheon. I didn’t have time to go to the store so I grabbed a bag of matchstick carrots out of the fridge and wondered what I could do with them. I always have cranberries, walnuts, and honey poppyseed dressing around, so I tossed those things into a bowl and this salad was born.
If you’re on your way to your auntie’s house (insert any relative or friend here) and you get a text asking you to bring something, this is your go-to dish. You can stop at the store along the way, pick up these items and make this salad in minutes once you’ve arrived at your destination.
Ingredients
You’ll need a bag of matchstick carrots from the produce section of the grocery store, dried cranberries, walnuts, and poppyseed dressing. I used the low-sugar dried cranberries, but regular ones work too.
If you don’t have any poppyseed dressing, other sweet dressings go well with this carrot cranberry salad. A couple of options that come to mind are Briana’s honey ginger dressing or a raspberry vinaigrette.
Did you know that walnuts provide several health benefits? I always knew they were good for you, but when I read this article I learned more about why eating walnuts is such a good thing.
Making Carrot Cranberry Salad
Toasting the walnuts takes about five minutes, but everything else is simply tossed into a bowl and mixed up. I like the crunch of the matchstick carrots in this salad, but you can make it with grated carrots instead. If you don’t have any of my honey poppyseed dressing made up, this is a good time to try it.
This carrot cranberry salad is a nice addition to any meal, but with the cranberries, it’s a perfect side dish for the holidays. Check out five easy holiday side dishes for other holiday meal ideas.
PrintCarrot Cranberry Salad
This colorful carrot cranberry salad is crunchy, sweet, and super-easy. It comes together in minutes. Proudly serve this salad at your holiday table.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 side dish 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups matchstick carrots
- 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 2 Tbsp poppyseed dressing
Instructions
- Put the walnuts on a small cookie sheet and toast for 5 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
- Let the walnuts cool. (This just takes a couple of minutes)
- Add the carrots, cranberries, and walnuts to a mixing bowl.
- Stir in the poppyseed dressing.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.
Notes
Toasting the walnuts is optional. It gives the walnuts a nice crunchy texture, but you can omit this step in the interest of time.
Keywords: carrot cranberry salad, holiday side dish
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