At this time of year I can get my favourite carrots. They’re grown in Lillooet and are amazingly sweet and delicious. The only carrots I’ve had with more flavour were from my own garden. When I worked in a produce department we used to sell out of them constantly, so I know that I’m not alone.
Following is a lovely salad made from carrots and a few pantry items. It’s one of those great salads that tastes better if it’s left to sit for a while and is a great option for entertaining, lunches, etc. It’s from the book Chez Panisse by Alice Waters. There are no measurements for this recipe, so you can make as much or as little as you want to.
Ingredients
- Carrots
- Garlic clove
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Paprika
- Cumin (I like mine toasted)
- Salt
- A pinch of cayenne
- A pinch of cinnamon
- Chopped parsley
Cut the carrots into carrot sticks by cutting them lengthwise two times and then into 2″ lengths. Boil the carrots with a crushed clove of garlic until they are tender but not mushy.
After draining, toss the carrots in the spices and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Add the chopped parsley and tweak the seasonings to your liking. It’s best to let this salad sit for an hour or so before serving.
Big Sis Little Dish 
This sounds like a great carrot salad…very flavorful.
Oh this is such a good salad. I love the photo of the ingredients in the window!
xo
Erin
I like this AND I have all the ingredients!
Thanks, Karen and Erin!
Mona, that is one of the reasons this salad rocks. It is seriously pantry food–even the carrots!
I can’t believe I have never heard of or considered toasting cumin before now! I have been indulging in an almost identical salad since I was a kid but rarely pull it out as all my current home companions don’t seem to care for carrot salad. Silly boys don’ t know what they are missing out on! I think I can lure them over to the other side with the smell of toasted cumin taunting them…mwah hah ha!
Ha! Use the cumin to lure them to the dark side! Muahahaha
❤
Silvi
Silvi,
I am in love with this salad AND it made realize that I needed to put a little bit of effort in to finding better carrots.
I made this salad for my family the other day and they absolutely loved it. A definite one to repeat. Thank you!