The Best Carrot Raisin Salad: California Sunshine Salad

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The Best Carrot Raisin Salad: California Sunshine Salad

February 24, 2016
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The Best Carrot Raisin Salad: California Sunshine Salad

This carrot raisin salad is full of flavor and texture. The sweetness of the carrots and raisins is balanced by a bit of salty Feta cheese, creamy garbanzo beans and crunchy pistachios. It’s the best carrot raisin salad recipe you’ll ever try, promise. Plus, it’s so full of California Grown goodness we call it Sunshine Salad!

Tri-Color Carrots

You know what makes me surprisingly happy?

Veggies that aren’t so boring.

It makes them so much more fun to prepare and eat! In that case, maybe we can convince the kids of that!

Shredded Tri-Color Carrots

These particular beauties are from Grimmway Farm’s Cal-Organic. They were fresh and crisp from the grocery store and even more were the perfect base for this carrot raisin salad.  

Additionally, the other major players in this tasty, textural patchwork of flavors are…

crimson raisins in serving bowl

Crimson Raisins!

I didn’t have to go far for these since I live near the Raisin Capital of the World! Now that you know there’s a raisin capitol, did you know that 90% of all raisins are from there?

Now, let’s make this carrot raisin salad – with a few more ingredients!

Pea Shoots

We’ll add the generally fun and popular pea shoots from Sun Grown Organics.  If you can’t find pea shoots, use any microgreens you like.

pistachios in serving bowl

And of course, crisp and crunchy California pistachios to round out the dish. Did you know California grows 99%+ of the nation’s pistachios?

Tangy dressing

Lastly, we can’t forget the tangy dressing which all ingredients will be tossed in. 

It’s got a few spices thrown in to make it extra delicious. This lemon dressing would be delicious too.

Spoon in the Sunshine Salad

After all the ingredients are prepared and tossed in the dressing, we top the salad with pistachios and feta cheese

.  

Close up of Sunshine Salad - carrot raisin salad with feta and pistachios

About the flavors in this salad:

All those flavors are unlike any other. Even though this entire salad is incredible, I think my favorite part is the crunch of the pistachios balanced with the softness of the raisins. But even that was a hard decision to make! 

Sunshine Salad in large serving bowl and small serving bowl

We know how tasty this looks, so we’d understand if you were starting to get hungry. After all, every ingredient taste great by itself, let alone altogether!

Sunshine Carrot Raisin Salad recipe in bowls

The seasoned dressing blends the tastes and textures altogether beautifully.  

Different from other dishes, serve it at your next family get-together to wow your family!

Make it soon and you’ll see!

carrot raisin salad recipe

Sunshine Carrot Raisin Salad

Susan the CA Grown Mom
This carrot raisin salad is full of flavor and texture. The sweetness of the carrots and raisins is balanced by a bit of salty Feta cheese, creamy garbanzo beans and crunchy pistachios. It’s the best carrot raisin salad recipe you’ll ever try, promise. Plus, it’s so full of California Grown goodness we call it Sunshine Salad!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 440 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup California raisins
  • 1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup pea shoots stems removed – or other microgreens
  • 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
  • 1/2 cup crumbled Feta

FOR THE DRESSING

  • 3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • Salt and Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Add the carrots, garbanzo beans and pea shoots to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
  • Combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk to combine.
  • Toss the dressing with the ingredients in the bowl.
  • Add the pistachios and Feta and toss lightly.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Will keep in refrigerator for a few hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 16gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 583mgPotassium: 925mgFiber: 13gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 21594IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 3mg
Keyword salad, salad dressing
Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

Inspired by this recipe by Sara Forte

Love this carrot raisin salad recipe? Here are a few more to try:

roasted carrot raisin salad slaw

California Roasted Carrot and Raisin Slaw

This roasted carrot and raisin slaw is a delicious and easy recipe that is full of flavor. Fresh shredded apple, apple cider, and freshly squeezed orange juice give it a unique and tantalizing taste. It can be enjoyed as a side dish or on its own as a light and refreshing meal.

Cucumber Salad with Raisins and Yogurt

Plump and bursting-with-sweetness California Golden Raisins are the star of the show in Jaíne Mackievicz’s creamy salad inspired by Persian Mast-o Khiar (Persian Cucumber and Herb Yogurt). Zesty cucumber and celery are thinly sliced and coated in rich Greek yogurt, then California walnuts are added for a textural surprise.

raisin cucumber yogurt salad recipe
Broccoli salad with chicken and bacon.

Easy Broccoli Salad

Brace yourself for the creamiest, most flavorful broccoli salad recipe on the internet! Our broccoli salad base recipe is a hearty one-bowl salad situation that is best suited as a side dish, but when you add shredded chicken and chopped bacon to the mix this side salad takes center stage as the easiest supper sized salad on the planet.

Walnut Raisin Agrodolce

This Walnut and California Raisin Agrodolce is a flavorful and versatile sauce that is perfect for dressing up grilled or roasted chicken or vegetables. The combination of tangy and sweet flavors makes this agrodolce a truly unique and delicious addition to any meal.

Walnut and California Raisin Agrodolce on cauliflower

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