For a light refreshing salad for spring and summer, try my Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula. This salad features delightful contrasts in shape and texture. The peppery, slightly bitter flavour of the arugula offsets the crunchy, sweet flavour of the carrots.
As well, the creaminess of the goat cheese is a nice counterpoint to the crunch of the sliced almonds. These flavors are enhanced beautifully by dressing the salad with my sweet and tangy Orange Ginger Vinaigrette. This salad would be perfectly served with my High Protein Cottage Cheese Quiche.
In Canada where I live, we call the greens in this salad arugula. If you live in another part of the world, you may call them rocket, or roquette or rucola. The delicious and nourishing ingredients in this salad are perfect for a light lunch or as a side with dinner. For other recipes containing nutritious greens, try my Cranberry Apple Buckwheat Salad, Green Smoothie Chocolate Muffins, and Halloumi Stroganoff.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to prepare
- A beautiful presentation featuring carrots peeled in ribbons
- Contrasting textures with the creamy goat cheese and crunchy carrots and almonds
- Ingredients are readily available in any season
- Nutritious and delicious
- Light and refreshing like my Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Easy to customize with your favourite add ins
Ingredients
- Arugula - the slightly bitter peppery flavour balances perfectly with the dressing and other ingredients
- Carrots - peeling the carrots into ribbons adds elegance to this salad
- Goat cheese - the tangy flavour and creamy texture are a lovely complement to the other crispy and crunchy ingredients
- Sliced almonds - provide crunch, a nutty flavour and another colour contrast
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- For additional protein, try adding chicken, shrimp, chickpeas or quinoa
- Sprinkle in some chopped herbs like basil, mint or parsley
- Try your favourite kind of cheese instead of (or in addition to) the goat cheese
- Try another kind of nut or seed such as walnuts, pumpkin seeds or hemp hearts
- Add sweetness with dried fruit such as dried cranberries or blueberries
- Get creative and add a burst of flavour with ingredients like orange segments or pickled radishes
I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.
How To Make Carrot Ribbon Salad
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Mix up the dressing.
Combine all the ingredients in a jar with tightly fitting lid. Close the lid and shake the jar.
Step 2: Add salad ingredients to a large bowl.
Add arugula to a large salad bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, peel a large carrot into ribbons and add to the arugula. Add the sliced almonds and crumble in the goat cheese and toss lightly.
Step 3: Add the dressing.
Shake the dressing again just before adding to the salad.
Step 4: Toss and serve.
Toss the salad to evenly distribute the dressing. Garnish with additional almonds and a crumble of goat cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- To peel carrots into ribbons, use a vegetable peeler and run it along the length of the carrot. Apply gentle pressure to create thin, wide strips.
- Keep the veggies and cheese chilled for a refreshing salad.
- Add the salad dressing just before serving.
- Garnish with additional almonds and goat cheese.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, choose your favourite cheese to enhance this salad. Crumbled feta, blue cheese, shaved parmesan or any cheese you enjoy would all work well.
Yes, this salad is excellent for a vegetarian diet. To make it vegan, simply substitute the goat cheese with a vegan cheese or omit the cheese entirely.
First peel your carrot and trim off the ends. Now run the vegetable peeler along the length of the carrot to make the ribbons.
While this salad does contain protein, you can easily boost the amount by adding slices of chicken, chickpeas or hemp hearts.
The separate components of the salad such as the arugula and carrots can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Once dressed, this salad is best enjoyed immediately for optimum freshness. Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eaten within a few hours.
If you tried this Carrot Ribbon Arugula Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Carrot Ribbon Arugula Salad
Ingredients
Carrot Ribbon Arugula Salad
- 5 oz arugula
- two medium carrots peeled into strips
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 3 oz crumbled goat cheese
Orange Ginger Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- zest from one navel orange
- 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Orange Ginger Vinaigrette
- Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Close the jar and shake well.¼ cup olive oil, zest from one navel orange, 3 tablespoon fresh orange juice, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, salt and pepper, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula
- Add arugula to a large salad bowl.5 oz arugula
- Peel and chop the ends off of a large carrot. Then, using the same peeler, create carrot ribbons by peeling the carrot along the entire length. Add the ribbons to the arugula.two medium carrots
- Crumble goat cheese into the salad, add the sliced almonds and give it a light toss.3 oz crumbled goat cheese, ½ cup sliced almonds
- Just before serving, add the dressing and toss.
- Top the salad with an extra sprinkle of slices almonds and a crumble of goat cheese. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- To peel carrots into ribbons, use a vegetable peeler and run it along the length of the carrot. Apply gentle pressure to create thin, wide strips.
- Keep the veggies and cheese chilled for a refreshing salad.
- Add the salad dressing just before serving.
- Garnish with additional almonds and goat cheese.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Megan says
Such a pretty salad! Goat cheese is the best. Thank you!