Thai Carrot Salad

4.7
(29)

I got this carrot salad recipe from the cook at my favorite Thai restaurant in Cincinnati. His carrot salad was one of the most popular salads/appetizers. People would buy multiple orders to go to bring this as a take-along dish to an event. This is even better made a day ahead.

close up view of Thai Carrot Salad garnished with peanuts and lime slices in a bowl
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
8
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 pound carrots, coarsely grated

  • 1 cup white sugar

  • ½ cup water

  • ½ cup rice vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 2 tablespoons Thai fish sauce

  • 1 ½ teaspoons Thai red curry paste

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

  • 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

  • ½ cup finely chopped unsalted peanuts

Directions

  1. Place grated carrots in a large bowl.

  2. Combine sugar, water, and vinegar in a saucepan and bring to a boil; cook until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add garlic, fish sauce, and curry paste to sugar mixture and simmer until flavors blend, 2 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool dressing completely, about 30 minutes.

  3. Stir lime juice and red pepper flakes into dressing and pour over carrots. Add peanuts and toss to coat. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.

Cook’s Note

I usually double this recipe since a large bag of carrots yields lots of salad.

Using tamarind is the traditional method; however, it is hard to find in regular grocery stores. Any Asian grocery store will have it. Lime juice makes a reasonably good substitution.

The amounts of Thai red curry paste and red pepper flakes can be increased to suit your taste (it is Thai food, after all).

The dressing is very similar to one of the dipping sauces usually served with Thai spring rolls, so the dressing can be made on its own for that purpose. I have also used this as a dressing for a thinly sliced cabbage slaw.

42 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

183 Calories
5g Fat
34g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 183
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Sodium 333mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 4g 7%
Vitamin C 6mg 7%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 288mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.