Description
A vibrant Middle Eastern inspired carrot and feta salad featuring tender spiced carrots tossed with a tangy honey-lemon dressing, sweet sultanas, and creamy crumbled feta cheese, finished with fresh herbs for a refreshing, healthy side or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1kg bag carrots, peeled, halved lengthways and cut into chunks
Spices & Seasoning
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Dressing & Additions
- 2 tbsp runny honey
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 50g sultanas or raisins
Cheese & Herbs
- 200g pack feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ small pack coriander or flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Boil Carrots: Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil. Add the peeled and cut carrots, cooking for 8-10 minutes or until the carrots are tender but not falling apart.
- Prepare Dressing: While the carrots cook, combine the cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, ground coriander, runny honey, lemon juice, and salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together with a small whisk or fork to form a smooth dressing.
- Drain and Dry Carrots: Drain the cooked carrots in a colander and allow them to steam-dry for a few minutes to remove excess moisture.
- Mix Carrots with Dressing: Add the cooled carrots to the dressing along with the sultanas or raisins. Toss well to coat all the carrots evenly. Leave at room temperature to allow flavors to meld.
- Add Cheese and Herbs: Just before serving, crumble the feta cheese over the carrot mixture and scatter the chopped coriander or parsley on top. Gently toss everything together to combine without breaking up the feta too much.
Notes
- Using fresh lemon juice brightens the salad; avoid bottled lemon juice for best flavor.
- Allowing the carrots to cool slightly before mixing helps maintain their texture.
- Sultanas or raisins add a nice sweetness—feel free to substitute with chopped dried apricots if preferred.
- For a nuttier flavor, lightly toast the cumin seeds before adding them to the dressing.
- This salad can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: carrot salad, Middle Eastern salad, feta cheese salad, cumin carrot salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad
