• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food and Journeys®
  • WORLD CUISINES
  • HOW-TOS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • Notes on Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Categories
  • Countries
  • Pasta
  • Food Atlas
  • Guides
  • Subscribe!
  • About Me
  • Policy
  • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Categories
    • Countries
    • Pasta
    • Food Atlas
    • Guides
    • Subscribe!
    • About Me
    • Policy
    • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salads

    German Carrot Salad (Karottensalat)

    Published: Aug 13, 2021 · Modified: Oct 21, 2021 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Looking for a delicious carrot salad with no mayonnaise? Then try Karottensalat (German Carrot Salad).  Crunchy and refreshing, it’s excellent with grilled, roasted, or fried meat and fish — yum!

    An overhead shot of a serving of karottensalat, garnished with walnuts and parsley.

    (*This post contains some affiliate links)

    Tart and sweet — those are the two main flavors from this dish that’s also (sometimes) called ‘carrot apple salad.’

    The trick is to use apples that are more tart than sweet; then the sweetness comes from the grated carrots — and a bit of sugar if needed.

    Expect karottensalat to give freshness and lightness to any meal, all year-round.

    IF YOU WANT MORE TRADITIONAL GERMAN RECIPES, THEN YOU WOULD LOVE THESE POSTS!

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • Feature image for German Goulash soup, showing the bits of beef and potatoes in a serving.
      German Goulash Soup (Gulaschsuppe)

    Ingredients

    An image showing all the ingredients you need to prepare karottensalat at home.
    • Carrots – rinsed and peeled.
    • Apples – green apples are excellent for karottensalat because of their tartness. 
    • Lemon – you would only be using lemon juice for this carrot apple salad.
    • Orange – same as the lemon, you would only be using the juice from the orange.
    • Olive oil – as always, extra virgin olive oil is the best one to use for preparing karottensalat, and go for the mild (or fruity) ones as well.
    • Sugar – you just need regular white sugar; in case you need to add some sweetness to your karottensalat.
    • Salt and pepper – for seasoning.
    A closer shot of German Carrot Salad, focusing on the walnuts that were added as garnish.

    Preparation

    Start making your karottensalat by grating both carrots and apples coarsely (photo 1).

    Combine grated apples and carrots in a medium-sized bowl.

    First part of a collage of images for making German carrot salad.

    Pour both orange and lemon juice (photo 2).

    Add olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper (photo 3).

    Mix everything, making sure it’s combined evenly (photo 4).

    Second part of a collage of images showing step by step process of making karottensalat at home.

    Cover the bowl with plastic.

    Place your karottensalat in the refrigerator for at least fifteen minutes to chill.

    Transfer into plates and serve (with some almonds and parsley, if desired).

    An overhead shot of a plate of karottensalat, with green apple and a slice of orange next to it.

    Helpful tips

    • Make sure you grate both carrots and apples coarsely.

    Grating it too fine is not advisable because it affects the crunch of the finished karottensalat.

    • Do not add all the lemon and orange juice at once.  

    It’s easier to add and adjust once you have tasted everything.

    • If you think there’s too much liquid left, do not hesitate to drain some of them before serving.
    A closer shot of a serving of carrot apple salad, highlighting the texture and size of the grated apples and carrots.

    Recipe variation

    • Raisins.  Some add raisins to provide that additional ‘burst’ of sweetness in karottensalat. 
    • Ginger.  A small amount of minced ginger will amp up that freshness.  

    Plus, we already know ginger and carrots are a great combination.  So if you love ginger, give it a try.

    So easy, right? So give this carrot salad recipe a try one of these days and let me know!

    Text for Roundup Sections
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic German recipes post.
    • Latest (Oct22) Feature image for Traditional German Desserts and Pastries.
    An overhead shot of a serving of karottensalat, garnished with walnuts and parsley.

    German Carrot Salad Recipe (Karottensalat)

    Looking for a delicious carrot salad with no mayonnaise? Then try Karottensalat (German Carrot Salad).  Crunchy and refreshing, it's excellent with grilled, roasted, or fried meat and fish!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: German
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 129kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Kitchen Knife
    • Box grater
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Pyrex Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 2 small green apples, peeled and cored
    • 1/2 kg carrots, about 4 cups when grated, peeled
    • 4 tbsp orange juice
    • 1 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • pinch sugar
    • salt and pepper, to season
    • walnuts (for serving, optional)
    • parsley (for serving, optional)

    Instructions

    • Grate both carrots and apples coarsely and combine them in a medium-sized bowl.
    • Pour lemon and orange juice.
    • Add olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper.
    • Mix everything to combine all the ingredients evenly.
    • Cover the bowl with plastic and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
    • Transfer karottensalat into plates, leaving some liquid in the bowl (if there's too much).
    • Serve with some almonds and parsley, if preferred.

    Notes

    • Cook’s Tip #1:  Make sure you grate both carrots and apples coarsely — too fine is not advisable because it affects the crunch of the finished carrot salad.
    • Cook’s Tip #2:  Do not add all the lemon and orange juice at once.  It’s easier to add and adjust once you have tasted everything.
    • Cook’s Tip #3:  If you think there’s too much liquid left, do not hesitate to drain some of them before serving your karottensalat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 515mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 20957IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @foodandjourneys or tag #foodandjourneys!

    More Salad Recipes

    • Panzanella (Bread and Tomato Salad) in a serving bowl.
      Panzanella (Bread and Tomato Salad)

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Image for About Me

    Hej there!

    A smorgasbord of traditional and delicious international recipes awaits you, so feel free to look around and pick your favorites. No need to leave your kitchen to experience the real deal!

    More about me →

    Image for listing as-featured-on

    Comfort Food

    • Feature image for Spanish Beef Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with bread on the side.
      Spanish Beef Stew (Easy Stovetop Recipe!)
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup, with slices of lemon on the side, and a bunch of fresh coriander.
      Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup (Adas Bhamod)
    • An overhead shot of a bowl of Swedish stew, with some boiled potatoes and pickled beets on the side.
      Swedish Beef Stew (Kalops)
    • Feature image of Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with slices of bread.
      Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew
    • Two bowls of Portuguese Green Soup, with some raw kale on the countertop.
      Portuguese Green Soup (Caldo Verde)
    • An overhead shot of a serving of authentic chicken cacciatore.; served with some bread.
      Easy Chicken Cacciatore
    • Feature image for Patatas a la Riojana, served with some bread.
      Spanish Chorizo and Potato Stew
    • Feature image for Turkish Celeriac Soup showing a bowl of it, ready for serving.
      Turkish Celeriac Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • A shot of a pan of Arroz de Tomate, fresh out of the stove, highlighting the sauce and the bits of tomatoes and parsley leaves.
      Portuguese Tomato Rice (Arroz de Tomate)
    • An overhead shot of a basket of Biscotti Regina, served with coffee.
      Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies (Biscotti Regina)
    • An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.
      Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
    • A closer shot of kanelbullar on a cooling rack, highlighting the filling of the buns.
      Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)
    • An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.
      Taralli (Italian Crackers)
    • Feature image for Salt & Pepper Pork Bellly slices, garnished with sea salt and spring onions.
      Salt and Pepper Pork Belly
    • An overhead shot of a serving of Filipino Picadillo, with a bowl of white rice next to it.
      Filipino Picadillo
    • Swedish Almond Tart
      Swedish Almond Tart
    • An overhead shot of a skillet of Spanish Garlic Chicken, straight out of the oven.
      Spanish Garlic Chicken (Pollo Al Ajillo)
    • A shot of a slice of Swedish cardamom cake, highlighting the texture of the cake.
      Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)
    • An overhead shot of a basket of Italian Walnut Cookies, served with an espresso.
      Italian Walnut Cookies (Dolci di Noci)

    Sweet Treats

    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for traditional Swedish desserts and pastries.
      Best Swedish Desserts
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for fika post, showing some Swedish treats, and coffee and tea in the background.
      What is Fika? (Fika Meaning + Recipes)
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Italian Desserts and Pastries post.
      Easy Italian Desserts & Pastries Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) Feature image for Traditional German Desserts and Pastries.
      Traditional German Desserts and Pastries

    Favorite Cuisines

    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Traditional Italian Recipes: Regional Italian Dishes post.
      Traditional Italian Recipes: Regional Italian Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic Swedish recipes.
      Swedish Food: Traditional Swedish Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for authentic German recipes post.
      Authentic German Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for post on Easy Portuguese recipes showing two popular dishes.
      Portuguese Food: Classic Portuguese Dishes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for post on Easy Spanish recipes, showing two popular dishes.
      Easy Spanish Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for classic Finnish recipes post.
      Classic Finnish Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Traditional Filipino Food post.
      Traditional Filipino Food
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Thai Recipes post.
      Easy Thai Recipes

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

    Copyright © 2023. FOOD AND JOURNEYS®