Tomato and Carrot Salad
Tomato and Carrot Salad is a delicious lunch meal or side dish to serve with dinner. It is perfect in summertime for an outdoor picnic. With the kick of the red chili and feta cheese this is a lovely combination that everyone will love.
In this blog post, you will learn how to make a delicious Tomato and Carrot Salad.
What is Tomato and Carrot Salad?
Tomato and carrot salad is a refreshing and colourful dish that combines the sweet, juicy flavours of ripe tomatoes with the crunchy, slightly sweet taste of fresh carrots. This is a simple yet vibrant salad. It is often seasoned with a light dressing and can include various herbs and additional ingredients to enhance its flavour and texture. This salad is a lovely side dish to serve on hot summer days as it is very refreshing.
How to Make Tomato and Carrot Salad
To make the tomato and carrot salad, you need to halve the small tomatoes and cut the large tomatoes into quarters. Once the tomatoes are cut up, place them into a large bowl. Then grate the carrots and add them to the bowl. Add the sliced spring onion and finely chopped red chilis to the mixture. Toss together. Pour the vinaigrette dressing over top of the salad and toss together. Lastly, garnish the top of the salad with the crumbled feta cheese. Leave in the fridge until time to eat.
How to Make the Vinaigrette Dressing
To make the vinaigrette dressing, you only need a few ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. To make the dressing, pour the extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar into a small bowl. Whisk together then add the salt and pepper to taste and whisk again. You can add extra ingredients here if you prefer a different style of vinaigrette dressing. Pour over the salad and toss together.
Best Tomatoes to Use in This Salad
Choosing the right tomatoes can significantly enhance the flavor and texture of your tomato and carrot salad. Here are some of the best varieties that you can use in this salad:
- Cherry Tomatoes: small, round, and usually very sweet. They are available in red, yellow, and even orange, adding vibrant colors to your salad.
- Grape Tomatoes: slightly smaller and more oblong than cherry tomatoes. They are firm and crunchy, holding up well in salads.
- Heirloom Tomatoes: large, often irregularly shaped, and come in a variety of colors including red, green, yellow, purple, and striped. They are rich, complex, and sometimes slightly tangy, with a unique taste that varies by variety.
- Roma Tomatoes: also known as plum tomatoes, they are oval-shaped and meatie. They are less watery, with a balanced sweet and acidic flavour with a firm flesh that holds up well in salads.
- Campari Tomatoes: medium-sized, round, and known for their high sugar content and exceptionally sweet with low acidity.
When selecting tomatoes for your tomato and carrot salad, consider using cherry, grape, heirloom, Roma, or Campari tomatoes. Each of these varieties offers unique flavors, textures, and colors that can enhance the overall taste and presentation of your salad. Combining different types can also add a variety of flavors and visual appeal, making your salad even more enjoyable.
Can I Eat This for Lunch or as a Side Dish for Dinner?
You can eat this as your lunch or as a side for your dinner whichever you prefer.
If eating this as your lunch, try adding some chickpeas or some grilled chicken for protein. If you are eating this as a side for your dinner, see below for some options to eat with your tomato and carrot salad.
What to Serve with Tomato and Carrot Salad?
Tomato and carrot salad can be served as an appetizer, side dish, a light meal, or taken to a potluck. Besides that, it can be served as side dish with my Honey, Garlic Salmon Fillets or serve it along side this Slow Cooker Roast Beef recipe or try it with my Roasted Chicken for a nice dinner. If you are looking for a lighter meal, try adding some protein to it in the form of these Cream Cheese Chicken Breasts, shrimp, or chickpeas. Or try pairing your tomato and carrot salad with some of my Homemade Sandwich Bread to make it more filling. The side dish dinner opportunities of this salad are endless!
Ingredients
Tomatoes: ripe and juicy tomatoes are the star of this salad. You can use multiple varieties in this dish such as cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and larger heirloom tomatoes.
Carrots: fresh carrots are grated and added to the salad. They add another bright colour to the salad and offer a crisp texture.
Spring Onion: spring onions add a mild onion flavour and some crunch.
Red Chili: the red chili provides a spicy kick which complements the other more mild vegetables.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: extra virgin olive oil serves as the base of the dressing.
Balsamic Vinegar: balsamic vinegar is added to the vinaigrette dressing to add depth. It is sweet, tangy, and slightly syrupy.
Feta Cheese: feta cheese is crumbled on top of the salad for a salty element.
Tips
- When selecting tomatoes for your tomato and carrot salad, consider using cherry, grape, heirloom, Roma, or Campari tomatoes.
- Make sure to deseed your red chili before putting it into the salad.
- Try switching out the crumbled feta for a mozzarella ball or shaved Parmesan onto the top of the salad.
Tomato and Carrot Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 8 oz. of mixed ripe tomatoes red and yellow cherry, plum, and medium vine tomatoes
- 3 med. Carrots peeled and finely grated
- Spring onions trimmed and finely sliced
- 1 red chili deseeded and finely chopped
- 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 c. feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Chop the larger tomatoes and halve the cherry tomatoes and tip into a large serving bowl.
- Add the grated carrot, spring onions, and deseeded chili and toss together.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the dressing over top of the tomato salad and toss.
- Crumble the feta cheese over top of the salad and serve.