Healthy Raw Beet Salad with Apples & Carrots

Description:
A crunchy, fresh, naturally sweet salad made with raw beets, carrots, and crisp apple, tossed in a simple lemon and olive-oil dressing. It’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and requires no cooking.

🥕 Ingredients

• 1 cup peeled and shredded beets
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 large red apple, cored and cut into thin matchsticks
• Juice of 1 large lemon
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• ⅛ tsp salt

⏱️ Time

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Servings: 4

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Peel the beets and shred them using a box grater, food processor, or mandoline.
2. Shred the carrots.
3. Core the apple and cut it into thin matchsticks.
4. Add the beets, carrots, and apple to a large bowl.
5. Pour in the lemon juice and olive oil.
6. Add the salt and toss everything together until well coated.
7. Refrigerate until chilled, then serve.

🥗 Nutrition

Per serving, approximately:

• Calories: 112
• Carbohydrates: 13 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 7 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 8.5 g
• Sodium: 81 mg

❤️ Health Benefits

• Beets: Provide folate, manganese, copper, and other nutrients.
• Carrots: Add fiber and vitamin A.
• Apple: Adds natural sweetness and additional fiber.
• Olive oil: Provides unsaturated fats.
• The combination makes a colorful, nutrient-rich side dish.

💡 Pro Tips

• Pat or drain shredded beets if they release a lot of liquid.
• Use a mandoline or food processor to save preparation time.
• Golden beets can be used for a different color and milder appearance.
• Let the salad chill before serving so the flavors blend.
• Add fresh ginger, walnuts, sunflower seeds, mint, or parsley for extra flavor.

❓ Q&A

Q: Can you eat raw beets?
Yes. Peel them and shred or grate them before adding them to the salad.

Q: Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes. It can be refrigerated for about 4–5 days.

Q: Can I use yellow beets?
Yes, yellow and red beets can be combined for extra color.

Q: Can I add nuts?
Yes. Chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds are good additions.

🍊 Serving Suggestions

Serve chilled as a side dish with grilled chicken, fish, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, or grain bowls. It also works well as a light lunch.

🔄 Variations

• Citrus: Add fresh orange segments.
• Ginger: Add freshly grated ginger.
• Crunch: Add walnuts or sunflower seeds.
• Herbs: Add mint, dill, parsley, or tarragon.
• Cheesy: Top with a little goat cheese.
• Extra veggies: Add shredded jicama.

🥗 Related Recipe Ideas

• Mediterranean Bean Salad
• Roasted Beet & Citrus Salad
• Carrot Apple Slaw
• Cucumber & Beet Salad
• Baby Greens with Goat Cheese and Beets

Final Thought

This is a quick 10-minute salad with no cooking required—crisp, colorful, refreshing, and an easy way to add more vegetables and fruit to your meal.