Vegan Carrot Raisin Salad

This Southern Vegan Carrot Raisin Salad is a classic sweet and crunchy potluck favorite! This retro 4-ingredient side dish is gluten-free and allergy-free, made with shredded carrots, raisins, pineapple, and eggless mayo. It's quick and easy; perfect for large gatherings, holidays, and tastes just like grandma's old-fashioned recipe!

Carrots, raisins, pineapple, and mayo? You read that right! This crunchy fruity, tangy salad is essential to any good Southern potluck! Southerners love putting pineapple (and mayo) in everything they can and this dish is no exception! However, the main stars are the vibrant and naturally sweet carrots, plus the pops of sweet chewy raisins! With the various raw carrot salads out there, this one is more for comfort than healthfulness. For that, I'll steer you toward the French carrot salad instead!

Why You'll Love This Vegan Carrot Raisin Salad

This vegan recipe is only 4 main ingredients and takes literally 3 minutes to make! Made with eggless mayonnaise, this recipe is just a combination of fruits and veggies, perfect for almost any dietary need! While it tastes just like your Southern grandma's salad, this version is 100%...

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan & Vegetarian
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Nightshade-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Coconut-Free, Grain-Free, Corn-Free)
• Grain-Free & Paleo
• Quick, Easy, 4 Simple Ingredients
• Kid-Friendly
• Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Friendly
• Perfect Side Dish for Cookouts, Picnics, Holidays, Potlucks, or Large Gatherings

An Allergy-Friendly Chick-fil-A Copycat

Apparently, back in 2014, Chick-fil-A had a popular carrot salad side dish option on the menu. It was discontinued in 2015 and many people were distraught. Their carrot raisin salad was essentially this Southern recipe, but now you have a vegan version you can make at home and enjoy for yourself if you never had the chance to try it! (This one is healthier with much less added sugar too!)

Ingredients For Carrot Raisin Salad

• Fresh Raw Carrots: You can buy whole carrots and grate them yourself or if you're short on time, you can buy pre-shredded or matchstick carrots. Shredding them yourself will give you the most flavor and a softer texture which is a better option if you plan on eating the salad right away and not making it in advance.
• Raisins: Sweetened or unsweetened raisins work. You can use unsweetened for a healthier option and reduce the sugar in this recipe.
• Pineapple: Pineapple tidbits work best. If you buy a can of pineapple chunks, make sure to cut any large pieces in half and a small bite. I recommend using canned pineapple since it's softer than fresh. Make sure it's canned in 100% pineapple juice!
• Vegan Mayo: Homemade vegan mayo gives this dressing the perfect texture without being too thick or runny. If you use store-bought eggless mayo, adding a splash of pineapple juice may be needed to mix in the mayo more easily.
• Seasoning: Some people like a pinch of sugar, while other's like a pinch of salt and pepper! These savory additions really elevate the natural sweetness of the fruits and veggies!

Carrot Salad Variations

• Leave out the pineapple: Some versions only use carrots raisins, and mayo. You can leave out the pineapple for an even simpler salad!
• Swap the raisins: You can use golden raisins, current, or go crazy with craisins (dried cranberries!) A combination always works too!
• Swap the mayo: If you don't have vegan mayo on hand, you can use vegan sour cream or plain unsweetened vegan yogurt.
• Other add-ins: If you don't have nut allergies to worry about, you can add in crushed pecans, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or even some shredded coconut!

How To Make Carrot Raisin Salad

1. Shred your carrots if needed and drain the pineapple, reserving some pineapple juice in case it's needed.
2. Add the carrots, raisins, and pineapple to a large mixing bowl.

3. Add the seasonings to the vegan mayo and mix together.
4. Add the mayo dressing to the bowl of carrots and mix everything together until all ingredients are coated. Serve right away or cover and chill.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Easily shred whole raw carrots using a grater attachment on a food processor or stand mixer. If you use a standard box grater, the carrots will be in smaller pieces and much softer which may not allow them to last as long if you're making this salad ahead of time.
• If you want your raisins to be softer, you let them soak in a bowl of warm water (or warmed leftover pineapple juice) to plump and soften them. This is a good idea when serving the salad right away.
• If the vegan mayo you use is too thick to mix into the salad easily, add a tablespoon of reserved pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, or fresh lemon juice to help get the dressing moving!
• Ideally, this carrot salad is best when chilled for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to marinate, however, as long as you use cold ingredients it's fine to serve right away (also using grated instead of shredded carrots helps develop the flavors and soften the salad more quickly).

Make It Ahead Of Time

If you plan on prepping the carrot raisin salad in advance, aim for only 1 to 2 days to prevent the salad from getting too watery. Alternatively, you can mix together the carrots, raisins, pineapple, and any other large add-ins you choose and keep the mayo dressing ready on the side. Then when you're ready to serve, you can mix the mayo into the veggies and fruit the morning of!

How To Store

You can store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 for the best quality. This type of mayo-based salad does not freeze well and I do not recommend you do so.

More Southern Potluck Sides:

• Southern Potato Salad
• Classic Broccoli Salad
• Vegan Grape Salad
• Vegan Southern Squash Casserole
• Vegan Corn Casserole
• Vegan Ambrosia Salad
• Old-Fashioned Pea Salad
• Old-Fashioned Vegan Baked Beans

Print

This raw carrot raisin salad is the perfect sweet and tangy addition to any meal! Everything from summer grilling to an Easter holiday meal, you can't go wrong with this classic comforting combo!

So tell me:

+ Does your family make this? What are your go-to add-ins?

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