Roasted Carrot and Citrus Herb Salad (Printable)

Sweet roasted carrots paired with juicy citrus segments and fresh herbs create this vibrant, refreshing dish.

# List of ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
02 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Citrus

03 - 2 oranges, peeled and segmented
04 - 1 grapefruit, peeled and segmented
05 - Zest of 1 orange

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
08 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Garnish

11 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
12 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
14 - 1/4 cup toasted pistachios, roughly chopped (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss carrot sticks and red onion slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast for 20-25 minutes, turning once, until carrots are tender and lightly caramelized. Let cool slightly.
04 - While vegetables roast, whisk together remaining olive oil, honey or maple syrup, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, orange zest, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
05 - In a large bowl, combine roasted carrots and onions, citrus segments, and herbs. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine.
06 - Sprinkle with toasted pistachios just before serving, if using. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted carrots become candy-sweet and tender, while the citrus adds a bright juicy contrast that wakes up your palate
  • Its deceptively simple yet feels elegant enough for dinner guests, and the herb combination makes every forkful taste like spring arrived early
02 -
  • Do not skip roasting the carrots, even though it seems extra work for a salad, because that concentrated sweetness is what makes this dish sing
  • Let the roasted vegetables cool for at least 10 minutes before combining with the citrus or the fresh segments will wilt and lose their bright juicy texture
03 -
  • Segmenting the citrus over a bowl and catching all the juices lets you add that precious liquid to the dressing instead of wasting it
  • Toast the pistachios in a dry skillet for just 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant, watching carefully because nuts go from perfectly toasted to burned in seconds

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