Tropical Carrot and Raisin Salad with Coconut

Have you ever had carrot and raisin salad from Chick-fil-A? So good; sweet and tangy dressing with crunchy carrots complimented with bursts of sweet raisins. This copycat recipe is that classic carrot salad kicked up a notch with the addition of coconut! This tropical carrot and raisin salad is almost good enough to eat as a dessert! 

​Why this recipe works

Crunchy carrots have a natural sweetness on their own. Dressed with a tangy dressing made with Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and a pinch of salt really brings out the flavor in them. 

Adding golden raisins, crushed pineapple, and sweetened coconut to the carrot mixture takes it to the next level giving it a tropical vibe straight from the islands! The crunchy texture of this simple salad made from simple ingredients will make your mouth happy. 

What makes this carrot and raisin salad special

Carrots:

You will need shredded fresh carrots for this crunchy carrot raisin salad recipe. There are several ways to shred carrots. Start off by washing and peeling the skins off the carrots and then use one of these methods to shred. 

• Shred on a box grater.
• Shred in a food processor using the shredding disk.
• Purchase pre-shredded carrots in the grocery store. (Carrot matchsticks will also work in this recipe, but it won't be as pretty) 

I personally think the carrots you buy with the tops attached are more flavorful. If I can't find those, I will purchase whole carrots without the tops. 

I don't like baby carrots for this recipe because I don't think they have as much flavor as whole carrots. Rainbow carrots are a fun twist in this salad recipe if you can find them. Grated carrots give this lovely salad it's base.

Pineapple:

You will need pineapple for this delicious carrot raisin salad. I chose to use crushed pineapple packed in pineapple juice. You will need to drain off the pineapple juice before adding this salad. Pineapple gives this carrot salad a distinct sweetness throughout. 

You can also use fresh pineapple that's been finely chopped or pineapple tidbits in place of crushed pineapple if you like. I would not recommend pineapple chunks, as they are too big to meld with the shredded carrots. 

Raisins:

I prefer golden raisins in this carrot salad, but you can use regular raisins instead. Raisins give this carrot salad a nice "pop" of sweetness. 

Coconut:

You will need coconut for this delicious salad. Use the sweetened kind, since it has more moisture. Coconut gives this carrot salad another layer of texture and flavor. 

Greek Yogurt:

Greek yogurt mixed with mayonnaise is what gives this salad it's creamy base. Technically, this is a pretty healthy carrot raisin salad recipe. To add protein to this wonderful side dish and keep calories in check, this simple salad is made with Greek yogurt instead of all mayonnaise. 

This recipe works with flavored Greek yogurts too. Try coconut, vanilla, or lemon flavors for a great flavor twist. For me, I liked the plain yogurt best, but feel free to use whatever flavor of Greek yogurt you like in this classic side dish.

How to make carrot raisin salad

This old fashioned carrot and raisin salad could not be any easier to make. You simply combine all ingredients in a large bowl and let it hang out in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and the raisins to plump up before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy in 3-4 days. 

This carrot salad makes a great side dish to serve alongside dinner or as a side with a sandwich at lunch or even just as a snack. It makes a great wonderful side dish for all of your summer cookouts. It truly is one of my favorite salads this time of year. And it's such an easy recipe.

carrot and raisin salad, carrot raisin salad, carrot salad, Old fashioned carrot raisin salad

side dish, salad

American

Yield: 6 servings

Author: Renee Paj

Tropical Carrot and Raisin Salad with Coconut

Prep time: 10 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Crunchy carrots, plump raisins, sweet pineapple, and coconut dressed in a creamy dressing make this simple salad a great side dish for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of carrots, peeled and shredded
• 3/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple, in 100% juice, drained
• 3 TBSP sweetened, shredded coconut
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup Greek style yogurt (vanilla, coconut, or plain)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving to allow raisins to plump and flavors to meld.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

184.09

Fat (grams)

8.64 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

2.34 g

Cholesterol (grams)

4.75 mg

Carbs (grams)

25.63 g

Fiber (grams)

3.15 g

Sugar (grams)

17.93 g

Net carbs

22.51 g

Protein (grams)

3.28 g

Sodium (milligrams)

226.41 mg

Nutrition information is an estimate and only provided as a courtesy.

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