Czech Apple Carrot Salad – Mrkvový salát

This is a straightforward and quick sweet salad made from raw shredded carrots and apples, with lemon juice and sugar to add some taste. In Czech, we call it mrkvový salát, and it’s a healthy snack for every kid, even if they are not vegetable-lovers.

Taste of Memory

When I was a little kid, this homemade carrot salad was a common sight on our table.

I grew up in the eighties in former Czechoslovakia, where the choice of more exotic fruit and vegetables in stores was quite limited. Apples and carrots were, on the other hand, available all year round.

My dad usually made the carrot salad because he had to grate carrots by hand for the whole family, and that was (and still is) a lot of work.

MY TIP: Try out this Apple compote, an easy recipe with cinnamon and cloves!

Pronunciation

I recorded a short audio clip on how to pronounce the Czech word "mrkvový salát".

Ingredients

The basic Czech apple carrot salad recipe calls for 4 ingredients: apples, carrots, fresh lemon juice, and sugar. I also threw in some raisins, which are an add-on and don’t actually belong to the classic recipe.

• Apple – use any juicy and sweet apple you have on hand. You must peel and core the apple before shredding it.
• Carrot – any fresh carrot will work well. Organic carrots probably taste a bit better.
• Lemon juice – freshly pressed; watch out for lemon stones. Lemon juice is not only for flavor but also prevents the apples from turning brown.
• Sugar – any white granulated sugar is fine, the amount is up to you. There is a good rule of thumb: the sweeter the apples, the less sugar you use.
• Raisins – they are not necessary; if you add some, get a juicy type, such as golden raisins.

As you can see, this apple carrot salad is without mayonnaise because the moisture from apples and lemon will create the only dressing you’ll need.

Instructions

You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make yourself a tasty treat full of vitamins. Moreover, this apple carrot salad is finished in a flash!

1. Peel carrots. Peel apples, halve them and remove the core.
2. Grate both carrots and apples, place them in a large bowl.
3. Squeeze lemon juice over and sprinkle with sugar. If you like, throw raisins in a bowl.
4. Stir together and serve.

For 2 portions, 1 larger apple and 2 medium-sized carrots should be all you need.

Serving

Serve this Czech style mrkvový salát as a sweet dessert in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. The tastes will blend perfectly this way.

Try to offer the salad to your kids. You’ll be surprised how much they like it, even if they hate vegetables!

Cook’s Tips

• This salad is eaten as a sweet snack or a dessert.
• If you want to add a new dimension to the salad, drizzle it with a little honey on the surface.
• I used a hand grater box to grate the apples and carrots. Be patient, hand grating requires a bit of time and physical activity.
• I grated the carrot finely and apples coarsely.

🍰 More Czech desserts:

• Bábovka – marble bundt cake
• Žemlovka – apple bread pudding
• Vánočka – sweet braided Christmas bread