Moroccan-Spiced Carrot & Chickpea Salad

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Spice up your mealtime with this Moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad—a satisfying, no-fuss dish that offers a deliciously unique twist on the classic carrot-raisin salad.

moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad in white bowl.

Packed with fragrant spices, vibrant colors, and a perfect mix of sweet and savory flavors, this Moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad is a feast for the senses. It puts a unique spin on the classic carrot-raisin salad. And the best part? You don’t need any hard-to-find ingredients to make it. Everything that makes it special is probably already on hand in your kitchen.

Pair the salad with my grilled Moroccan chicken, grilled Moroccan meatballs, or perhaps with my butternut squash and sweet potato soup for a lighter meal. It’s also perfectly satisfying on its own—just right for a pack-and-go lunch or those quiet nights when you’re dining solo and don’t want to fuss with a whole meal.

What You’ll Need To Make Moroccan-Spiced Carrot & Chickpea Salad

moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad ingredients.

The list of ingredients looks long but, as you can see, it’s mostly just a lot of spices. If you have a food processor, this is a good time to use it. If not, you can shred the carrots by hand or buy them already shredded and bagged from the supermarket.

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a large bowl (large enough to mix the entire salad), combine all of the ingredients for the dressing.

dressing ingredients in mixing bowl.

Whisk to combine.

dressing ingredients whisked in mixing bowl.

Next, toast the almonds. Simply place them on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy clean-up and bake for 5 minutes, or until lightly golden. Keep a close eye on them; they go from perfectly golden to burnt very quickly!

toasted almonds on baking sheet.

Next, add all of the salad ingredients to the bowl with the dressing.

ingredients for moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad in mixing bowl.

Toss well, then cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, but preferably several hours. The salad tastes infinitely better cold, especially once the flavors have had a chance to marry.

mixed carrot and chickpea salad.

Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, then serve cold. Enjoy!

moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad in white bowl.

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Moroccan Carrot & Chickpea Salad

Spice up your mealtime with this Moroccan-spiced carrot and chickpea salad—a satisfying, no-fuss dish that offers a deliciously unique twist on the classic carrot-raisin salad.

Servings: 6 (as a side dish)

Ingredients

For the Dressing

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 3 tablespoons lemon juice, from one large lemon
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice, from one large orange
  • 1½ tablespoons honey
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Salad

  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and shredded
  • ⅓ cup currants
  • ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted (see note below)
  • ½ cup chopped fresh mint or cilantro (or a combination), plus more for serving
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced shallots, from one large shallot
  • 1 garlic clove, minced

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl (large enough to mix the entire salad), whisk together all of the ingredients for the dressing.
  2. To the dressing, add all of the ingredients for the salad and toss well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to a few hours. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (you might need more salt, lemon or honey, depending on the sweetness of the carrots). Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with more fresh chopped herbs. Serve cold.
  3. Note: To toast the almonds, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the almonds on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy clean-up. Bake for about 5 minutes, until the almonds are golden.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (6 servings)
  • Calories: 312
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated fat: 2g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Sugar: 19g
  • Fiber: 9g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Sodium: 522mg
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

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Comments

  • Amazing flavors! I did not have currants on hand so I used one stalk of very thinly sliced celery. Next time I will be sure to use currants!
    This is our new go-to Carrot Salad – thank you!!

  • Absolutely delicious! This recipe is a keeper!!

  • I make this salad every time I throw a Moroccan dinner party. Always liked by many. So refreshing! Perfect for any summer dinner! And, of course, I love the fact that you don’t have to use mayonnaise to make a carrot salad tasty.

    • — Linda Lou Birnie
    • Reply
  • I have made this salad numerous times, love it!!!

  • Made this last night to have with lamb Koftas and a yogurt and mint raita, it was delicious and will definitely be on our “go to list”. What my husband calls “a keeper”

  • I’ve been looking for delicious, nutritious salads to keep in the fridge for sides and snacks. This fits the bill! It’s also great for your vegetarian friends because it has lots of protein with the almonds and chickpeas.

  • I have used another recipe for Moroccan carrot salad for years – but this recipe has now become my favorite. Such a wonderful combination of spices! I used chili flakes instead of cayenne. Very fresh with a slight kick!

  • I have made this four times, now. Each time I get rave reviews. It’s so good, it’s a mystery!
    Use fresh spices, you can sub raisins for carrots, and make a double batch to share with friends.
    Five big stars!

  • Lovely, fresh salad! A keeper! Thanks for sharing, Jenn!

  • This was delicious and I didn’t even have all the fresh ingredients. I subbed raisins for currents (soaked in the OO/juice), Real Lemon Juice for fresh, OJ concentrate w/water for fresh, green onion for shallots and didn’t have coriander. It was still amazing. Can’t wait to try more recipes.

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