Carrot sambol
Raw carrot and coconut salad
Carrot sambol: Sri Lankan raw carrot salad with red onion, chilli, lime and coconut
Carrot sambol is a fresh, crunchy side found on rice-and-curry plates all over Sri Lanka, from Colombo lunch packets to home tables in Kandy. Grated carrot is tossed with red onion, green chilli, lime juice and a little coconut, so it cuts through rich curries and dhal. Some cooks add Maldive fish; this version leaves it out so it stays vegan. The common mistake is dressing it too early: the salt and lime draw water out of the carrot and you end up with a soggy puddle. Chef's tip: mix everything except the salt and lime ahead, then season just before serving.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 carrotsabout 300 g, coarsely grated
- 1 red onionsmall, very finely chopped
- 1 green chillifinely chopped
- 3 tbsp grated coconutfresh, or desiccated soaked in 1 tbsp warm water
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepperfreshly ground
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Method
0/2 doneStep 1: Put 3 carrots, 1 red onion, 1 green chilli and 3 tbsp grated coconut in a bowl and toss with your fingers, lightly squeezing the onion into the carrot so its flavour spreads.
2 minStep 2: Just before serving, add 2 tbsp lime juice, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper and toss again. Taste: it should be bright, salty and a little hot. Serve within 20 minutes.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does carrot sambol take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of carrots?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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