Shaved Carrot and Parsley Salad {paleo + vegan}

Is it just me, or does winter seem to be a hard time to remember to include fresh vegetables in the dinner line up? The allure or roasting every vegetable that crosses my path into a sweet and caramelized nirvana is almost always too much to resist. But once in awhile, a salad comes along that does that perfect little thing of brightening up a hearty rich mid-winter meal like nothing else can. And this shaved carrot and parsley salad is exactly that.

 
Because even though you’ve bookmarked every recipe for a slow braise you can get your hands on, and you’re making a giant pot of soup once a week, a little fresh veggie salad can still have that magic way of bringing a dinner together and making it feel like a real adult meal.

And adult meals can be hard sometimes.

But in truth, this time of year more than ever, we gotta remember to take care of ourselves. November –> December burnout is a THING, and a good place to start when it comes to staying on top of your self care is with FOOD!

So simple, but so powerful.

It reminds us to slow down. It reminds us what is really the most important. It also reminds us that we already have a lot of the tools we need to take care of ourselves.

In last week’s installment of Rob Brezsny’s Astrology letter I was reminded (hiii fellow Virgo’s!) that the question of what I might do to take better care of myself will be a very relevant one in the coming year. That loving oneself is a great way to explore what that might look like, and that there’s still a lot to learn in this department. Which is pretty good advice even if you’re not into the whole astrology thing. Never stop holding the question: How could I do this better?

Plus, it’s always nice to see some vivid colors on your plate.

This carrot salad is made for pairing with your hearty + rich winter dishes. Literally ready for anything – from roasted chicken to seared salt and pepper pork chops to twice baked sweet potatoes.

And the dressing for this shaved carrot and parsley salad is made in a jar with simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Which, in IMHO, are the best types of recipes. The one’s that don’t require a store run or fancy ingredients that you have to order online.

so what’s in the dressing?

• fresh lemon juice
• olive oil
• white wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, this dressing recipe is just dying to be customized)
• maple syrup
• salt
• chili flakes (if you like a little spice!)

THAT’S IT! See? Crazy easy. And I bet you already have a bag of carrots hanging out in your fridge right now anyways.

 
The carrots are thinly sliced for just the right amount of bite, and drenched in that tangy lemon vinaigrette that soaks into each carrot slice in just the right way. With a handful of herbs for a little extra flavor (and more color! yay!).

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