Carrot Salad with Miso Sesame Mayo

Looking for a quick and tasty way to use up those extra carrots? This Carrot Salad with Miso Sesame Mayo is a simple, flavorful side dish made with everyday ingredients like miso, sesame, and mayonnaise. It’s a fun twist on the carrot sticks and sesame mayo dip that my kids can’t get enough of!

We always have a bunch of carrots in the fridge because my little ones love munching on them raw. One day I thought—why not change it up a little? I added miso to our usual sesame mayo combo, turned the carrots into ribbons, and it became an instant hit. The miso adds depth and umami, turning this humble veggie into something exciting!

RECIPE

Servings: 2

Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

2 carrots
2 tbsp sesame seeds (for grinding)
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 tbsp miso paste (white or awase works best)
1 tbsp mirin
Salt, to taste

My Kitchen Tools:

Mortar Bowl

Instructions:

Prepare the carrots
Peel the outer skin of the carrots, then continue using the peeler to create thin, ribbon-like slices.
You can also use a julienne peeler for thin strips if you prefer.
Make the dressing
Lightly toast 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds in a pan until fragrant.
Grind them using a mortar and pestle or a sesame grinder.
Add the mayonnaise, miso paste, mirin, and a pinch of salt to the ground sesame and mix well.
Toss and garnish
In a bowl, combine the carrot ribbons and dressing.
Toss until everything is evenly coated.
Sprinkle with an extra tablespoon of sesame seeds for texture and garnish.

ingredients shopping

Tips

This salad tastes even better after chilling for 10–15 minutes, letting the flavors meld.
If you're serving it to adults, a splash of rice vinegar or a dash of chili oil adds a nice kick.
Try adding blanched spinach or shredded cabbage for a veggie-packed version.

Make It Your Own

This salad is incredibly versatile. You can adjust the ratio of mayo to miso depending on how rich or savory you like it. It's also great for bentos or as a side to grilled fish or tofu.

If your family loves carrots like mine does, this simple Japanese-style salad might just become a new favorite.