Grandma's Recipes 
埼玉県 
* Photo is for reference 東京都 🌸 Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Japanese Grandma's Carrot Salad with Raisins and Mandarin Oranges (Ninjin Salad)
This bright, fruity carrot salad is a creative Japanese grandmother's answer to getting kids to eat their vegetables. By combining finely shredded carrots with sweet raisins and canned mandarin oranges in a citrusy sushi vinegar dressing, the natural bitterness of raw carrots is beautifully tamed.
🧂 Ingredients
servings
* In traditional Japanese grandma cooking, measurements are approximate — think of them as guidelines rather than exact amounts.
| Main Ingredients | |
| Carrots (large) | 2本（大） (approx. 300〜360g) (Peeled and cut into very fine julienne strips) |
| Raisins | 100g (Plumped in hot water, then drained) |
| Canned mandarin oranges | 1缶（大） (Drained (reserve the syrup)) |
| Dressing | |
| Salt | 小さじ1 (Toss with the carrots and let sit for 30 minutes) |
| Bottled lemon juice | 適量 |
| Reserved mandarin orange syrup | 大さじ2 |
| Sushi vinegar (seasoned rice vinegar) | 大さじ2 |
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Peel the carrots and cut into very fine julienne strips. Toss with salt and let sit for about 30 minutes, then drain the released liquid.
💡 Don't rinse off the salt - just drain the water that comes out
- 2
Soak the raisins in hot water until plump, then drain.
- 3
Drain the canned mandarin oranges, reserving some syrup.
- 4
Combine the carrots, raisins, and mandarins. Add the lemon juice, mandarin syrup, and sushi vinegar. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
💡 Leaving it overnight lets the flavors meld and makes it even more enjoyable
📖 Memories & Stories
It was a home where relatives gathered often. Some of the children didn't like carrots, and grandma wanted to help them enjoy it. I loved this salad, and whenever I asked about measurements, she'd always say, 'The best amount is whatever feels right!' But between watching her cook and learning from my mother, I've recreated it.
Source: Heard from family (parents, siblings, etc.)Written from memory (Submitted by: きょうこさん)
🍽 Cultural Background
Carrots are a leading source of beta-carotene among vegetables, but their distinctive grassy taste makes them one of the most commonly disliked vegetables among children in Japan. Combining them with sweet fruits like mandarin oranges and raisins helps mask the bitterness - a technique used worldwide, from Japanese home cooking to French carrot rapee.
