Grated Carrot and (Raw) Beet Salad

Ingredients

• 450 g carrots
• 450 g uncooked beetroots (get the small, young ones, with smooth skin and firm flesh)
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon strong Dijon mustard
• Tabasco sauce or chili pepper flakes, to taste
• smoked salt or regular sea salt or za'atar spice mix
• fresh ground black pepper

Optional add-ins

• leafy fresh herb, chopped (cilantro, chervil, flat-leaf parsley) (optional)
• toasted nuts (almonds, pine nuts, cashews, peanuts) (optional) or seeds (sesame, sunflower seeds) (optional)
• grated apple (optional) or shallot (optional)
• any dried herb, spice (and you know there's only one way to find out) (optional) or mixed spice, you think might work (and you know there's only one way to find out) (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Trim, peel, and grate the carrots and beets. (If you own a food processor with a grater attachment, yay for you!)

2. 2

   Place the rest of the main ingredients, from garlic to black pepper, in a large salad bowl, add the grated carrots and beets, and toss until well combined.

3. 3

   Add any desired add-ins and toss again.

4. 4

   Taste, adjust the seasoning, and let stand for 30 minutes, if you can, before serving: the beets and carrots will render juices that will make the salad moister.

5. 5

   If you don't have that kind of time and the salad does not feel quite moist enough, add a dash of citrus juice, tomato juice, or any sort of juice that may currently reside in the refrigerator door.