Eating My Skincare · Episode 09
Spicy Skin-Boosting Carrot Salad
This is a spicier version of a carrot salad I make constantly, same glow-boosting base, just turned up with gochujang and gochugaru.
The dressing is where the flavor lives, gochujang, shoyu, rice vinegar, a touch of honey, and either gochugaru or red chili powder if you want to dial the heat up or down.
It comes together in about 15 minutes and holds up well as a side for pretty much anything.
Carrot
Beta-carotene
Your body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A, supporting cell turnover and glow, the same reason it shows up again and again in this series.
Garlic
Allicin
Garlic's active compound, allicin, has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm reactive skin.
Gochujang
Fermented chili paste
As a fermented ingredient, gochujang brings a small probiotic boost along with the heat, tying back into gut-skin health.
What you'll need
The salad
The dressing
How to make it
Prep the salad
Slice the carrot and cucumber, slice the red onion, and mince the garlic. Add to a bowl.
If you have time, remove the cucumber seeds so the salad doesn't get watery.
Make the dressing
In a separate bowl, combine gochujang, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, and gochugaru or chili powder, then whisk to combine.
Toss and finish
Add the dressing to the salad, toss, and top with cilantro and sesame seeds.
