The Russian cuisine inspires a lot of my cooking. Russian salads, in particular, are incredibly unique and creative. My favorite popular Russian is Корейская Морковь (pronounced koreyskaya morkovka, literally “Korean carrots”).

I began making my own version of the Russian-Korean carrots when I was around 14 years old. I was home alone one day with nothing good to eat in the fridge except a bag of carrots. As I was thinking about how I could prepare the carrots, I remembered that my family’s holiday menus often featured koreyskaya morkovka. Not knowing the original recipe, I began to throw together ingredients until I had made what is basically marinated carrots.

It was not until last year that I started researching the benefits and uses of different foods and dishes. In my research, I came across the work of Dr. Ray Peat, a nutritional counselor who closely studies hormones and the body’s energy structure. The doctor has a recipe for a pro-metabolic, raw carrot salad that is similar to my own creation! I was amazed when I read through and noted the health benefits that come with eating this salad.

Click here for Dr. Ray Peat’s raw carrot salad recipe. Or, see below for my version!

Pro-Metabolic Carrots Recipe

1-2 Shredded or Ribboned Carrots (I use a vegetable peeler to create ribbons)

½ Tablespoon Olive or Coconut Oil

Splash of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Clove Shredded Garlic

Salt to Taste

Black and Crushed Red Pepper to Taste

Raw carrots are incredible at improving digestion as it produces anti-fungal and anti-microbial substances. When raw carrots are marinated with an oil, vinegar, and salt, they become cultured vegetables with good bacteria for a healthy gut. Marinated carrots will clean up your gut and detoxify your liver. The salad even eliminates endotoxins and excess estrogen which slow your metabolism. Carrots are high in fiber. Toxins and excess estrogen bind to the fiber in carrots and are flushed out in that way. Thus, marinated carrots optimize your metabolism.

“The carrot salad improves the ratio of progesterone to estrogen and cortisol, and so is as appropriate for epilepsy as for premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, or arthritis” -Ray Peat

Individuals who began the practice of making and eating this salad daily reported a reduction in:

〰Gut Issues (constipation, bloating, IBS, SIBO)

〰Dairy Intolerance

〰Endometriosis Pain

〰Rashes and Acne

〰PMS Symptoms

〰Sore and Fibrocystic breast

〰Headaches and Migraines

〰Anxiety & Depression