You probably do not give much thought to eating carrots until it comes to feasting on a sizable portion of grandma’s carrot side salad, right? That’s right; carrot salad is something that most South African’s have got a taste for. In fact, it is probably the only way the majority of the population get its intake of carrots! If you have a hankering for a taste of home, it is time to get your fix of ‘sweet and sour’ Carrot Salad. As a firm South African favourite, every expat needs to know how to make a Copper Penny Carrot Salad! How else will you evoke those nostalgic feelings of languid braais and Sunday afternoons feasts back home?
The Copper Penny salad is a wonderful taste sensation of sweet and sour marinated carrot. It is a traditional South African go-to and is typically prepared the night before it is enjoyed. The carrot slices, which look like copper pennies (hence the name), are marinated overnight and served chilled as a side dish. It is often stored in a jar in the fridge and hauled out for every meal. After all, every meal can be made better with a side-serving of Copper Penny Carrot Salad. Some even like to heat the salad up and enjoy it warm. It is an “anyway you like it” salad and that is why so many South Africans can’t get enough of it.
The History of Copper Penny Carrot Salad
If you try to delve a little into the history of the Copper Penny Carrot Salad, you may find that it is presumed to be an American recipe, typically from the Southern areas. It is believed that many years ago, Southern brides carried a penny from the year before they were born, for good luck and to ensure a prosperous marriage. The recipe, which includes carrots cut into ‘coins’ and marinated in a mixture that makes them looked like aged copper pennies, is said to be a token to this particular tradition. How the dish became a South African traditional favourite is unclear.
What we do know is that there are various versions of the salad available and you can even buy it on the shelves in a box, at most South African major supermarkets. There is no denying that Carrot Salad is a top choice for most South Africans. Of course, nothing beats homemade carrot salad, so if you have the time, why not whip up a bowl of it yourself?
Copper Penny Carrot Salad Recipe – Enjoy a Good Old South African Carrot Salad
Where the Copper Penny Salad comes from and how it made its way to South African shores is of little consequence. As South African connoisseurs of delectable tastes and flavours, all we are really interested in is recreating the same tasty side dish our grandmothers used to make us. And if you are hunting for a Carrot Salad recipe that does just that, you have come to just the right place. Here it is…
What You Need to make a copper penny carrot salad:
- 4 to 5 cups of carrots sliced into medium-thick rings (here is where your pennies come from!)
- 1 finely chopped onion
- 1 diced green pepper
- 400ml or 1 can of tomato juice or tomato soup
What You Need for the Marinade:
- 2/3 of a cup of sugar
- ½ a cup of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup of vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of celery seed
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
Here is how to make a copper penny carrot salad:
- Lightly sauté the carrot coins, onion, and green pepper in a pan. Make sure that the carrot and onions are tender but crisp. Be careful to not overcook them or the salad will become mushy.
- Once they are cooked, drain any excess liquid off them and set them to one side.
- Now it is time to focus on making the “sauce”. To do this, heat the olive oil in a pot and add the tomato soup or tomato juice along with the rest of the ingredients. Bring the liquid to the boil while stirring continuously. This will make your ‘sweet and sour’ sauce.
- Once the sauce has boiled, remove from the heat and pour over carrot coins, onion and green pepper.
- And that’s it! Now all you need to do is pop the bowl into the fridge and let it chill overnight. For best results, leave it standing in the fridge for at least 12 hours before it is enjoyed.
All that is left to do is garnish with fresh herbs before serving and enjoy! Ah! The taste of home!
FinGlobal: Tax & Financial Emigration Specialists
When you move to a new country, it stands to reason that there is more than just missing out on Copper Penny Carrot Salad to worry about. If you do not handle the processing of your tax and financial emigration, you may lose out on a lot more. Don’t worry – help is at hand. By working with a team of professional consultants, you can ensure that you get the most out when moving to a new country.
At FinGlobal we have a great Copper Penny Carrot Salad recipe for you as well as the recipe for success with all of your tax emigration and financial emigration processing. With 10 years of experience behind us, we can make your expat financial worries seem as easy as whipping up a carrot salad. We offer premier financial and emigration advice and guidance to SA expats the world over. With the help of dedicated FinGlobal consultants, your expat financial needs will be met effectively and affordably. For assistance with your tax and financial emigration, get in touch with us today. You can give us a call or send us an email and one of our consultants will assist you further.