Leyden cheese, earthy carrots, sweet dried plums and honey vinaigrette, and spicy arugula give this gorgeous salad lots of flavor.

Leyden is a mild-flavored cheese spiked with cumin seeds. If you really like the flavor of cumin, go ahead and whisk a teaspoon or two of toasted cumin seeds into the honey vinaigrette as well.

The sweet and slightly tart flavor of Honey Vinaigrette also pairs really well with blue cheese and goat cheese.

See Also

Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

Feta Yogurt Dressing

Feta Buttermilk Salad Dressing

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1/4 to 1/3 pound Leyden cheese, cut into 1/2-inch squares
• 1/3 cup dried plums, roughly chopped
• 3 large handfuls (about 3 ounces) arugula
• 1 batch of honey vinaigrette

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Preparation

In a large bowl toss the carrots, cheese, dried plums and arugula. Drizzle in the honey vinaigrette and toss again.

Pairing Honey and Cheese

The sweetness of honey can pair really well with cheese. Try one of these delicious pairing ideas but remember to go easy on the honey. The sweet flavor shouldn't overwhelm the cheese.

• Drizzle honey over ricotta
• Make a grilled cheese sandwich out of savory walnut bread , blue cheese and honey

• Serve blue cheese toasts as an appetizer
• Drizzle honey over fresh goat cheese. Serve with dried fruit, nuts and/or cured meat
• For dessert, serve Parmigiano-Reggiano drizzled with honey and garnished with nuts
• For a decadent dessert, drizzle honey over a triple creme cheese like Mt. Tam or Saint Andre
• Drizzle honey over apple slices and serve with sharp cheddar

What Is the Difference Between Dried Plums and Prunes?

Nothing! Dried plums and prunes are the same thing "dried plum" just tends to sound a bit more appetizing. If you have leftover dried plums, serve them with a cheese plate or try one of these recipes:

Pork Loin with Dried-Plum Stuffing
Spanish Honey Flan with Dried Plum & Brandy Topping
Polish Chocolate Plums

More Carrot Salad Recipes

Raw Beet, Carrot and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese
Roasted Garbanzo Beans and Carrots with Feta
Carrot & Feta Salad with Paprika Dressing