Tahini Salad

5 from 33 votes

Tahini salad is a Middle Eastern inspired dish made with fresh veggies, herbs, and a creamy tahini dressing. Easy, nutritious, and so good!

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Tahini salad is a simple and delicious dish packed with Middle Eastern flavors and made with a base of fresh vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. This salad has a deliciously tangy and creamy tahini dressing, adding a satisfyingly nutty flavor to the dish. I love this tahini salad by itself, but it is traditionally served as a topping for rice, but it can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Large white bowl of a chopped vegetable salad tossed in a tahini dressing with a spoon dipped in.

Table of Contents

  1. Why you’ll love this Lebanese-style Tahini Salad
  2. Ingredients to make a chunky tahini cucumber salad
  3. How to make this Lebanese tahini salad recipe in one bowl
  4. Tips for making the best tahini salad
  5. Popular substitutions & additions
  6. What to serve with tahini salad
  7. How to store chopped vegetables in tahini dressing
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. More Middle eastern salad recipes:
  10. Tahini Salad Recipe

Growing up, my family and I used to call this Lebanese tahini salad “tarator,” which sounds like tartar sauce. Let’s just say I had to double-check the label a few times before dousing my salad with the wrong sauce!

While you might think this doesn’t look like a salad because the vegetables are pretty much soaked in the dressing, that’s the beauty of it! It’s meant to be served with other Mediterranean dishes, especially rice, to soak up the salad’s flavor.

Why you’ll love this Lebanese-style Tahini Salad

  • Easy to customize. You can use any vegetables you want, so it’s a great way to clean out your fridge. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley are the most common, but you can also radishes, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, red onions, cabbage, or other crunchy fresh vegetables.
  • Enhances your meal. Think of this salad similar to a salsa you’d add on top of fish or rice pilaf. The flavor of the garlic with the nutty tahini and fresh vegetables can really take any standard weeknight meal to the next level.
  • Versatile use. You can pretty much add this as a condiment to many different meals, from chicken shawarma bowls to grilled kafta, to falafel, to turmeric rice and fish. You can add it on top of romaine lettuce as a complete salad or dip it with Pita Chips, like my kids love to do!

Ingredients to make a chunky tahini cucumber salad

  • For the dressing: Tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, and seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. When choosing your tahini, opt for a brand that uses just one ingredient-sesame seed!
  • Vegetables: I use a combination of refreshing vegetables like Persian cucumbers and tomatoes with some veggies that have a little more bite, such as bell pepper and red onion.
  • Fresh herbs: Parsley is a common herb added to Middle Eastern cuisine, and mint adds a cool contrast to the tahini’s nutty and slightly bitter taste.
Ingredients for recipe before prepping: fresh mint, green bell pepper, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, salt and pepper, lemon tahini paste, garlic, and fresh parsley.

How to make this Lebanese tahini salad recipe in one bowl

  1. Place the tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Whisk until it forms a paste-like consistency, and all the ingredients are fully incorporated while slowly pouring in water. It should be a smooth and creamy consistency.
  3. Pour the dressing over the chopped veggies in a bowl (or add the vegetables on top of the tahini mixture) and toss to combine.
  4. You can now serve it right away or store it in the fridge. Note that the salad will continue to thin out as the juices from the tomatoes and cucumbers leech. This is completely normal, and will continue to flavor the sauce.
4 image collage making recipe: 1- salad dressing ingredients in a bowl before combining, 2- dressing after mixed, 3- chopped herbs and veggies in bowl with dressing poured on top, 4- salad tossed with dressing.

Tips for making the best tahini salad

  1. Dice everything small. Just like you would prepare salsa by finely chopping the vegetables, the same goes for this tahini salad. This helps all the flavors incorporate well and creates a better presentation.
  2. Use fresh garlic and lemon juice. The tahini dressing is made with only a few ingredients, so using fresh garlic and lemon juice will really enhance the flavor.
  3. Serve with another entree. Because this can be considered salsa or a topping and has all that extra saucy tahini dressing, it is great to serve over rice or quinoa as it will soak in all the nutty, lemony flavor.
  4. Toss before serving. As it sits, this tahini salad will continue producing more liquid, so it’s best to stir it to ensure everything is blended well.
  • Add more vegetables. I chose 4 vegetables for this salad, but you can add even more veggies. Just cut them into small and even sizes. It’s a great way to use any leftover veggies from other meals.
  • Add a touch of sweetness. Tahini and lemon can be tart and bitter, so adding a little honey or maple syrup balances the flavors.
  • Switch up the herbs. You can try this salad with oregano, cilantro, dill, or basil, to name a few.
  • Use different citrus. The combination of lemon and tahini is a traditional Lebanese pairing, but you can’t go wrong with a good pop of zesty, citrusy flavor. Try lime juice and cilantro or orange juice with basil or mint.

What to serve with tahini salad

How to store chopped vegetables in tahini dressing

If you have leftovers of this saucy tahini salad, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. If possible, keep the veggies and dressing separately, as this will keep them crisp and fresher.

How long will tahini cucumber salad last in the fridge?

You can store the tahini salad in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure to mix it up well before serving to redistribute the dressing and vegetables.

Frequently asked questions

Can tahini salad be made ahead of time?

Yes, tahini salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. However, it’s best to wait until just before serving to add fresh herbs or the dressing to prevent the salad from becoming too soggy.

What can I use instead of tahini?

While tahini is the traditional ingredient in tahini salad, you could substitute it with nut butter such as almond or cashew.

How do I prevent the dressing from separating in the tahini salad?

To prevent the dressing from separating, whisk it together thoroughly before adding it to the salad. You could also try adding a tablespoon of water to the sauce to help emulsify it.

Tahini salad full of fresh chopped vegetables in a bowl with a spoon scooping some up.

With its combination of crunchy textures, nutritious ingredients, and exciting flavors, tahini salad is the perfect addition to any meal, whether you’re a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine or simply looking for a new way to incorporate fresh veggies into your diet.

More Middle eastern salad recipes:

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Tahini Salad

Tahini salad is a Middle Eastern inspired dish made with fresh veggies, herbs, and a creamy tahini dressing. Easy, nutritious, and so good!
5 from 33 votes
Servings 6 servings
Course Salad
Calories 96
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

For the dressing

  • cup tahini paste
  • cup lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves pressed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons water

For the salad

  • 2 Persian cucumbers diced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes diced
  • ½ red onion diced
  • ¼ green pepper diced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint chopped

Instructions

  • Place the tahini paste in a large serving bowl. Add the lemon juice, garlic and salt. Use a whisk or fork to combine the mixture until it forms a paste-like consistency.
  • Slowly add water to the mixture and continue whisking until it’s smooth and well blended.
  • Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, green pepper, parsley and mint on top and toss to combine.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. If possible, keep the veggies and dressing separately, as this will keep them crisp and fresher.
Toss before serving. As it sits, this tahini salad will continue producing more liquid, so it’s best to stir it to ensure everything is blended well.

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 203mg, Potassium: 198mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 467IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine Lebanese
Course: Salad

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