Mediterranean Tahini Cucumber Salad
Summer is almost approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with food! I’m thrilled to be able to share my Mediterranean Tahini Cucumber Salad with you all. It’s made with chopped cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and herbs.
The tahini dressing with spices like sumac is the greatest part, and the creamy dressing has a perfect tang from freshly squeezed lemon juice.
What can I do with a jar of tahini?
Let’s say you are looking for a new salad to go with your Mediterranean chicken dinner or you simply bought a jar of tahini to make hummus and you’ve been surviving on hummus for many days and you’ve had enough. No WORRIES! Make a quick salad with your jar of tahini instead.
This tahini salad recipe is the perfect way to use up your tahini. Let’s not forget to mention the REAL reason why you would want to make this dish—because it’s DE-licious!
What is tahini salad dressing made of?
You’ll love how easy it is to make the tahini dressing. The only ingredients you need are creamy tahini, olive oil, spices like sumac and oregano, fresh herbs like parsley, and mint, and finally, the zest of a lemon and the juice to add the essential bright lemony tang.
If you do not have tahini on hand, look for a jar in the Mediterranean food section of your local market.
Ingredients
My favorite part about this recipe is how few ingredients you need.
Cucumber will give a nice crunch and is the main ingredient of this tahini salad. Look for Persian cucumbers or an English cucumber. I find that American cucumbers have a thick unpleasantly chewy skin and large seeds. If that’s all you can lay your hands on, simply peel the skin and discard the seeds.
Tomato—you’ll need a large tomato cut into small dice. It’s important that the tomatoes are roughly the same size as the cucumber. Uniformity is key in this recipe.
Lemon will add the tang we all love. You need the zest and juice of one large lemon.
Olive Oil to reinforce a nice buttery texture in the tahini dressing.
Fresh Parsley for a fresh flare and taste.
Fresh Mint to add more aromatics. If you cannot get fresh mint, it’s ok to use 1 tsp of dried mint.
Spices like oregano and sumac. The oregano adds earthiness and the sumac adds a fruity tang.
How to Serve Tahini Cucumber Salad
If you plan to make this salad ahead. Keep the already-made tahini dressing in a container with a lid. You can keep the dressing in the fridge for up to 3 days. If the dressing separates, simply give it a good whisk and it should be smooth and creamy once again.
Dice the cucumbers and tomatoes —along with the herbs right before serving. Prechopped cucumbers and tomatoes do not hold up very well over time due to their high water content.
More Salad Cravings for You
Mediterranean Tahini Cucumber Salad
Mediterranean Salad with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs all tossed in a creamy tahini dressing.
Ingredients
For the Tahini Dressing
Salad Ingredients
Instructions
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Add the tahini, water, olive oil, zest, and juice of the lemon, herbs, spices, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl and whisk until a smooth and creamy sauce forms. Set aside.
Optional: add a grated garlic clove for extra bold flavor. -
Dice the cucumbers. Next, dice the tomatoes and aim for the same size as the cucumbers. Discard any tomato innards and seeds.
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Pour the tahini dressing over the diced cucumbers and tomatoes and mix until fully incorporated. Enjoy immediately.
Note
Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The texture of the vegetables will change, but they will still be delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Make the tahini dressing first. Put it in a jar with a lid and store it for no longer than three days. Just before serving, cut the cucumbers and tomatoes and drizzle the dressing over the salad.
