Tahini Salad {Authentic Lebanese Style} – FeelGoodFoodie

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Tahini Salad is a simple and delicious dish full of Middle Eastern flavors made with fresh vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and onions. This salad has a deliciously tangy and creamy tahini dressing that adds a satisfyingly nutty flavor to the dish. I love this tahini salad on its own, but it’s traditionally served as a topping for rice, but can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Table of contents

1. Why You’ll Love This Lebanese-Style Tahini Salad
2. Ingredients for a thick 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 and additions
6. What to serve with tahini salad
7. How to store chopped veggies in tahini dressing
8. frequently asked Questions
9. More Middle Eastern Salad Recipes:
10. Tahini salad recipe

When I was growing up, my family and I called this Lebanese tahini salad “tarator,” which sounds like tartar sauce. Let’s just say I had to 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 veggies are pretty drenched in the dressing, that’s the beauty of it! It is meant to be served with other Mediterranean dishes, especially rice, to soak up the flavor of the salad.

Why You’ll Love This Lebanese-Style Tahini Salad

• Easy to customize. You can use any veggies 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 use radishes, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, red onions, cabbage, or other crunchy fresh vegetables.
• Refines your meal. Think of this salad similar to a salsa you would put on fish or rice pilaf. The flavor of garlic with nutty tahini and fresh veggies really can take any standard weeknight meal to the next level.
• Versatile. You can pretty much add this as a condiment to many different dishes, from chicken shawarma bowls to grilled kafta, falafel to turmeric rice and fish. You can serve it as a complete salad on top of romaine lettuce or dip it with pita chips which my kids love!

Ingredients for a thick tahini cucumber salad

• For the dressing: Tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. When choosing your tahini, opt for a brand that only uses one ingredient – ​​sesame seeds!
• Vegetables: I use a combination of refreshing veggies like Persian cucumbers and tomatoes with a bit more bite like bell peppers and red onions.
• Fresh herbs: Parsley is a common herb added to Middle Eastern cuisine, and mint adds a cool contrast to the nutty and slightly bitter taste of tahini.

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. Stir until a paste-like consistency forms and all ingredients are fully incorporated while slowly pouring in water. It should have a smooth and creamy consistency.
3. Pour the dressing over the chopped veggies in a bowl (or add the veggies to the tahini mixture) and toss to combine.
4. You can serve it right now or keep it in the fridge. Note that the lettuce will continue to thin out as the juices ooze from the tomatoes and cucumbers. This is perfectly normal and will further flavor the sauce.

Tips for making the best tahini salad

1. Dice everything. Just as you would make salsa by finely chopping the veggies, the same goes for this tahini salad. This helps all the flavors integrate well and makes for better presentation.
2. Use fresh garlic and lemon juice. The tahini dressing is made with just a few ingredients, so using fresh garlic and lemon juice really enhances the flavor.
3. Serve with another main course. Since this can be considered a salsa or topping and has all that extra spicy tahini dressing, it’s great to serve over rice or quinoa as it soaks up all the nutty, lemony flavor.
4. Turn before serving. This tahini salad will continue to produce more liquid as it sits, so it’s best to stir it to make sure everything is mixed well.

Popular substitutions and additions

• Add more vegetables. I chose 4 veggies for this salad, but you can add more veggies. Just cut them into small and even sizes. It’s a great way to use 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 will balance the flavors.
• Change the herbs. You can try this salad with oregano, cilantro, dill or basil to name a few.
• Use other citrus fruits. The combination of lemon and tahini is a traditional Lebanese combination, but you can’t go wrong with a good kick of zesty citrus flavor. Try lime juice and cilantro, or orange juice with basil or mint.

What to serve with tahini salad

How to store chopped veggies in tahini dressing

If you have leftovers from this savory tahini salad, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If possible, keep the vegetables and dressing separate, as this will keep them crispier and fresher.

How long does Tahini Cucumber Salad keep in the fridge?

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

frequently asked Questions

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 just looking for a new way to incorporate fresh vegetables into your diet .

More Middle Eastern Salad Recipes:

If you try this you will feel good Tahini Salad Recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget it Rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We’d love to hear about your experiences with it. And when you’ve got some shots, share them on Instagram so we can repost them in Stories!