Easy carrot cucumber salad with tahini dressing is simple and delicious combining the sweetness of carrots and the crispness of cucumbers in a creamy and flavorful tahini dressing.
😋Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A refreshing, light and healthy salad that can be enjoyed all year round
- Lots of juice and crunch, the dressing is simple, mildly sweet but bold
- Serve as a side dish or can be turned into a substantial meal (see serving suggestions)
- Dietary friendly - vegan, dairy free, nut free, corn free and gluten free
🥒Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are notes on some of the ingredients, the complete list with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.
Carrots should be peeled and then grated.
Lebanese cucumbers (aka Persian cucumbers) are also chopped. If you can't find these types of cucumbers, a telegraph cucumber can be used. Otherwise if using cucumbers with tough seeds, scrape those out. I also use these to make my delicious cucumber onion salad with vinegar and sugar.
Spring onions are sliced, using both the white and green parts, on an angle. They have a sweet pungent flavor which complements the tahini dressing.
Tahini Dressing
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds and will add a mild nutty flavor. It is commonly found in Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. It can be found at your local supermarket or purchase tahini online.
Fresh lime juice for sourness and builds flavor in this salad.
Fresh garlic clove and ginger are to be peeled and minced prior to adding to the dressing.
Black sesame seeds add a lovely contrast in color, only a small amount is needed. White sesame seeds can also be used.
Soy sauce or tamari sauce add the salty umami component.
🥒 How to Make Carrot Cucumber Salad with Tahini Dressing
Step 1 - In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, carrots and spring onions.
Step 2 - In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve cold.
Tip: toss this salad 30 minutes prior to serving to let the flavors meld. The toss again just before serving.
🥕Variations and Serving Suggestions
This salad can easily accommodate additional ingredients such as bean sprouts, red cabbage, peanuts and radish.
To make this salad more substantial, try adding cooked noodles (similar to this glass noodles salad) or toss plain rice (try this Instant Pot basmati rice) and chickpeas.
When adding additional ingredients, you may need to adjust the dressing.
You could enjoy it with some tofu, try it with this Asian tofu.
❓FAQ
Yes, prepare and chop the vegetables and store them separately in sealed containers in the fridge. Whisk the salad dressing and store in the fridge also in a sealed container. Combine ingredients up to 30 minutes prior to serving.
🥗Related Recipes
Try this similar spicy cucumber salad or this Din Tai Fung cucumber, or even this Vietnamese cucumber salad by Rachna Cooks.
If you're into tahini, try my versatile miso citrus tahini dressing.
You might also like brown rice salad with chickpeas or rice vermicelli noodle bowl.
Or try my healthy Asian brussels sprouts.
Here's a simple treat, black sesame cookies, also using black sesame seeds
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ star rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Recipe
Easy Carrot Cucumber Salad With Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 small carrot peeled and grated
- 2 medium cucumbers quartered and sliced at an angle
- ¼ cup spring onion sliced at an angle
- 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon lime juice fresh
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce salt reduced (or tamari sauce)
- 1 small clove garlic minced
- ½ inch ginger peeled and grated
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, carrots, spring onions and black sesame seeds.1 small carrot, 2 medium cucumbers, ¼ cup spring onion, 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
- In a small bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve cold.2 tablespoons tahini, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 small clove garlic, ½ inch ginger, 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Video
Notes
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Jim
Made this twice and I am really enjoying this salad. I want to now make it for my son, do you think I can use apple cider vinegar instead of rice wine vinegar? Try to avoid rice due to his sensativities. Thanks
Janelle Hama
Yes, you can use ACV, however do note the flavor will change. Glad you are enjoying this salad.