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Home » Salads

Best Lebanese Tahini Salad

Published: Mar 16, 2023 by Janelle Hama

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Deliciously the best Lebanese Tahini Salad, it's packed with fresh diced tomato, radish, cucumber, and parsley swimming in a creamy and tangy tahini dressing.

a brown ceramic bowl filled with chopped salad swimming in a whiteish sauce

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Jump to:
  • 🥗What is Tahini Salad?
  • 😋Why You’ll Love this Recipe
  • 🥗Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 🥗How to Make Tahini Salad
  • 🍴Serving Suggestions
  • ❓FAQ
  • 🥗Related Recipes
  • Best Lebanese Tahini Salad

🥗What is Tahini Salad?

Tahini salad originates from the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

It is made with fresh, seasonal ingredients which can include tomatoes, cucumber, radish, and herbs in a creamy tahini dressing.

It is naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Seasonal produce used in this salad can vary depending on the region.

Pairings can also dictate what fresh produce is used.

For example, if you are serving this salad with falafel, you may wish to have a variation of only tomatoes, radishes, parsley, and mint. 

The variations are limited by imagination.

The salad dressing is referred to as tarator, which has many dressing/dip uses, the perfect example is this recipe for Lebanese cauliflower with tahini.

This is definitely an underrated salad that is a must-try, I've eaten and made so many variations since forever and will never tire of it.

😋Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • It's packed with fresh and seasonal ingredients
  • The creamy tahini salad dressing is tangy and flavorful
  • Ready in just a few minutes.
  • Diet-friendly - vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, soy-free and no added oil

🥗Ingredients You’ll Need

tomato, cucumber, radish, parsley, tahini, lemon, salt and sumac laid out on a white bench

Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Tomato, radish, and Lebanese (Persian) cucumber will need to be diced, it’s best to dice them as uniformly as possible.

Flat-leaf parsley leaves and soft stems are sliced to add a nice fresh herb flavor.

Tahini should be good quality and not hardened. I like to use a good quality Lebanese tahini (affiliate link). This is the main ingredient of the dressing, hence the name.

Salt to boost the flavors. I like to use Celtic salt or pink Himalayan salt (affiliate link) for the health benefits (minerals like magnesium and potassium)

Lemon will add sourness, use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavoring.

Water will help to achieve the right consistency of the dressing. 

Garlic clove can be added to suit your liking. Or leave it out if you prefer.

Sumac (derived from the sumac berry) has a tangy, lemony flavor with a slightly salty and sour taste. It is a commonly used spice in Lebanese cooking (it features quite a bit throughout my recipes).

I highly recommended it. It can be found at your local Mediterranean grocer, and most major supermarkets or you can purchase sumac here (affiliate link). 

Cayenne pepper is optional. I love it as it adds some heat. You can swap this out for paprika or another type of chili powder/flakes.

a male hand dipping a zaatar pita chip into a salad

🥗How to Make Tahini Salad

Step One - In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, salt, lemon, water, garlic, sumac, and cayenne pepper (optional) until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Step Two - In a large bowl, combine the diced tomato, radish, cucumber, and parsley. Toss gently to combine.

Step Three - Add the dressing to the bowl and toss to coat the vegetables evenly. The salad should be swimming in dressing. Serve cold.

whiteish dressing in a glass jug
diced tomato, radish, parsley and cucumber in a bowl
chopped parsley, tomato, radish and cucumber with whiteish sauce
a salad mixed with white sauce

Tip: Make this salad ahead of time by whisking the dressing and storing it in a jar in the fridge (it can be stored for several days)

Prepare and store the vegetables and herbs in an airtight container in the fridge (up to 3 days). Toss the salad together when you are ready to serve.

🍴Serving Suggestions

Lebanese Tahini Salad can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it;

Serve with gluten-free pita chips or zaatar pita chips

Pair with falafel or vegan shawarma

Top with roasted chickpeas or your favorite seeds/nuts.

Enjoy it with vegetarian kibbeh

a tahini drenched salad with a side of pita chips

❓FAQ

Can I use tahini straight from the jar?

Yes, you can use tahini straight from the jar to make salad dressing. However, it is important to stir the tahini thoroughly before using it to ensure it is well-mixed, has no separation, and has a smooth consistency.

Is tahini good on salad? 

Yes, tahini is a great addition to salads, as it provides a creamy texture and nutty flavor. In fact, since ancient times, tahini has been commonly consumed in salads across the Middle East. For example, it is a key ingredient in Lebanese Tahini Salad. Just be sure to mix it well with the other ingredients to ensure even distribution throughout the salad.

a brown ceramic bowl with white dressed salad in it

🥗Related Recipes

If you like this recipe, you will also like balela, made with chickpeas and fresh chopped vegetables, or this Lebanese potato salad with spring onion without any cream.

Otherwise, you may have never heard of this (but must try) fresh oregano salad.

Or for something a bit more famous, try either Taboule or fattoush.

If you're into tahini, try my versatile miso tahini dressing.

Did you enjoy making this vegan recipe? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories.

a brown ceramic bowl filled with chopped salad swimming in a whiteish sauce

Best Lebanese Tahini Salad

Deliciously the best Lebanese Tahini Salad, it's packed with fresh diced tomato, radish, cucumber, and parsley swimming in a creamy and tangy tahini dressing.
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Course: Salad, side
Cuisine: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Janelle Hama

Ingredients

  • 1 medium Cucumber diced
  • 1 medium Tomato diced
  • 5 medium Radishes diced (see notes)
  • ¼ cup Flat leaf parsley chopped

Tahini Dressing

  • ½ cup Tahini
  • ½ cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Sumac
  • 1 small - medium Lemon juiced, or to taste
  • 1 small Garlic clove crushed, or to taste
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt or to taste
  • 1 pinch Cayenne pepper optional, or to taste
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Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, salt, lemon, water, garlic, sumac and optional cayenne pepper until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
    ½ cup Tahini, ½ cup Water, 1 teaspoon Sumac, 1 small - medium Lemon, 1 small Garlic clove, ¾ teaspoon Salt, 1 pinch Cayenne pepper
  • In a large bowl, combine the diced tomato, radish, cucumber, and parsley. Toss gently to combine.
    1 medium Cucumber, 1 medium Tomato, 5 medium Radishes, ¼ cup Flat leaf parsley
  • Add the tahini dressing to the bowl and toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Serve cold.

Video

Notes

Cucumber, tomato and radish should be close to equal proportions and diced as uniformly as possible.
The tahini salad should be swimming in dressing.
You may enjoy this as a side to tofu skewers

Equipment

1 Bowl

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 455mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 639IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg

N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Joanna

    March 30, 2023 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    Well this tahini salad was unexpectedly incredible. I will be eating this with everything I can

    Reply

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Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

Let's cook together!

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