This creamy cucumber salad is made with an irresistable tahini dressing and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and chives. It comes together in less than 15 minutes while also being wholesome, satisfying, and beautifully refreshing! Of course, there are many variations of creamy cucumber salads out in the world but, instead of opting for a sour cream or yogurt for the base of the dressing, I love using a roasted sesame seed tahini for its earthy flavor and rich texture. It pairs famously with crisp cucumbers making this salad absolutely perfect for the summer.
PREPPING THE CREAMY CUCUMBER SALAD
When it comes to preparing this creamy cucumber salad, there are just a few main steps. One is de-seeding and slicing the cucumbers. Next is mixing the dressing. Last is combining the cucumbers with the dressing and topping with garnishes. Because this salad comes together so quickly, I do recommend making it right before serving. This is when the salad is its most delicious—so keep that in mind.
You can use any cucumber variety for this recipe! If you are using the larger ones, I would suggest peeling them (I think the skin can be quite tough) and then halve them lengthwise. Then you slice them into bite-sized half-moons and you are ready to go. That said, if you are using small cucumbers that have a very thin skin and fewer seeds, you could slice those into bite-sized coins and they would work nicely (without peeling or de-seeding).
MAKING THE DRESSING
The dressing for this creamy cucumber salad uses a roasted sesame seed tahini, as it has the best flavor. This is my favorite brand and I highly recommend using it for this particular recipe. You could also use a more traditional tahini (that uses unroasted sesame seeds). The flavor won’t be quite as nutty and scrumptious but it will still work.
COMBINING THE CREAMY CUCUMBER SALAD
To enhance the tahini flavor, I love adding toasted sesame seed oil, tamari, nutritional yeast, and rice vinegar. These ingredients round out the tahini making it salty, bright, and incredibly savory. This pairs perfectly with the cool and juicy cucumber slices.
Heads up! When mixing together the dressing ingredients, it may look like something is wrong. Not to worry though, once you add the water and mix for a minute or two, it will come together gorgeously, becoming smooth and creamy. Trust the process!
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
Once the cucumbers are dressed and tossed well, I like to add toasted sesame seeds and chopped chives to the salad. In addition, I also like to sprinkle over some flaky salt for a nice crunch and some red pepper flakes for a little heat. These are totally optional so go with the flow and don’t make it so complicated.
PURCHASE INGREDIENTS
Here are some of my favorite ingredients from my Amazon Storefront that you can use for this recipe. If you click these affiliate links and make a purchase, I will make a very small commission with no extra charge to you! This will help to support my business and allow me to continue sharing recipes, so thank you in advance:
Maldon Flaky Sea Salt
Soom Roasted Tahini
Bragg Nutritional Yeast
ENJOY THIS CREAMY CUCUMBER SALAD
I hope that y’all love this creamy cucumber salad! It is such an elegant dish to enjoy on a hot summer day and after you try it once, I bet you will crave it again and again. If you make it, please leave a review and comment below. I’d love to hear from you! Happy cooking.
-Timothy
IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, CHECK OUT THESE:
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Easy Vegan Recipes
Cucumber Salad 3 large cucumbers Optional Toppings Toasted sesame seeds Prepare the cucumber: Slice both ends off of the cucumbers and peel them. Halve them lengthwise and use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds. Pat the cucumbers dry with a clean kitchen towel and then slice them into ¼ inch-thick slices in the shape of half-moons. Transfer the slices to a large mixing bowl and set aside while you make the dressing. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the tahini, garlic powder, toasted sesame seed oil, nutritional yeast, tamari, rice vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Use a whisk to mix well. At this point it will look clumpy but don't worry! Add 2 tablespoons of cold water and continue to whisk until smooth and creamy. The consistency should be quite thick so that it coats the cucumber slices nicely but you can thin out the dressing with more water, if desired. Dress the cucumber slices: Pour the dressing over the cucumber slices and mix well to combine until each piece is thoroughly coated. Give it a taste and add more salt (unless you are using the optional flaky salt), if needed. Transfer to a beautiful serving plate or bowls and garnish with optional toppings. Enjoy immediately! Roasted tahini uses cooked sesame seeds resulting in a darker and more flavorful tahini with a gorgeous nutty flavor. (My favorite brand is Soom!) If you cannot find this or wish not to order it, you can use regular tahini which is made from raw sesame seeds. The color will be more pale and the flavor will not be as delicious but it will still work just fine.
Ingredients
⅓ cup roasted tahini* (or regular)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon tamari
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Pinch sea salt
2 tablespoons ice-cold water, plus some if needed
Chives, thinly sliced
Flaky salt
Red pepper flakes Instructions
notes
This dressing also pairs beautifully tossed with julienne carrots or to serve as a dip for celery sticks or steamed broccoli florets.
Food styling, photography, recipe, and text by Timothy Pakron