Rainbow Salad with Tahini (Print Version)

Colorful mix of fresh veggies with creamy tahini for a crisp, tangy, and nourishing dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
02 - 1 cup yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
04 - 1 cup purple cabbage, shredded
05 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - ½ cup sweet corn kernels, drained
08 - ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 2 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)

→ Tahini Dressing

10 - ¼ cup tahini
11 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water, to thin dressing
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

18 - 2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, or mint)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Thinly slice, julienne, shred, or halve all vegetables as specified and transfer to a large salad bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup or honey, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper, adding water gradually until the dressing is pourable.
03 - Pour the tahini dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to ensure even coating.
04 - Sprinkle toasted sunflower seeds and chopped fresh herbs over the salad if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to enhance crispness.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in twenty minutes with zero cooking, so there's no stress on busy weeknights.
  • The tahini dressing tastes decadent but stays completely plant-based and sneaks in real nutrition.
  • You can swap vegetables freely based on what's in season or what you have on hand, making it endlessly adaptable.
02 -
  • Add the water to your tahini dressing gradually—it thickens as it sits, so you can always make it looser but you can't easily make it thicker.
  • If your dressing breaks or separates, whisk in a splash of hot water and it'll come back together almost instantly, like magic.
03 -
  • Toast your sunflower seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before sprinkling them on—it wakes up their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch that makes the difference.
  • Squeeze your lemon juice fresh and taste the dressing before you dress the salad; adjust the seasoning then, because vegetables absorb salt and you want everything balanced.
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