Description
This Creamy Herby Tahini Ranch Dressing paired with a Simple Middle Eastern Chopped Salad offers a fresh, vibrant, and flavorful experience. The rich, nutty tahini combined with tangy Greek yogurt and fresh ranch herbs creates a luscious dressing that perfectly coats a crisp salad of parsley, mint, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and lettuce. Quick to prepare, nutritious, and customizable, this recipe makes a delightful light lunch or a colorful side dish bursting with Middle Eastern charm.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- Fresh mint, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- Cherry tomatoes, finely chopped (1 cup)
- Cucumber, finely chopped (1 medium)
- Red onion, finely chopped (1 small)
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped into bite-size pieces (3 cups)
Dressing Ingredients
- Tahini (1/3 cup)
- Greek yogurt (1/4 cup)
- Fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
- Garlic, minced (1 clove)
- Fresh dill, chopped (1 tablespoon)
- Fresh chives, chopped (1 tablespoon)
- Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)
- Black pepper (1/4 teaspoon, or to taste)
- Water (1-2 tablespoons, optional, to adjust dressing consistency)
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Vegetables: Finely chop the fresh parsley, mint, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Chop the romaine or iceberg lettuce into bite-size pieces to add refreshing crunch.
- Make the Creamy Herby Tahini Ranch Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together tahini, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped dill, chopped chives, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and well combined. If the dressing is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water gradually to reach a creamy but pourable consistency.
- Toss the Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the chopped salad vegetables. Gently toss everything until each piece is evenly coated with the flavorful creamy dressing.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer the dressed salad to a serving bowl or individual plates. Garnish with extra fresh herbs or toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your vibrant, refreshing salad.
Notes
- Use freshly chopped herbs to maximize flavor and aroma.
- Adjust the dressing consistency by adding water slowly until desired thickness is achieved.
- Taste the dressing and adjust lemon juice, salt, or garlic to balance flavors perfectly.
- Chop vegetables evenly for balanced texture and a polished presentation.
- The dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance to allow flavors to meld.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg