Cashew Free Vegan Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Smashing cucumbers before salting them is a technique that genuinely transforms the texture — the jagged, cracked surfaces soak up dressing in a way that neat slices never could. After a quick drain to pull out excess moisture, every rough-edged piece gets coated in a creamy lemon tahini dressing that's bright, nutty, and just a little smoky from ground cumin. Scallion greens, torn cilantro, and a pinch of red pepper flakes keep the whole bowl feeling fresh and lively. The dressing comes together with tahini, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, and a splash of water — no nuts involved, just pure sesame richness that makes it naturally safe for anyone avoiding tree nuts like cashews. Toasted sesame seeds on top add a satisfying crunch that ties everything together. This is the kind of salad that disappears fast, so don't be surprised if you find yourself making the dressing again just to drizzle on everything else in your fridge.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 ½ lb persian cucumbers (about 8–10 small)
- ¾ tsp kosher salt, divided
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (green tops only)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly torn
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
For the dressing
- ¼ cup well-stirred tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp water, plus more as needed
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim the ends off the cucumbers. Place them on a cutting board and smash each one firmly with the flat side of a chef's knife or the bottom of a heavy mug until the skin cracks and the flesh splits open. Tear or cut the smashed cucumbers into rough 1- to 1½-inch pieces and transfer to a colander set over the sink.
- 2
Toss the cucumber pieces with ½ tsp of the kosher salt and let them drain in the colander for 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels. This draws out excess water so the dressing clings rather than pools.
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