If there’s one thing I crave on warm days, it’s a fresh, crisp, colorful salad. This summer salad is one of my favorites light, a little fancy, and packed with flavor. The real star here is the creamy pistachio tahini dressing. It’s nutty, tangy, just a tiny bit sweet, and brings everything together in the best way. You don’t need much to make this, and it’s a great way to use up fresh produce like strawberries and cucumbers. Let’s dive into this dreamy bowl of summer goodness.

Method

1. Make the Dressing

To start, grab a small mixing bowl and add in the tahini, extra virgin olive oil, maple syrup, pistachio milk, and fresh lemon juice. At first, the mixture might look like it’s separating or getting a little thick that’s totally normal. Just keep whisking steadily with a fork or whisk until it becomes creamy and smooth. Once the base is blended, season it with a pinch of salt, a little pepper, and garlic powder to your liking. Keep whisking until everything is well incorporated and the dressing has a pourable texture. If it still feels too thick, add an extra splash of pistachio milk and whisk again until it loosens up just enough to drizzle.

2. Build the Salad

On a clean cutting board, slice up your cucumbers and fresh strawberries. Then, take a generous handful or two of spring mix and place it into your salad bowl or plate. Scatter the sliced cucumbers and strawberries evenly across the greens. Follow that with a sprinkle of roasted unsalted pistachios make sure they’re chopped so you get that perfect little crunch in every bite. Finish it off with a crumble of creamy feta cheese, spreading it out so each bite gets a little bit of everything.

3. Dress It Up

Now for the fun part bringing it all together. Slowly pour the creamy pistachio tahini dressing over the top of your salad. You can use as much or as little as you like, but I recommend starting with a smaller amount and adding more if needed. Once the dressing is on, gently toss the salad with tongs or clean hands until all the ingredients are lightly coated. Be careful not to mash the strawberries or overmix. You want the salad to stay light and fresh with all the textures intact. And just like that it’s ready to serve.

Necessary Tool

Small bowl for mixing dressing
Whisk or fork
Cutting board
Knife
Salad bowl or plate
Measuring spoons

Summer Salad Inspo

Recipe by Justin SelkCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

For the Dressing
2 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened pistachio milk (I used Tache)
Juice from 1/4 of a fresh lemon (about 1 teaspoon)
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste
For the Salad
Spring mix (as much as you like)
Sliced cucumbers
Fresh strawberries, sliced
Roasted unsalted pistachios, chopped
Crumbled feta cheese

Directions

Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, olive oil, maple syrup, pistachio milk, and lemon juice until smooth. It might look a little separated at first just keep whisking and it’ll come together. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. The dressing should be creamy and pourable.
Build the Salad
Start with a handful (or two) of spring mix in your bowl. Add sliced cucumbers, strawberries, a sprinkle of chopped pistachios, and crumbled feta cheese.
Dress It Up
Drizzle the creamy pistachio tahini dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly. That’s it you’re done!

Notes

Whisking tahini can be tricky if the mixture seizes up or gets too thick, just add a splash more pistachio milk until it loosens.
Don’t overdress the salad. It’s better to start with a little dressing and add more as needed.
Use fresh ingredients. This salad really shines when your strawberries are sweet, your cucumbers are crisp, and your greens are fresh.
Chop the pistachios before adding them so you don’t get big, awkward bites. A little crunch in every forkful is perfect.

Serving Suggestions

This salad is perfect as a light lunch, but it also works great as a side dish for a summer dinner. Try it next to grilled chicken, salmon, or a veggie burger. You can even toss in some cooked quinoa or chickpeas to make it more filling. Want to serve it to a group? Just double or triple the ingredients and plate it up family-style.

Fun Fact

Pistachios are actually one of the oldest flowering nut trees in the world! People have been enjoying them for thousands of years so if you’re putting pistachios in your salad, you’re basically keeping history alive.

Conclusion

This summer salad is simple, beautiful, and bursting with flavor. The creamy pistachio tahini dressing makes it feel a little special, but it’s still quick enough for any day of the week. I love how the sweet strawberries, crunchy cucumbers, salty feta, and roasted pistachios come together in every bite. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’re treating yourself without any extra effort. Give it a try and let your taste buds soak up all the summer vibes.