Cucumber Apple Pistachio Salad Bowl (Printable)
Refreshing shaved cucumber and apple ribbons with pistachios in a nutty sesame tahini dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Produce
01 - 2 large cucumbers
02 - 2 crisp apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
03 - 1 cup baby arugula or mixed greens
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Nuts & Seeds
05 - 1/2 cup shelled unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
→ Sesame Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons tahini
08 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
09 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
13 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
14 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
15 - 2–3 tablespoons cold water, as needed for consistency
→ Optional Garnishes
16 - Fresh mint or cilantro leaves
17 - Lemon wedges for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Wash cucumbers and apples thoroughly. Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, shave the cucumbers and apples lengthwise into thin, elegant ribbons. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
02 - Add the baby arugula or mixed greens and sliced green onions to the bowl with the cucumber and apple ribbons.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, soy sauce or tamari, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Gradually add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Pour the sesame dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the delicate ribbons.
05 - Scatter the roughly chopped pistachios and toasted sesame seeds over the top of the salad.
06 - Finish with fresh mint or cilantro leaves if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of brightness.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sesame dressing is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything from roasted carrots to plain rice bowls by Tuesday.
- Shaving the vegetables into ribbons makes even a simple Tuesday dinner feel like you are plating at a cafe.
02 -
- If you dress the salad and let it sit for more than ten minutes, the cucumber ribbons will weep and you will end up with a soupy puddle at the bottom of the bowl.
- Taste the dressing before you add water because some tahini brands are thinner than others and you might need less liquid than you think.
03 -
- Warm the tahini jar gently in your hands or a bowl of hot water before measuring because cold tahini seizes and refuses to blend smoothly.
- A Y shaped peeler gives you wider ribbons than a standard swivel peeler and makes the whole process feel faster and more fun.