Crispy Cauliflower Salad Tahini (Printable)

Air-fried cauliflower florets atop mixed greens with a rich tahini dressing for a fresh, flavorful meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crispy Cauliflower

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

08 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
11 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
12 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

→ Tahini Sauce

13 - 1/3 cup tahini
14 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
15 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
18 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.
04 - Combine mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, parsley, and toasted pumpkin seeds in a large bowl or platter.
05 - Whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, minced garlic, salt, and maple syrup until smooth and creamy; add additional water 1 teaspoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Top salad with crispy cauliflower and drizzle generously with tahini sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley or seeds if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cauliflower gets unbelievably crispy in the air fryer, giving you that satisfying crunch without deep-frying.
  • That tahini sauce is pure comfort in a bowl, creamy and tangy and somehow addictive on everything.
  • It's a complete meal that happens to be vegan, gluten-free, and leaves you actually full instead of hungry an hour later.
02 -
  • Don't skip shaking the air fryer basket halfway through—uneven cooking ruins that perfect crispy texture you're after.
  • Make your tahini sauce thinner than you think you need it to be; as it cools, it thickens up slightly and will coat the greens beautifully.
  • Add the cauliflower to the salad while it's still warm so it doesn't cool down and lose that satisfying crunch.
03 -
  • Don't be timid with the lemon juice in the tahini sauce; it's what transforms tahini from paste into pure silk and prevents it from tasting one-note.
  • Toast your own pumpkin seeds if you have time—they taste exponentially better than raw ones and only take five minutes in a dry pan.
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