Isn’t it great when you can take boring vegetables and turn them into amazingly delicious salads? That’s exactly how I feel about this roasted cauliflower salad with tahini. Once the cooler weather rolls in, salads might not be your go-to meal idea, but this one will change your mind! It’s loaded with nutty roasted cauliflower, spicy roasted chickpeas, peppery arugula, toasted sunflower seeds, and sweet dried cranberries. The whole thing is drizzled with the most amazing tahini salad dressing. Perfection! Roasting brings out the natural nuttiness of the cauliflower and the chickpeas, but you can also get that same taste by using your air fryer. I have great recipes for air fryer cauliflower and crispy chickpeas in the air fryer that you can check out if you’d prefer to use this method. The recipe serves 8 as a side salad and less if you’re serving it as a main dish. It’s a great way to enjoy cauliflower when it’s in season, which I try to do every year! If you have some cauliflower left over, you can try making some of my other favorite recipes like cauliflower leek soup and vegan cauliflower tacos.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Key Ingredients
One of my favorite things about this salad is that it uses a lot of pantry ingredients which means it’s easy to keep these things on hand to whip it up at a moment’s notice. Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cauliflower: Use fresh not frozen. Frozen cauliflower is too watery when thawed to roast perfectly. Look for a cauliflower head that is firm and tight with no brown spots on the florets. Chickpeas: Make sure to rinse and dry the canned chickpeas well so they crisp up in the oven.Spices: I create a smoky flavor by combining paprika, cumin, and garlic powder. You can swap for your favorite spice combinations.Arugula: This leafy green has a nice peppery flavor and goes great with the other ingredients in this roasted cauliflower salad.Seeds: Sunflower seeds or pepitas add a good crunch. I like to toast them before sprinkling over the top of the salad.Dried cranberries: These add a sweet tartness to the salad which goes really well with the tahini dressing.Tahini dressing: Tahini paste (a smooth paste made from sesame seeds, similar to peanut butter), lemon juice, garlic, and water. A lot of recipes for tahini dressing add olive oil, but I don’t see the need for it because tahini contains oil naturally from the sesame seeds. My version of this dressing skips the added oil so it’s a lighter and healthier version.
How To Make Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini
This recipe takes only a few minutes of minimal prep and then your oven takes over! So simple. Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process.
Recipe Tips
For crispier cauliflower, dry the florets completely with paper towels before adding them to the sheet pan.Need a shortcut? Buy bags of prechopped cauliflower to save time on prep.Avoid waste. If you decide not to use the core, do not discard it. Freeze it for the next time you want to make vegetable broth, stir fry, or make cauliflower rice.Roast florets of similar size together. It’s important to chop your florets down to the same size, no matter what size it is, so that the pieces in the same batch will cook evenly.
Make it Your Own
This tahini salad is so delicious as is, but you can easily customize it based on your tastes! Here are a few suggestions you might like:
Add turmeric. You can add ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric to the cauliflower and chickpeas before roasting. I love adding it to cauliflower as it gives it a nice color and mild earthy flavor, plus it’s so healthy! Turmeric will stain your hands though if you use them to toss it with the cauliflower. To avoid staining, use a spoon, or wear gloves. The flavor of roasted turmeric goes so well with the tahini too!Swap the nuts. Don’t have sunflower seeds or pepitas? Throw in some pecans or pine nuts instead. I love the crunch of the nuts, but you can also leave the nuts out altogether.Swap the dressing. If tahini dressing isn’t your thing, you could try this salad with homemade ranch dressing instead.Add protein. This salad is a great vegetarian option, but you can also add some protein like chicken or shrimp for some added flavor. Switch the greens. Instead of arugula, try adding some baby spinach, chopped parsley, or kale.
Storing Tips
This cauliflower salad will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It makes a great option for meal prep! You can make your salad at the beginning of the week for lunches all week long.
What To Serve With Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This healthy, wholesome, and filling salad is a meal all on its own, complete with veggies, protein, and complex carbs. Great for vegetarians, or those who are just looking for ways to enjoy less meat throughout the week.
If you do serve it as a side dish, it’s well paired with Instant Pot drumsticks, air fryer sirloin steak, or garlic butter baked trout.
Save this recipe for the next time you want something healthy and light for dinner even during the cooler months. Pin it for more people to enjoy too!
© Little Sunny Kitchen
