Tahini Caesar Salad (Printable)

Tahini-lemon dressed Caesar with romaine, croutons, cherry tomatoes, and Parmesan for a bright, easy vegetarian dish.

# Ingredient list:

→ Salad

01 - 2 large romaine lettuce heads, chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or vegetarian hard cheese)
04 - 1 cup croutons (store-bought or homemade)

→ Tahini Caesar Dressing

05 - 1/3 cup tahini
06 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
07 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
09 - 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (use vegetarian alternative if preferred)
10 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
11 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed to loosen
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Cooking steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, sea salt and black pepper. Gradually whisk in 2 tablespoons water until the emulsion is smooth and pourable; add additional water a teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency.
02 - Place the chopped romaine and halved cherry tomatoes into a large salad bowl; add croutons and toss lightly to combine the components evenly.
03 - Drizzle the tahini-lemon dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly so leaves and vegetables are evenly coated.
04 - Scatter the 1/2 cup grated Parmesan over the dressed salad and toss gently to distribute without crushing the leaves.
05 - Transfer to plates or a serving platter and serve at once, garnished with extra croutons or additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • If you love creamy Caesar salads but want something fresher and just a bit different, this might become your new secret weapon.
  • The tangy tahini-lemon dressing adds a chic twist that has made even my old-school Caesar fans reach for seconds.
02 -
  • I once drowned the salad with too much runny dressing—less is more, and you can always add, never remove.
  • Swapping in vegetarian Worcestershire opened up the recipe for more friends, with zero flavor loss.
03 -
  • Let the tahini come to room temperature so it blends smoother into the dressing.
  • Toss the salad gently but thoroughly—rushed tossing leaves clumpy greens and sad croutons.
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