When it’s scorching hot outside like it is here in Texas, I crave salads. Easy, light, refreshing crunchy salads. After my last post of the 4 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream, I think we needed something light anyways. Haha.
This entire salad, plus the dressing, is just 7 ingredients. It really couldn’t be easier. It’s got a lot of wonderful crunch from the bell peppers and sunflower kernels. It’s super simple, but it’s taken up a notch by the incredible 3 ingredient tahini dressing. This tahini dressing is amazing too, it is a little sweet, a little spicy and takes less than 5 minutes to make! I’ve been using it as both a dip for veggies and as a salad dressing. It is even good with french fries. 
This is perfect for a side salad with dinner or as a light meal. We had ours with some pasta for dinner, but I’ve also eaten this as lunch. Adding enough sunflower kernels helps to fill you up. You will feel really good after eating it too. I always feel so good after eating a bunch of raw veggies. 
I hope you give this Raw Carrot Salad with Spicy Sweet Tahini Dressing a try and leave feedback below after you do. You can also tag me on Instagram @thevegan8 and don’t forget my tag #thevegan8, or I will likely miss it. 
OTHER VEGAN DRESSINGS RECIPES TO TRY:
- Best Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Vegan Oil-free Creamy Italian Dressing
- Almond Butter Dressing
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
Carrot Salad with Spicy Sweet Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
- 6 long carrots, spiralized or shredded (175 g)
- 1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (160 g)
- 5 loosely filled cups romaine lettuce, roughly chopped (110 g)
- 1/4-1/2 cup raw sunflower kernels
SPICY SWEET TAHINI DRESSING
- 1/4 cup smooth/runny tahini
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos This is recommended because it has a sweetness to it, unlike other soy sauce alternatives, this is what gives the dressing a hint of sweet flavor
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon quality hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare all of the veggies by chopped and spiralizing/shredding.
- To make the dressing, simply combine the ingredients and whisk until smooth. Add water if needed to thin out. I use a very smooth tahini, so it was the perfect consistency. Taste and add any salt if desired. My tahini has a little salt in it and of course the hot sauce and aminos both have sodium, so there was no need to add extra salt.
I've also eaten this salad with cannellini beans, so you can always add those if you want an extra filling salad or additional protein.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition for each salad (based on 4 servings): 114.25 calories, 7.125 g fat, 4.28 g protein, 9.8 g carbs, 5.3 g sugar, 36.8 mg sodium
Nutrition per 2 tablespoons of dressing: 85 calories, 8 g fat, 2.5 g protein, 3 carbs, 375 mg sodium
Yum!! I’d like this for lunch, please! Does it end up tasting like peanut sauce? What brand of tahini do you use? I bought this organic one and it’s super thick and I don’t really like the flavor of it.
Oh yes, I do not like the super thick ones…they tend to taste bad or off or super bitter. Mine is an organic one from Krogers and is super runny and smooth. I also love Dastony brand tahini which you can find at Whole Foods or online at Rawguru.com. Theirs is excellent. I don’t think it tastes like peanut butter at all. It just tastes like a creamy dressing that is slightly sweet, a little spicy and a mild tahini flavor 🙂
You always make my tummy growl and my mouth water Sister…fabulous as usual.
Haha, awww thank you Angela!
I love the idea of adding beans to this for that extra “stick to your ribs” factor. I’m taking a water aerobics class two evenings a week, and this would be a quick and easy supper when I get home and it’s too late to really cook. Can’t wait to try it!
Oh, and I took the ice cream to my church’s potluck this weekend. Everyone raved about it! 🙂
Oh I’m so happy to hear that Nichole! Thank you so much…so glad everybody loved the ice cream! 🙂
Yes, I’ve eaten the salad as above and also with beans to make it a bit more filling and then it’s still only 8 ingredients, lol! Thanks Nichole! 🙂
Just made the salad for lunch. Wow! It was even better than I anticipated. I used chipotle Tabasco to get a smoky flavor and added some butter beans for extra protein. Next time, I may throw in some peas for a little extra sweetness against the smoky flavor. I’ll definitely be making this regularly and telling everybody I know about it!
Awesome Nichole! Thank you so much for making it and the wonderful feedback! Oh yum, the chipotle hot sauce does sound yummy for a smoky flavor, yum!!
You had me sold at tahini 😉
Tahini is the best huh?! This dressing is so good!
This is my kind of salad! Anything with tahini is a winner. Your salad looks pretty amazing and delicious, love the simplicity in the way you can make it in minutes! The temperatures are high right know where I live so this salad is on my list to make! I bet the crunch of the sunflower seeds is a brillant addition in combination with the carrots.
Thank you so much Florian!! I absolutely love to have some crunch in my salads and the sunflower seeds work amazing in this salad…..it was actually my daughter’s favorite part of the salad!
Oooh this is making me so hungry Brandi – your recipes always look so mouthwatering! I loooove the sound of that dressing. Carrots and tahini are the best combo. What a perfect summer salad!
You are so sweet thank you so much Harriet for that compliment!!
Looks awesome! Love raw salads during those hot months too, and tahini dressing? Obviously the bomb! Plus, this just leaves room for more dessert calories! HA!
The tahini dressing is AMAZING!!
Coconut aminos?!?! Now I’m intrigued. You get me clicking from facebook to your blog, to googling coconut stuff. Please don’t keep me in that loop forever, hahahha 😀
Interesting stuff, seriously!
Haha aww thanks Howie! You are so kind!
Carrots are my favorite vegetable to spiralize! And I love the coconut aminos in the dressing, that slight sweetness is so wonderful!
Thank you so much Natalie! I agree…coconut aminos is so different than liquid aminos…it has a wonderful sweet flavor without any added sugar/sweetener…I use it ALL the time!
Agreed, salads are the only food I want on a hot day. I love that you put some heat in the dressing. 🙂
Thank you Linda! I love salads…..and ice cream on a hot day! 🙂
This sounds and looks amazing! Right up my alley! Thanks for sharing! It’s been a while since my last comment but I have been following your blog 🙂 Wanted to let you know that I have a week full of vegan giveaways this week on my site, too! Hope you are well 🙂
Thank you so much Jennifer! Will check it out!
This sounds so yummy, Brandi! I just love tahini dressing. 🙂
Thank you so much Sina!
This simple raw salad looks delicious! I bet it’s amazing because tahini is awesome 🙂 I really like the addition of sunflower seeds.
Thank you so much Bianca!
Looks awesome! This simple yet exotic salad looks so great with tahini dressing!
Thank you so much Anu!