Cucumber Noodles With Tahini Sauce

Cucumber noodles create a refreshing twist on traditional pasta salads, offering a crisp, hydrating alternative that's perfect for warm days or light meals. This cucumber noodle salad with tahini sauce combines simplicity with nutrition, delivering a delightful crunch in every bite while keeping things gluten-free, Whole30-friendly, low carb, and keto-compliant.

I first made these cucumber noodles during a particularly hot summer when turning on the stove felt unbearable. The cool crunch combined with the creamy tahini sauce was so satisfying that it's now a staple in my weekly meal rotation, especially when fresh cucumbers are abundant at the farmers market.

Ingredients Selection

• English cucumbers: Best for noodles due to their thinner skin and fewer seeds.
• Tahini paste: Should pour slowly but not be solid.
• Fresh lemon juice: Brightens the flavor significantly more than bottled.
• Fresh garlic: Provides sharper flavor than pre-minced varieties.
• Olive oil: High-quality adds richness and healthy fats.
• Sea salt: Enhances all flavors without overwhelming the delicate cucumber.

Crafting Your Cucumber Noodles

Spiralizing Technique:

Create long, continuous strands by centering the cucumber on your spiralizer. Apply gentle, steady pressure while turning the handle.

Water Management:

Sprinkle noodles with sea salt and let them rest in a colander for 5 minutes. Press gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Tahini Blending:

Blend tahini paste, lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add water by the teaspoon if needed.

Assembly Process:

Toss cucumber noodles with tahini sauce, adjusting to desired creaminess. Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds or fresh herbs.

My grandmother always insisted that cucumbers were nature's perfect summer food. She would slice them paper-thin and serve them with every meal during hot months. This recipe reminds me of her wisdom while modernizing her approach.

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Complementary Pairings

This cucumber noodle salad pairs perfectly with Mediterranean dishes. Serve alongside grilled lamb kofta kebabs for a contrast of cooling crunch and warm spices. For seafood lovers, marinated keto salmon balances beautifully with the tangy tahini.

Recipe Adaptations

Experiment with different flavor profiles by swapping the tahini sauce for basil pesto. For an Asian twist, mix sesame oil, rice vinegar, and honey. Nut-free? Use sunflower seed butter instead of tahini. Add cherry tomatoes, red onion, or bell peppers for extra color and nutrition.

Preserving Freshness

Store cucumber noodles separately from the dressing. Keep in a paper towel-lined container in the fridge for up to two days. Store tahini dressing in an airtight container for a week, allowing it to come to room temperature before use. Avoid freezing cucumber noodles, as they become waterlogged.

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The beauty of cucumber noodles lies in their versatility and simplicity. Whether served as a light meal or a vibrant side dish, they prove that sophisticated eating doesn't require complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Do I need a spiralizer to make cucumber noodles?

Yes, a spiralizer is the best tool for making cucumber noodles. If you don't have one, you can use a vegetable peeler to create ribbon-like noodles, though the texture will be different.

→ Why do you salt the cucumber noodles?

Salting helps draw out excess moisture from the cucumbers, which prevents your dish from becoming watery. It also helps the noodles maintain some crispness.

→ Can I make cucumber noodles ahead of time?

You can spiralize the cucumbers up to a day ahead, but I recommend salting them just before serving. Store spiralized cucumbers in the refrigerator wrapped in paper towels.

→ What can I use instead of tahini sauce?

If you don't have tahini, you can use other dressings like a simple vinaigrette, Greek yogurt-based sauce, or even a peanut sauce if you're not following specific dietary restrictions.

→ Are cucumber noodles good for meal prep?

Cucumber noodles are best enjoyed fresh. If you want to meal prep, keep the noodles and sauce separate and combine just before eating to prevent the cucumbers from becoming soggy.