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Charred Cabbage & Cauliflower Salad with Tahini Dressing

This charred cauliflower & cabbage salad tossed with a garlic tahini dressing is hearty, delicious, healthy, & so easy to make! It's a great vegetarian entree or crowd-pleasing side dish, made with simple & inexpensive ingredients in less than 30 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dishes & Veggies
Servings: 3 -4 servings as a main, more as a side

Ingredients

  • SALAD
  • 1/2 pound of savoy cabbage or green cabbage if you can't find savoy (about half a small head)
  • 1/2 pound of cauliflower about half a small head
  • Olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • DRESSING
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice ideally fresh, but bottled works
  • 2 tablespoons of well-stirred tahini see my fave linked below
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Water as needed
  • Kosher salt & fresh-ground black pepper
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Optional: Harissa spice to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 450°F. 
  • Cut the cabbage into 1/2-inch ribbons, then cut the ribbons into 1- to 2-inch segments.  Cut cauliflower into 1/2- to 1-inch chunks (i.e. quite small).
  • On a large baking sheet, toss the cauliflower and cabbage with olive oil until lightly coated (about 2 to 3 tablespoons), and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. I used two baking sheets, to make sure everything had room to breathe and not get soggy.
  • Roast for 15 minutes, then toss everything around so it colors evenly.  Return to the oven for 5 minutes, toss again, and 5 final minutes if needed.  I'll be honest though, sometimes I need even another 5 or 10 minutes after that.  Don’t be afraid to get some serious char on the vegetables. They will taste good, not burnt.
  • While the veggies are roasting, make the dressing in a medium bowl. Whisk the garlic, lemon juice, tahini, and olive oil together, then whisk in some water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a thick dressing consistency (usually 2-3 tablespoons works well). 
  • Season the dressing well with a strong spinkle of harissa (if you have it; mine is a spice mix, not a paste), salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.  Taste and add any additional salt as necessary as well.
  • As soon as the vegetables are crispy, charred, and ready, add them to the bowl with the dressing, toss to coat, and eat right away.  This makes pretty great leftovers as well.