The moment you dig into this vibrant, creamy Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe, you’ll be hooked. It’s that perfect blend of roasted sweetness, tangy feta, and luscious avocado all tied together with a nutty tahini dressing that feels like a hug for your taste buds.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe is one of those dishes I keep coming back to, especially when I want something hearty yet refreshing. The balance of textures and flavors is just so delicious and unexpected that it brightens up any meal.
- Sweet and Savory Harmony: The roasted sweet potatoes bring natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with salty, tangy feta cheese.
- Creamy without Mayonnaise: The tahini dressing offers a rich, nutty creaminess that’s dairy-free yet complements the feta beautifully.
- Fresh and Buttery: Avocado slices add a luscious texture that makes every bite feel indulgent but healthy.
- Easy to Customize: You can easily add your favorite greens or nuts, making it adaptable to whatever you have on hand.
Ingredients & Why They Work
When I shop for this salad, I focus on freshness and quality. The combination of arugula’s peppery bite and sweet roasted potatoes makes every forkful exciting. Here’s why each ingredient makes this salad sing.
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Slightly caramelized edges add sweetness and a tender bite that contrasts beautifully with crisp greens.
- Tahini Dressing: This creamy, nutty sauce is the magic binding element, offering richness that’s both tangy and smooth.
- Arugula: Its peppery flavor provides a fresh, vibrant base that cuts through the rich dressing and cheese.
- Feta Cheese: Crumbled feta brings salty tanginess that brightens the earthy sweet potatoes perfectly.
- Avocado: Adds buttery texture and healthy fats, making the salad satisfyingly creamy.
- Lemon Wedge: A quick squeeze brightens the avocado and elevates all the flavors.
- Toasted Pepitas: These add crunch and a subtle nutty flavor, plus a bit of protein to the mix.
- Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing all flavors to life.
Make It Your Way
Feel free to make this salad your own. I often swap arugula for baby spinach or add fresh herbs like mint or parsley for a twist. It’s your canvas—play with what you love and what’s in season.
- Variation: Once, I added roasted chickpeas on top for extra crunch and protein—it turned out fantastic as a heartier meal.
- Dietary tweak: If you want it vegan, you can skip the feta or use a dairy-free alternative, and it’s still a winner.
- Seasonal swap: In winter, swapping pepitas for walnuts or pecans gives a cozy twist.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
Step 1: Roast Your Sweet Potatoes to Sweet Perfection
Start by roasting sweet potatoes until they’re tender and slightly caramelized. I like cutting them into cubes so they cook evenly—about 25 minutes at 425°F (220°C) does the trick. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn, but you want that golden, roasted flavor that makes this salad special.
Step 2: Whip Up the Tahini Dressing
While the potatoes roast, mix up the tahini dressing. It’s as simple as stirring tahini with lemon juice, garlic, a little water, and salt until smooth. The trick is to add water slowly so you get a creamy, pourable consistency—this dressing ties all the flavors together beautifully.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad Layers
On a large platter or bowl, layer your arugula and drizzle a little tahini dressing over the greens first. Then, scatter the roasted sweet potatoes and sprinkle on the crumbled feta. The contrast of colors here always makes me smile—it’s almost too pretty to eat.
Step 4: Add Avocado and Pepitas
Top the salad with buttery avocado slices, then squeeze a fresh lemon wedge over them to keep their color bright and add an extra zing. Finally, drizzle more tahini dressing and sprinkle toasted pepitas for that satisfying crunch. Finish with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and you’re ready to serve.
Top Tip
Based on my experience making this Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe multiple times, these tips make the process smoother and the result tastier.
- Perfect Roasting: Cut the sweet potatoes evenly and roast at a high temperature for caramelization, but don’t overcrowd the pan to avoid steaming.
- Dressing Balance: Add water to tahini dressing gradually to get just the right thickness—it should coat without overpowering.
- Avocado Timing: Add avocado right before serving to keep it fresh and green, and don’t skip the lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Season Last: Season with salt and pepper at the end because some ingredients (like feta) are already salty.
How to Serve Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling extra toasted pepitas on top—they add just the right crunch. Sometimes I also toss in a few fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley for brightness. A sprinkle of chili flakes works wonders if you want a little heat.
Side Dishes
Pairing this salad with grilled chicken or salmon makes a wonderful balanced meal. For a vegetarian option, some warm pita bread or a side of hummus rounds it out perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For gatherings, I’ve served this salad layered in a glass trifle bowl so the colors show through, which always impresses guests. Or build individual salads in jars for a pretty lunchbox surprise.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. I store the avocado slices separately or add them fresh when serving again to avoid browning and mushiness.
Freezing
This salad isn’t the best candidate for freezing because avocado and tahini dressing textures change, but you can freeze the roasted sweet potatoes alone for up to three months.
Reheating
Reheat leftover sweet potatoes gently in a pan or microwave, then toss with fresh arugula, feta, and a newly made tahini dressing to revive the flavors and textures.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! The tahini dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Just give it a good stir before using, as it might thicken or separate slightly.
I recommend medium-sized orange-fleshed sweet potatoes because they roast evenly and have a naturally sweet, creamy texture that complements the other salad ingredients well.
Yes! While feta adds a lovely salty tang, you can substitute it with goat cheese for creaminess or even a firm cotija cheese if you want a different flavor profile.
The key is to add avocado slices right before serving and give them a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Storing them separately until ready to eat also helps keep that beautiful green color.
Final Thoughts
This Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe has become one of my absolute favorites because it feels both nourishing and indulgent without any fuss. I hope when you try it you’ll enjoy the layers of flavor and texture as much as I do—it’s the kind of salad that keeps you coming back for another forkful!
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Sweet Potato Salad with Feta, Avocado, and Tahini Dressing Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A vibrant and nutritious Sweet Potato Salad featuring roasted sweet potatoes, peppery arugula, creamy avocado, tangy feta, and crunchy toasted pepitas, all drizzled with a luscious tahini dressing. Perfect as a wholesome lunch or a light dinner.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 roasted sweet potatoes
- 4 cups arugula
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 lemon wedge, for squeezing
- 3 tablespoons toasted pepitas
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Tahini Dressing
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Peel and dice sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated oven at 400°F for 25 minutes or until tender and caramelized.
- Make Tahini Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, maple syrup or honey, and minced garlic until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Salad: On a large platter, spread the arugula and drizzle with some tahini dressing. Add the roasted sweet potatoes and sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.
- Add Avocado and Lemon: Arrange the sliced avocado on top of the salad. Squeeze the lemon wedge over the avocado to add brightness and prevent browning.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle remaining tahini dressing over the salad. Sprinkle toasted pepitas on top. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Roast sweet potatoes evenly by cutting them into uniform sizes.
- Toast pepitas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- For a vegan option, use maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing and omit feta cheese or use vegan cheese alternatives.
- Arugula adds a peppery flavor, but baby spinach can be substituted for a milder taste.
- Leftover salad components can be stored separately in airtight containers for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
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