Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Print Version)

Crispy baked falafel served over fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables and creamy garlic tahini sauce.

# Components:

→ Baked Falafel

01 - 1.5 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 0.5 cup fresh parsley leaves
03 - 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves
04 - 2 green onions, roughly chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
08 - 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
10 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 3 tablespoons chickpea flour
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Quinoa

14 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
15 - 2 cups water
16 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

→ Salad Components

17 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
18 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
19 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Garlic Tahini Sauce

20 - 0.33 cup tahini
21 - 1 clove garlic, minced
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
23 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water
24 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, green onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and chickpea flour. Pulse until mostly smooth with slight coarseness, scraping sides as needed.
03 - Using damp hands, form falafel mixture into 12 balls or patties. Arrange on prepared baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil.
04 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
06 - Whisk together tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add additional water as needed for desired consistency.
07 - Divide quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onion, and 3 falafel pieces. Drizzle with garlic tahini sauce.
08 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It fills you up without weighing you down, thanks to the protein-packed quinoa and chickpeas working together.
  • The garlic tahini sauce ties everything together in a way that makes you want to lick the bowl clean.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble bowls all week without getting bored.
  • Baking the falafel means no oil mess and no hovering over a hot pan.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the chickpeas well or your falafel will fall apart in the oven and you'll end up with crumbles instead of rounds.
  • If the falafel mixture feels too wet to shape, add another tablespoon of chickpea flour and let it rest for five minutes.
  • Rinse your quinoa thoroughly or it can taste slightly bitter and ruin the whole bowl.
  • Make the tahini sauce ahead and store it in the fridge, it thickens as it sits so just whisk in a little water before serving.
03 -
  • Chill the falafel mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes before shaping, it makes rolling them so much easier and they hold together better.
  • Toast your quinoa in the dry saucepan for a minute before adding water, it deepens the flavor and makes it taste almost nutty.
  • Brush the falafel with oil halfway through baking again for an extra-crispy finish that rivals any fried version.
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