Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Crisp baked falafel meets fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables and garlic tahini

# What You Need:

→ 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, optional
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 for brushing

→ Quinoa

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

→ Salad

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, as needed
24 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, green onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper if using, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and chickpea flour. Pulse until mixture is mostly smooth but retains slight coarseness. Scrape down sides as needed.
03 - Using damp hands, form falafel mixture into 12 balls or patties. Place 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 and 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 gradually for thinner consistency if desired.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onion, and 3 falafel patties. Drizzle generously with garlic tahini sauce.
08 - Serve immediately with optional garnish of fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal that feels indulgent but leaves you genuinely satisfied, not weighted down.
  • Baked falafel cuts the oil without sacrificing that crispy-on-outside texture everyone loves.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, which is honestly a miracle for something this flavorful.
02 -
  • Wet your hands when shaping falafel or the mixture will frustrate you endlessly and stick to everything.
  • Don't skip flipping the falafel halfway or you'll end up with one side that's pale and one that's overdone.
03 -
  • If your tahini seems thick and separated, stir it very well before measuring because those oils make a huge difference to the sauce's texture.
  • Assemble the bowl just before eating so the falafel stays crispy and the vegetables don't start releasing water onto everything.
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