Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Print Version)

Golden baked falafel over fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables and creamy garlic tahini drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Baked Falafel

01 - 1 1/2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
03 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
04 - 2 green onions, roughly chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
08 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 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 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Salad

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

→ Garlic Tahini Sauce

20 - 1/3 cup tahini
21 - 1 clove garlic, minced
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
23 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water, as needed
24 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# How to Make It:

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. 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 boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with 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 generously with garlic tahini sauce.
08 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The falafel stays crispy on the outside even after sitting in the bowl, thanks to baking instead of frying.
  • Quinoa absorbs flavors beautifully, so this bowl tastes even better the next day if you pack it for lunch.
  • One creamy tahini sauce ties everything together, turning humble vegetables into something restaurant-worthy.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa; if you cook it straight from the bag, the bitter coating will make you wonder why anyone likes this grain.
  • Tahini separates if it sits for months, so give the jar a good stir before measuring; if it's rock hard, microwave it for 10 seconds to loosen it up.
  • The falafel mixture should hold together when squeezed but still feel crumbly; if it's too wet, add another tablespoon of flour.
03 -
  • If your tahini sauce breaks and gets grainy, start over with a tablespoon of fresh tahini in a clean bowl and slowly whisk in the broken sauce, stirring gently until it comes back together.
  • Damp hands when shaping falafel are non-negotiable; they prevent the mixture from crumbling and keep you from getting frustrated and abandon hope halfway through.
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