Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Print Version)

Crispy baked chickpea patties over fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables and garlic tahini drizzle.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 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, as needed
24 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

# How-To 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, black pepper, lemon juice, and chickpea flour. Pulse until mixture is mostly smooth but still slightly coarse, scraping 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 - While falafel bakes, combine quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. 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 as needed for desired consistency.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onion slices, and 3 baked falafel. Drizzle generously with garlic tahini sauce.
08 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with additional fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • High in plant-based protein, providing 14g per serving.
  • Naturally vegetarian and easily made gluten-free using chickpea flour.
  • The creamy garlic tahini sauce perfectly complements the warm, baked falafel and crisp vegetables.
02 -
  • Leftover falafel can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and is best reheated in the oven to maintain its crisp exterior.
  • Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water before cooking to remove any natural bitterness.
  • This dish contains sesame via the tahini; always check ingredient labels for potential cross-contamination.
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