Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Printable)

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

# 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
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

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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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 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 crispy.
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 cooked 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 additional fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • A nutritious balance of plant-based protein from chickpeas and quinoa.
  • Baked falafel offers a lighter, crisp texture without the need for deep frying.
  • The creamy garlic tahini sauce provides a rich, savory finish to the fresh vegetables.
02 -
  • Use damp hands when forming the falafel mixture to prevent it from sticking to your skin.
  • Pulse the food processor carefully to achieve a coarse texture; over-processing can make the falafel too dense.
  • Letting the quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes after cooking ensures it becomes perfectly fluffy.
Go Back