Falafel Quinoa Salad Bowl (Printable)

Crispy baked falafel over fluffy quinoa with fresh veggies and creamy tahini

# What You'll 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 lemon juice
12 - 3 tablespoons chickpea flour or all-purpose 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 lemon juice
23 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water as needed
24 - 0.25 teaspoon salt

# Directions:

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 with a slightly coarse texture. 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 - 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 for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
06 - Whisk together tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Add additional water for a thinner consistency if desired.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onion, and 3 falafel pieces. Drizzle generously with garlic tahini sauce.
08 - Serve bowls immediately, optionally garnished with extra fresh herbs or lemon wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The falafel stays crispy even when baked, with none of that oily heaviness you might expect.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, which feels like a small miracle for something this composed and satisfying.
  • It's one of those bowls that tastes even better the next day when the flavors have gotten to know each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip flipping the falafel halfway through baking—that's what keeps them crispy on all sides instead of soft on the bottom.
  • The tahini sauce thickens as it cools, so make it a bit thinner than you think you want it, and it'll be perfect by the time you're ready to drizzle.
03 -
  • Toast pumpkin seeds or slivered almonds in a dry skillet for two minutes and scatter them over the assembled bowls for a textural surprise that catches everyone off guard in the best way.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before eating brightens everything and ties the whole bowl together with an acidic snap.
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