Description
These Falafel Bowls are made with your choice of grain, lots of healthy veggies and drizzled with tahini sauce– the falafels can be prepped ahead for the busy workweek. Vegan and Gluten-free! USE dry chickpeas, soaked in water for 8-12 hours or overnight. DO NOT use canned chickpeas.
Ingredients
Falafel Recipe
- 3/4 cup dry chickpeas (yields 2 cups soaked), soaked in water until plump- 8-24 hours (do not use cooked or canned chickpeas-please trust me!)
- 1 cup cilantro (stems ok) or sub-Italian parsley
- 1/2 cup white or yellow onion, rough chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1/2 a jalapeno, seeds ok (add the entire thing if you want a little kick)
- 1 tablespoon Coriander
- 1 tablespoon Cumin
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt (add more to taste, I use 3/4 teaspoon)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- spray oil for baking
Falafel bowls (makes 4 hearty bowls)
- 3 cups cooked grain: basmati rice, quinoa, farro, Freekeh, etc.
- 2 cups diced tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes
- 4 cups greens – baby arugula, baby spinach or kale, etc…
- 2 cups sliced cucumbers
- other optional additions: avocado, grated carrot, grated beets, or sliced radishes, micro greens or fresh herbs like cilantro or flat-leaf parsley, Pickled Onions or Pickled Turnips (something pickled or fermented is nice, even kraut)
- Sauce: Tahini Dressing
Instructions
- Place dry chickpeas in a big bowl and cover with 4-5 inches of water and let soak on the counter 10 – 24 hours. Drain, and pat them dry well. (You can dry them further on a sheet pan, in the preheating oven.)
- Preheat the oven to 375F (or pan-sear)
- Place the cilantro, onion, jalapeño and garlic in a food processor and pulse repeatedly until uniformly chopped. Add the drained garbanzo beans, oil, cumin, coriander, salt and sprinkle the baking soda. Blend again, until well combined, but not smooth– leaving a little texture is good here. Scrape down sides if necessary, mix again, to evenly distribute the spices,and baking soda. Add more salt if you like.
- Bake: Grease the bottom of a parchment-lined baking sheet with spray olive oil, or brush with olive oil. Form falafels into ping-pong or golfball-sized balls (a slight oval shape is nice). If it feels sticky, use wet hands. Place on the greased parchment. Once all the balls are formed, using wet palms, flatten just a little, so they are about a 1 -1 ½ inches thick. Spray or brush the tops with olive oil. Bake 15 minutes, then carefully flip using a metal spatula. Continue baking for another 12-15 minutes until golden and slightly crispy. (Alternatively, you can pan sear: form into flattened disks, 2-3 inches wide, by 1 1/2 inches thick, pressing together, firmly with your palms, and place in a well-oiled skillet over medium heat. Cast iron or non-stick works best here. Sear each side until deeply golden, adding more oil as needed. Keep warm in the oven.)
- While they are baking, make the Quinoa and Tahini Sauce and prep any veggies you like.
- Assemble the bowls. I usually start with quinoa, then build upward with greens, veggies, falafels, sauces, pickled things and microgreens and herbs on the top. If packing to take away with you, perhaps keep sauces separate.
- A drizzle of olive, lemon and hot sauce is nice too.
Notes
I recommend doubling this recipe.
***Do not use canned or cooked chickpeas here- it just will not work here! Chickpeas must be raw, dry chickpeas soaked in water until plump, but uncooked!
Make doubly sure the soaked chic peas are drained really well before blending. If they are too wet, they may not stick together. Use only 4 cups.
To freeze falafels, carefully place cooled falafels on a sheet pan in a single layer, and freeze. Then store the frozen falafels in a ziplock bag.
Reheat falafels in a microwave or toaster oven. I usually wrap in foil for the first 10-15 minutes in the oven, then open the foil to let them crisp up a bit.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 falafels with quinoa, veggies and tahini sauce
- Calories: 469
- Sugar: 7.3 g
- Sodium: 672 mg
- Fat: 17.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 63.9 g
- Fiber: 12.1 g
- Protein: 19.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg