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Baked Falafel Salad with Two Creamy Dressings

A vibrant salad featuring golden-baked falafel with two creamy dressings, perfect for gatherings and healthy eating.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 5 cups leafy greens A spring mix is recommended.
  • 1 count shallot or red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced Pick a firm variety.
  • 1 cup shredded carrot
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed Or 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight.
  • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped Loosely packed.
  • 1/3 cup parsley, chopped Loosely packed.
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped Optional but adds great flavor.
For the Baked Falafel
  • 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Optional.
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder Optional.
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes, cayenne, chili powder, or smoked paprika
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
For the Creamy Dressings

Method
 

Prepare the Falafel
  1. If using dried chickpeas, soak them in a large pot of water overnight.
  2. Preheat your oven to 400°F and generously coat your baking sheet with olive oil.
  3. In a food processor, combine your chickpeas (soaked or canned), parsley, cilantro, dill, shallot, garlic, cumin, and the rest of your spices. Blend until the mixture is smooth yet slightly chunky.
  4. Form the mixture into patties, about 2 tablespoons for each, and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake for about 10 minutes. Afterward, flip each patty and bake for another 15 minutes.
  6. For a crispy finish, pop them under the broiler for a couple of minutes—watch them carefully to avoid burning!
Create Your Dressings
  1. For the Lemon Tahini Dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together tahini, garlic powder, lemon juice, minced herbs, salt, and sufficient water until creamy and smooth.
  2. For the Avocado Cucumber Dressing: In a blender, combine avocado, cucumber, cilantro, dill, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Add water incrementally to achieve your desired creaminess.
Assemble the Salad
  1. In large bowls, layer the leafy greens, then pile on your falafel patties, and finish off with a medley of tomatoes, cucumbers, and shredded carrots.
  2. Drizzle generously with both dressings (or serve on the side) and garnish with additional herbs if desired.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Dressings should be stored separately to keep everything fresh. You can prepare the falafel mixture the day before and bake them the next day.