Breaking news: I'm posting yet another salad! I mean, yes, I called this a Baked Falafel Buddha Bowl but let's be real, it's a salad. Buuuuut (!!) it's a really tasty one you guys. Can you believe I'd never actually tried regular fried falafel before I made my first oven-baked falafel at home? That's a-ok though because this falafel bowl is out-of-this-world-delicious so I'm not really missing out on anything.
You need this one in your life, trust me. It features my current obsession aka Cashew Dressing which honestly brings the salad to a whole new level of awesome.
I ha some leftover black beans and spicy salsa I made for last week's post, Mexican Kale Salad with Cashew Dressing so I put them together and added them to this bowl. Such a tasty combo!
Can we take a moment to appreciate how green and pretty all the falafel ingredients below are? It features parsley, cilantro, chickpeas, sesame seeds (hulled, unhulled, and black because everything is better with multiple colors/shades), sunflower seeds, garlic, and spices. Wait, I haven't mentioned these are also vegan and gluten-free yet! Are there eggs in regular falafel? Is there flour? Wow, I probably should've researched this more haha. But you know, this is so tasty that it doesn't really matter if it's the same as the original or different. Either way, when you put it together with all the beans, salsa, hummus, kimchi and quinoa salad, it's amazing. And I bet you're gonna be obsessed with this salad just as much as I am in no time.
Omg guys! It just occurred to me that I could make a falafel wrap with all this! Oh wow, that'd be even more awesome!! T(two exclamation points because I'mapparentlyy very excited about falafel wraps. Okay, I might just have to make that right now. Or maybe later when I finish this post.
Hopefully, I don't just end up sitting in the kitchen dipping falafel in the cashew dressing. I excuse it as 'taste testing' but really it's just snacking impatiently. Before you know it, you have no falafel and you haven't even made the salad. Talk about first world problems, right?
Depending on how big you make these, the recipe can yield anywhere from 10 to 20 falafel "patties". I like to make them smaller so there are more of them. Then you can just keep them in the fridge for a few days for future salads! I think you will agree with me if I say that leftovers are the best thing ever. Last week I had what seemed like a neverending supply of leftovers because I was taking pictures of future recipes all week. Needless to say, I was very happy about that.
I'm actually in the midst of planning out recipes for both November and December. I've talked about this in my last post and I'm still really excited about it. I want to start posting two recipes a week, starting November 3rd. Every Monday and Thursday there's gonna be a new post. Sometimes, it's not going to be a recipe but some other post about food, health, or wellness but there are definitely going to be two posts every single week. (let's hope I stick to it) That's why I'm trying to get two months ahead so it's easier for me to put out two recipes a week without being stressed out about it. On top of that, I'm starting a full-time job in November so I'm really interested to see how I manage everything.
That being said, I'm not going to write the posts two months in advance. I want the posts to be genuine and up to date, not two months old. Besides, now that I'm working on two months worth of content in such a short period of time, can you imagine what it would be like writing 17 posts at once? That would literally be like writing a book.
Anyway, I'm gonna let you read the recipe now and try the falafel for yourself. If you do, let me know how it was! I'd love to know :)
📖 Recipe
Baked Falafel Buddha Bowl
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Category: salad
Ingredients
- Cashew Dressing (recipe here)
FALAFEL:
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
- 2 tbsp unhulled sesame seeds (I did a mix of white hulled, unhulled, and black)
- 3 cloves garlic
- handful fresh parsley
- handful fresh cilantro
- ½ small red onion, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tsp olive oil (or coconut oil)
- 2 tbsp flour of choice (I used buckwheat flour)
SALAD:
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled (you will have leftovers but that's always a good thing)
- 4-5 cups romaine lettuce (or whatever and however much greens you want)
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or cut into quarters
- black beans & salsa (optional, I had leftover beans and salsa so I decided to mix them together and it worked out great. Salsa recipe here)
- any other vegetable you like (shredded beets, carrots, chopped radishes, peppers, etc.)
- guacamole (optional)
- kimchi (optional)
- hummus (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200C (392F).
FALAFEL:
- To make the falafel, add the chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, cumin, salt, and pepper into a food processor and process for a minute or until the chickpeas and sunflower seeds start breaking up and forming a rough dough.
- Add the tahini and oil and pulse a few times.
- Add the flour and process until well incorporated.
- Form small balls with your hands (about 1 tbsp) and flatten them out to create small patties.
- (optional) Roll each falafel in sesame seeds to make them prettier.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden, turning halfway after 15 minutes.
SALAD:
- To make the salad mix the quinoa and the lettuce (about ½ cup quinoa for 1 person) with 2-3 tablespoon of the dressing (for each bowl). Plate and top with the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, falafel, and other toppings of choice.
- Drizzle with more dressing and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Ree love30
I love what you've called this! I would eat it alone just for its name! IT does look amazing though and I'm a vegetarian so perfect for me!
thehealthfulideas
Thank you! Yeah, It totally love this recipe :)
Kristine-Bites of Flavor
Oh I LOVE falafel so much!! Great idea to make a buddha bowl with the falafel patties. Super healthy and delicious!
thehealthfulideas
Yay high five! It really is, I'm obsessed with this recipe! :)
Belle
This looks really good!
One Awesome Momma
thehealthfulideas
Thanks, Belle! :)
Rachel Lynn
Oh my gosh, this salad looks bomb! I've never had falafel before, but I've heard it's sooo yummy. & that dressing! Wow, I'm so hungry now, hahha
thehealthfulideas
Thanks so much, Rachel! Me neither before I made this salad haha! Everyone kept talking about falafel so I had to try it for myself too. And they're right, falafel is amazing!
chanel
I saw this on Instagram earlier and have not stopped thinking about it! So glad I found your recipe!
thehealthfulideas
That's what this salad does to you - won't be able to stop thinking about it until you make it haha! I'm glad you like it :)
Melissa
Ohh yes please! I love falafel, putting it in a salad is a GAME CHANGER! Thanks for sharing
thehealthfulideas
I know, right? I wouldn't mind eating this salad every day for lunch, like, yes please!
Shannon
I need this in my life!
thehealthfulideas
I'm glad you like it, Shannon! :)
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
Wow I love when I stumble upon a recipe that is healthy but looks indulgent ;) Win. Win.
thehealthfulideas
Yay I'm happy you like it, Heather! :)
Nina Frambuesa
I always have problems with the falafel I make. I will try this recipe soon.
thehealthfulideas
I think you'll like this one. The dough doesn't fall apart and the result is delicious :)
Emily Whalen
Yuuuuuum!! This looks so delicious!!
thehealthfulideas
Thanks, Emily! :)
Dalya Rubin
Yum! I love falafel! Thank for sharing this recipe! I can't wait to give it a try!
Veronika | thehealthfulideas
Thanks, Dalya! I hope you like it if you do! <3
Emily Terrell
I've been looking for new salad ideas as I try to eat healthy and clean now. This one looks so delicious! Nothing like I would have thought of.
Betsy
It was delicious! We added Kalamata olives also.