Go Back
+ servings
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Loaded Falafel Salad

My love affair with big beautiful loaded salad continues with this Loaded Falafel Salad!
Prep Time30 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Salad, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

For the Falafel

  • ½ cup dry uncooked chickpeas
  • ½ cup dry uncooked fava beans
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
  • ¾ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 small jalapeño ribs and seeds removed and coarsely chopped
  • 2 garlic clove minced
  • ½ cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Vegetable oil for frying (about 3 cups)

For the Salad:

  • 1 head red leaf lettuce torn
  • 1 head green leaf lettuce torn
  • ¼ head large red cabbage shredded
  • 2-3 Persian cucumber sliced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • Baby strawberries optional
  • Fresh mint cilantro and parsley`

For the Dressing:

  • ¾ cup greek yogurt
  • cup tahini
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • water to thin out the sauce

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, cover the chickpeas and fava beans with water and soak them overnight.
  • After soaking, drain the chickpeas and fava beans and pat them dry. Place them into a food processor, with a teaspoon of salt and process until they resemble a coarse crumb. Add the mint, parsley, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, onion, and sesame seeds and pulse until everything is finely ground and the mixture is a fine, web crumb. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, stir in the baking soda, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  • Heat the oil in a heavy bottom saucepan. Using a small ice cream scoop, pack the falafel mixture tightly into the scoop and form balls, slightly smaller than a golf ball. Carefully drop the balls into the hot oil, and fry a few at a time until golden brown, making sure to flip them over as soon as they are brown on one side. Using a slotted spoon, remove the falafel from the oil to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool and excess oil drip off. Repeat process with the remaining falafels.
  • In a large bowl, combine the lettuces, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes and fresh herbs. Add the falafel on top and serve with the dressing on the side.

To make the dressing

  • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Add water to thin out the sauce and turn it into a pourable dressing. Adjust salt as needed.

Notes

Leftovers, or more falafel than fits on your salad? Pop the leftovers into pita, dip in tzatziki, however you want to enjoy them.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1002mg | Potassium: 761mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1705IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 4mg