Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

This was my first time making falafel. I had to try it twice before I...

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

This was my first time making falafel. I had to try it twice before I got the seasonings right. However, the process itself is so easy, I can’t believe I haven’t tried this before (because I love falafel!)

Basically, you place a bunch of clean ingredients into a food processor and pulse until its a “paste” that you can mold with your hands. Then, you pop them in the oven – et voila, falafel patties!

Simple, right?

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

When I graduated college and moved in on my own, I discovered falafel. Being in my early 20s, I’d leave the bars late at night in the city and want something to nosh on – ideally healthy… but also filling and delightful.

Enter a bazillion falafel food trucks.

I’d always get a falafel salad – with extra tzatziki sauce (skip the pita!) The next day, when I woke up, I wouldn’t feel gross (like you do when you eat two $1 slices of pizza – or three.)

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

Falafel is wonderful – garbanzo beans are a gluten-free, vegan, lean protein source. I mean, who doesn’t love hummus (made of garbanzos) and veggies?

Oh and this sauce. I didn’t want to go with a traditional tzatziki/yogurt sauce that typically accompanies falafel, so I went back to the drawing board and thought back to those crazy NYC nights and remembered hummus… and then, tahini.

Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds. You can usually find it in hummus. It’s wonderful.

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

So instead of using yogurt, I started with tahini and added mint for some freshness, which pairs really perfectly with the cucumber noodles.

While the baked falafel steals the show here, the cucumber noodles work their own separate magic – like a crunchy, refreshing salad. The mint-tahini dressing coats the cucumber noodles and makes every bite flavorful and tangy.

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

Plus – baked falafel has significantly less fat than fried falafel. Instead of frying these chickpea patties, we place them in a cast iron skillet coated with olive oil, which adds flavor, healthy fats and a pretty brown color as it bakes.

Needless to say, the falafel I was having in the city wasn’t baked. Definitely fried. So good. 🙂

What are your thoughts on falafel?

Nutritional Information & Recipe

Inspiralized

Baked Falafel and Cucumber Noodle Salad with Mint-Tahini Dressing

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients

  • For the falafel:
  • 1 cup canned chickpeas rinsed, drained and patted dry
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil + more for coating a cast iron skillet
  • For the dressing:
  • 3 tablespoons tahini
  • zest and juice of 1 small lemon
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon freshly chopped mint
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • For the salad:
  • 1 cucumber Blade C, noodles trimmed
  • 3 packed cups baby arugula
  • 6 cherry tomatoes halved

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients for the falafel except for the additional oil for coating the cast iron skillet (later step). Process until no longer chunky, about 1 minute. Place into a mixing bowl and add in the egg. Toss to combine thoroughly.
  • Scoop out enough of the mixture to make 6 large golf ball sized falafel balls and then shape them into patties by setting them down and pressing down to slightly flatten. Set aside.
  • Place the falafel in a cast iron skillet coated lightly with olive oil (about 1 tablespoon.)
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes and then flip over and bake another 15 minutes or until the falafel is lightly browned on both sides.
  • While the falafel is baking, prepare the dressing and cucumber salad. Place all of the ingredients for the dressing into a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. For the salad, pat dry the cucumber noodles to remove all excess moisture and then combine in a large mixing bowl with the arugula. Toss to combine and divide onto two plates. Set aside.
  • When the falafel is done baking, divide equally among the salad plates and drizzle with dressing. Garnish with cherry tomatoes.
with love, Ali

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Recipe Rating




comments

  • Not to be a know it all or rude but a couple mistakes in todays recipe as there was in yesterdays.
      • In the Jalapeno and Chorizo Carrot Rice with Avocado recipe there was no mention on when to add the jalapenos. Ok, I see todays was fixed.
        • John - I just checked Monday's recipe and it does state where to add the jalapenos! Thanks for letting me know about today's issue though - yes, I fixed it!
  • Ok I see that one was fixed as well. Sorry!
  • I am trying this tonight.
  • Does it make a difference if you don't cook the falafel in a cast iron skillet? I only have a baking sheet unfortunately.
  • Assume I can use a baking sheet if I don't have a cast iron skillet?
  • This sounds wonderful! Thanks for putting your receipts back up. I tried to buy the app but I got a message saying my operating system was not compatible:(
  • This recipe looks delicious. I assume you used a spiral slicer for this dish? Spiral slicers make wonderful vegetable pastas!
  • I love falafel. Haven't really had them in years, but I remember getting them at a little stand in Los Angeles (a bazillion years ago!), and absolutely loving them. I'll have to try this recipe. I like the fact that they are baked rather than fried.
  • you are my hero. I would have never even thought to look into how to make my own falafel!
      • For the record do not use chipotle olive oil or the falafel will be WAY too spicy and give you heartburn, other than that it was very tasty. My friends that came over for dinner were very impressed!
  • loved the mix of flavours but my falafel batter just melted into flat disks as it baked :( maybe i'll try adding an egg next time for binding?
  • I made this today and my husband liked it but I thought the felafels were just a little bit too spicy for my taste. I will make again, but I will maybe halve the cayenne. I just got the spiralizer and this was the second thing I made. I think I would like the cucumbers peeled first better. I know skin is good for you but...I just didn't like the texture. The sauce was tasty. This recipe was time-consuming though. We both work from home and I made this for lunch, so it took me over an hour to do this. I know, I'm slow. I like your blog and recipes. They make it easy to eat healthier.
  • Trying this for dinner tonight. Love the combination of flavors and textures!
  • Looks amazing!! But I found it under the vegan category and eggs aren't vegan!
  • Can I freeze the remaining falafel? I intend to eat 2 falafel patties only with the noodles.
  • My falafels were super squidgy, I added the egg, but they didn't seem to stick together very well. There was no way to make them into golf balls, they just sorta... Spread...
  • Hello ! What's the weight of the chickpea can ? I'm in France and we have several sizes. I just got à spiralizer, tried zoodles for the first Time tonight and this recipe is next ! Thanks a lot !
  • Oh sorry, I just saw it's a cup !
  • Ok we made those tonight and it was amazing ! So tasty :)
  • This is definitely a keeper! Such a nice combination! And I fell in love with cucumber noodles :) I couldn't get a decent tahini so made tzatzyki sause instead. Delish! :)