Homemade falafel baked instead of fried is the perfect vegan lunch or dinner. This super colorful Falafel Bowl with Tahini Sauce is a fun twist on the traditional sandwich. Served on top of fresh veggies and packed with vegetarian protein.
What is the Inspiration for this Falafel Bowl?
We grew up surrounded by the aromas of Middle Eastern cooking, and falafel is practically in our bones. A good falafel sandwich is pretty hard to outdo. Soft warm pita bread, crunchy, spice-filled falafel, tangy pickles, fresh tomatoes, and creamy tahini... Perfection! However, finding a good falafel sandwich is not always easy. That's one of the reasons we came up with a recipe for homemade baked falafel a few years ago. And to this day, it has been one of our most popular and shared recipes!
By baking the falafel instead of frying it, we lightened it up and made it a little bit easier to prepare (yes, we admit it, we think frying is a royal pain in the toosh).
Using that same falafel recipe, we've created this gorgeous falafel bowl, filled with crunchy lettuce, sweet shredded carrots, tangy pickled turnips, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Topped with tahini and sriracha, for some heat and tang.
And to make it even better, our Middle Eastern heritage demands we serve it with homemade za'atar pita chips (because, what's falafel without pita bread, right??)
Ingredients for a Falafel Salad Bowl
Here's what you'll need to make your Mediterranean falafel bowl:
- Falafel Balls: make homemade falafel with dried chickpeas, buy it frozen, or make it from a dry mix. You can also order falafel from your favorite falafel restaurant,and assemble the bowl at home.
- Salad Greens. Use your favorite variety.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Homemade Tahini Sauce. Make the sauce while the falafel is baking.
- Homemade Pita Chips. These are so much better than store-bought and can be customized with your favorite seasonings.
- Fresh Vegetables. lettuce, shredded carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and pickled turnips.
- Sriracha or Schug. Adds a nice little kick to the falafel bowls.
How to Make a Homemade Baked Falafel Bowl
To assemble the salad bowl, place lettuce on the bottom of the bowl. Add baked falafel, fresh veggies, and pickles. Drizzle with the tahini sauce and sriracha, and serve with crispy pita chips on the side.
- Step 1: Make the falafel. It can be homemade, from a mix or frozen.
- Step 2: Prep all the veggies
- Step 3: Make the pita chips
- Step 4: Make the tahini sauce
- Step 5: Assemble all of the ingredients in a bowl
Falafel Bowl Variations
Make this recipe your own using your favorite fresh veggies, dips, and grains.
- Vegetable ideas: cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, roasted cauliflower, kalamata olives, pickled onions, sweet potatoes.
- Grains and toppings ideas: quinoa, rice, sesame seeds, pepitas, flaky sea salt, feta cheese, lemon juice.
- Dips and spreads ideas: hummus, lemon tahini dressing, schug, romesco, labneh.
Can I Make this Recipe Ahead of Time?
YES!
- Make the Falafel a couple of days ahead:To prepare homemade falafel bowls ahead of time, make the falafel, allow them to cool completely, and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can serve the falafel cold with the salad ingredients, or reheat in a 250ºF oven for 10 minutes.
- Defrost Frozen Falafel:Freeze the baked falafel in a single layer for 30 minutes, then transfer it to an air-tight freezer container for up to 3 months. Allow the falafel to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
- Make Sauce and Chips: Prepare the tahini sauce and pita chips ahead of time and store them according to the recipe directions.
- Meal Prep: wash and chop fresh veggies and store them separately in the fridge for up to 5 days. Then you'll have everything you need for a quick and healthy vegetarian meal at your fingertips to toss together in no time.
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
Falafel Bowl With Avocado, Sriracha & Tahini
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 2 bowls
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This super colorful Falafel Bowl with Tahini Sauce is a fun twist on the traditional sandwich. Serve the falafel on top of fresh veggies, tangy pickles and crunchy pita chips.
Ingredients
- 6-8 Falafel balls Homemade, store-bought frozen, or made from a mix
- For the Tahini Sauce:
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2-4 tablespoon cold water
- For the Salad:
- 3 cups salad greens of your choice
- ¼ cup pickled turnips
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
- 2 Persian Cucumbers, diced
- Homemade Pita Chips (optional, but highly recommended)
- Sriracha, Schug, or hot sauce to taste (optional)
Instructions
- If using Homemade falafel, or using a falafel mix prepare it before making the bowl.
- If using frozen falafel simply heat it
To prepare the tahini sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, salt, and lemon juice until it thickens
- Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time and mix until well incorporated. For thinner sauce, add more water one tablespoon at a time. Refrigerate until ready to use (note: the sauce will thicken slightly when refrigerated)
To assemble the falafel bowl
- Place lettuce or salad green at the bottom of 2 individual salad bowls. Add 3-4 falafel balls per bowl and the rest of the salad ingredients.
- Top with tahini sauce and sriracha, and serve with zaatar pita chips.
Notes
- Prep time does not include time for making homemade falafel
- Homemade Falafel can be frozen once cooked
- Don't have time to make falafel from scratch? Try a falafel mix.
- Look in your grocery store for frozen falafel.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 437
- Sugar: 13.7 g
- Sodium: 513.3 mg
- Fat: 23.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49.1 g
- Fiber: 9.5 g
- Protein: 14.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Monica
A good bowl makes a great meal! Love this falafel one with tahini sauce. It looks packed with flavor and love the splashes of color!
Vicky & Ruth
Its a great and filling meal 🙂 It definitely has flavor that bursts into your mouth!
David @ Spiced
I've never thought about making falafel as a bowl...what a fun idea! Hello, dinner!
Vicky & Ruth
Thanks David! Its delicious and easy!
Iris Koller
The falafel recipe looks great - just want to check one thing. Do you drain the chickpeas before adding them to the food processor?
Vicky & Ruth
Hi!
Yes, you should drain them. We just added that step to the directions, thanks for pointing it out! 🙂
All That I'm Eating
This sounds so good! Love tahini and sriracha so this is right up my street!
Vicky & Ruth
We love the combo too...enjoy! 🙂
Gail
I love baked falafel. The bowl with baked pita chips is such a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you...it is perfect for any meal! Enjoy!
Marcela
Yum! The falafel bowl looks luscious! I am such a sucker for dishes like that one! Lovely recipe!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Marcela! 🙂
kushi
Very Innovative. Looks so gorgeous, recipe loaded with full of flavors 🙂 Thank you for sharing this!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
Wow! What a stunning looking falafel bowl. Love how beautifully you have paired all of my favorite ingredients. I so want this beauty in my life. 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you! You can also have fun adding different things inside of it 🙂
Rhianon
Wow, this is so beautiful and brightly colored! I really want to taste it. I'm definitely going to have to try making this. I bet it would taste really good with some Bubbies pickles or sauerkraut in it.
Vicky & Ruth
We love Bubbies pickles! You are right this falafel bowl would taste even better with some of Bubbies pickles.
Rachna
These falafels are looking so delicious. Going to try this recipe on this weekend.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you! Hope you enjoyed them 🙂
Kim
Excellent!!! I loved it! I cant waif for my cookbook
Vicky & Ruth
Awesome! We can't wait for you to get it!
Sam
I threw some sauerkraut into the mix, I can't seem to have a meal without it! And I have to say, your pictures are beautiful - convinced me to make this recipe! So tasty, thanks for sharing!
Vicky & Ruth
Awesome! Thank you for sharing how you made our Falafel Bowl recipe your own. If you get a chance would you leave us a star rating? Thank you.