Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Deep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe—canned chickpeas add too much moisture.
Ingreadients :
- 1 cup dried chickpeas
- 2 cups packed flat-leaf parsley, divided
- ¼ cup chopped red onion plus 1/4 cup thinly sliced, divided
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 5 tablespoons tahini
- 5 tablespoons warm water
- 6 cups sliced romaine lettuce
- 2 cups sliced cucumbers and/or radishes
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
Step by Step :
- Soak chickpeas in cold water for 12 to 24 hours.
- Drain the chickpeas and transfer to a food processor. Add 1 cup parsley, chopped onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt; process until finely and evenly ground. Shape into 12 patties (1 1/2 inches wide), using a generous 2 tablespoons each.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Cook the falafel until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn, swirl in 1 tablespoon oil and cook until golden on the other side, 3 to 5 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, whisk tahini, water and the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Transfer 1/4 cup to a small bowl. Add romaine and the remaining 1 cup parsley to the large bowl and toss to coat. Top with cucumbers and/or radishes, tomatoes, the sliced onion and the falafel. Drizzle with the reserved 1/4 cup dressing.
