Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained
- 1½ cups shredded butternut squash
- 1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons chickpea flour
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves and stems
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons each whole cumin seeds and coriander seeds, toasted and ground
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1–2 cups oil for cooking
- 1 medium beet, peeled and shredded
- ⅓ cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- 1½ cups quinoa, rinsed
- 1¾ cups water or broth
- 2–3 large shallots, peeled and sliced thin
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2–4 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups arugula
- 3 ounces fresh feta
- ⅓ cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare quick-pickled beets by combining shredded beets with boiling water, salt, sugar, and vinegar in a jar. Refrigerate until serving.
- Make falafel mixture by processing chickpeas, butternut squash, onion, flour, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, salt, paprika, cardamom, and baking soda until grainy.
- Shape mixture into 1.5-inch balls, adjusting with chickpea flour if needed.
- Cook falafel in hot oil until golden brown on both sides.
- Simmer quinoa in water or broth until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
- Fry shallots in remaining oil until golden for a crispy topping.
- Mix tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and water until desired dressing consistency is reached.
- Assemble bowls with quinoa, arugula, falafel, pickled beets, feta, peanuts, and tahini dressing.
Notes
Soak chickpeas overnight for best texture in falafel.
Ensure oil is hot enough for frying to avoid soggy falafels.
Leftovers can be stored separately for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying, Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 62
- Fiber: 12
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 5