Crowded Kitchen

MENUMENU
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Salads

Mediterranean Salad with Falafel and Tahini Dressing

Published: May 7, 2019 · Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Lexi

377 shares
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This Mediterranean Salad with Falafel is tossed in a creamy sumac tahini dressing and topped with homemade crispy za'atar chickpeas for a quick vegan meal. Make a big batch of baked falafel for meal prep and you'll be set for a full week of delicious vegan dinners or lunches!

Overhead view of mediterranean salad with falafel and a tahini drizzle on white background

This salad is a new favorite in our house! We packed it with plant protein, crunchy chickpeas, tangy pickled onions, refreshing cucumber, tomato, and lettuce.

Then, we covered everything in a perfectly creamy sumac tahini dressing that brings everything together. This falafel isn't necessarily traditional. They're baked instead of fried - but they're flavorful and easy to make ahead of time.

I'm usually not a huge fan of salads as a main meal, but this one, with Falafel and hearty Mediterranean flavors, is satisfying enough to fit the bill.

A good salad, in my opinion, needs varying texture, something filling (here, the baked falafel) and a really good dressing. Because let's be honest - that's the best part!

Dressing

Tahini dressing, especially, is my all-time favorite, and not just for salads. I often make a similar tahini dressing to eat with roasted vegetables and tofu for a quick, easy dinner.

Tahini is delicious on its own or with a pinch of salt, pepper and lemon. Of course, it's also fantastic in this creamy dressing with a bit of sumac spice. Sumac is a dark red spice native to the Middle East with a flavor profile similar to lemon.

Sumac powder is slightly fruity, refreshing and less overpowering than lemon, so it's perfect for this dressing.

Crispy Za'atar Chickpeas

As much as I love sumac tahini dressing, the homemade crispy za'atar chickpeas steal the show in this Mediterranean Salad.

Za'atar is a flavorful Middle Eastern spice blend that's common in Mediterranean recipes. It's traditionally made with sumac spice, sesame seeds, salt and savory herbs (like thyme).

Za'atar has an addictive flavor that perfectly complements crispy chickpeas. We ate the whole batch of Za'atar chickpeas in one day. You can find the recipe for these tasty chickpeas here!

We've also included a few helpful tricks to make your chickpeas extra crispy.

Once you've mastered Mediterranean Salad with Falafel, try out these other flavorful vegan salad recipes:

  • Vegan Kale Tahini Caesar Salad
  • Moroccan Carrot and Lentil Salad
  • Greek Chickpea Salad

We hope you give this Mediterranean Salad with Falafel a try - we'd love for you to comment below and give the recipe a rating if you do!

Print

📖 Recipe

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Mediterranean Salad with Falafel and Sumac Tahini Dressing


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This Mediterranean Salad with Falafel is tossed in a sumac tahini dressing and topped with homemade crispy za'atar chickpeas. It makes for a delicious, filling vegan/gluten free lunch or dinner. Make a big batch of falafel when you meal prep and use it in meals all week!


Ingredients

Scale

Baked Falafel:

  • 3 ½ tbsp olive oil, divided 
  • ½ cup green onions, chopped finely
  • 3 large garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, well drained
  • 2 tbsp tahini 
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 ¼ tsp cumin
  • 1 ¼ tsp fine kosher salt
  • ¾ ground coriander
  • ½ ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • ⅓ cup fresh parsley
  • 1 ½ tbsp chickpea flour
  • 1 tbsp flax meal
  • 2 ½-3 tablespoon sesame seeds

Sumac Tahini Dressing:

  • ½ cup tahini
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼-⅓ cup water
  • ½ tsp sumac
  • ½-¾ teaspoon fine salt

Salad: 

  • 8 cups lettuce of choice
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • ½ cup pickled onion (or thinly sliced red onion) 
  • Za'atar roasted chickpeas - follow our recipe here

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Heat sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoon olive oil, green onions, and garlic. Sauté, stirring several times, for 5-6 minutes (until softened). Remove from heat.
  3. Add chickpeas, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, cumin, salt, coriander, pepper, turmeric, and paprika to food processor. Pulse until well combined. You may need to scrape sides down a few times.
  4. Add chickpea flour, flax meal and cooked green onion and garlic and pulse until well combined. Let mixture chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes.  
  5. Using a tablespoon measurement, scoop dough into even sized patties. Flatten each patty into a disk, then sprinkle a few sesame seeds on top, pressing them gently so they stick.
  6. Gently brush one side of falafel with olive oil and place oil-side down on baking sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes. 
  7. Flip falafel and bake an additional 13-15 minutes, until golden brown on each side. 

Tahini dressing: 

  1. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. 
  2. Prep all salad ingredients. Top with falafel and drizzle with tahini. Enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Bowl
  • Calories: 426
  • Sugar: 4.6 g
  • Sodium: 808.4 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45.6 g
  • Fiber: 6.7 g
  • Protein: 13.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #crowdedkitchen

More Salad Recipes

  • Overhead view of Italian chopped salad in a bowl.
    Italian Chopped Salad
  • Overhead view of creamy cucumber pea salad in a bowl.
    Creamy Cucumber Pea Salad
  • Overhead view of Christmas wreath salad with endive and candied walnuts on platter.
    Christmas Wreath Salad
  • Overhead view of winter fruit salad in a large bowl.
    Winter Fruit Salad

Comments

No Comments

Let us know what you think! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

More about us →

Seasonal

  • close up overhead view of vegan bean soup in a bowl on white linen surface.
    Three-Bean Vegetable Soup
  • Front view of strawberry pop tart.
    Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts
  • Overhead view of slice and bake cookies on a pink plate.
    Slice and Bake Heart Cookies
  • close up view of a passion fruit martini in a glass with dark backdrop.
    Passion Fruit Martini

Popular

  • Overhead view of fruit and nut crackers on a plate.
    Gourmet Fruit and Nut Crackers
  • overhead view of vegan mac and cheese in pot
    The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
  • Overhead view of hot honey chicken plate.
    Hot Honey Chicken Plate (Sweetgreen Dupe)
  • Overhead view of potato leek soup.
    Super Green Sheet Pan Soup

See more-->

Footer

Back to top ↑

About

  • Learn About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • See our Portfolio

Newsletter

  • Sign up for weekly emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
  • As Seen In

Copyright © 2025 Crowded Kitchen