Green Goddess Falafel Salad for 2 🥗

Easy + delicious + nutritious!

Jun 14, 2024

When 3:00 PM on a weekday arrives and I don’t have a plan for dinner, stress ensues. I might have a kitchen full of food, but all of the sudden I have nothing in the cupboards and there is nothing I can make for dinner. It sounds so silly, but it’s where my mind goes.

I do my best to have a meal plan for the week, but as you can imagine and probably experience, not every week goes as planned. That is why I stock my freezer with healthy (easy to make) foods at all times.

In walks frozen pre-made falafel! I love to cook, but during the week (sorry not sorry), I don’t have the bandwidth to make falafels! If you can find frozen falafels that taste amazing, GO FOR IT! This brand (in the video) is the first I ever bought and I love the taste and convenience.

I whipped up this baby in no time and it’s packed in some amazing nutrients.

Let’s talk about the nutritional benefits of this falafel salad

This is the good part, I promise!

The mixed greens and purple cabbage serve as the base for this salad. These leafy powerhouses are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, which support immune function, vision, and bone health. Did you know that purple cabbage contains antioxidants, (particularly anthocyanins) that can help fight inflammation and protect your cells from damage? I try to keep purple cabbage in the crisper at all times. It’s so good for you and it lasts a bit longer than greens in the fridge.

Microgreens are the icing on the cake, I mean… salad! They’re loaded with vitamins C, E, and K, and minerals like iron and potassium. These nutrients play a role in maintaining healthy skin and boosting your immune system, as well as improving blood circulation.

Do people even think about the health benefits of red onions? They don’t just add jazz to your meals! Onions contain quercetin, which is an antioxidant that may help lower high blood pressure.

Topping this salad with goat cheese, pepitas, and falafels adds in some healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Falafels are made from chickpeas and are a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. This helps you stay full longer and supports digestive health.

Lastly, the creamy avocado dressing ties it all together with heart-healthy fats and a burst of truly amazing flavor, thanks to the avocado and nutritional yeast. If you know me well, you know that nutritional yeast ships to me on auto-ship!

Ok, friends, let’s make this salad!

wellnesslovely

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Falafel Salad Recipe for 2

This recipe makes 2 servings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time for Falafels: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

For the salad

4 cups mixed greens
1 cup purple cabbage, shaved
1/2 cup microgreens
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
2 tablespoons raw pepitas
6-8 falafels, pre-made frozen (I like around 4 small pieces in my salad)

Avocado dressing

1 ripe avocado or 1/2 cup Trader Joe's organic guacamole
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water (adjust to desired consistency)
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions:

Prepare the falafels

Cook the pre-made frozen falafels according to the package instructions. Typically, this involves baking or pan-frying for about 10-15 minutes until golden and crispy. See the package directions. The brand I use in the video takes about 12 minutes at 425 degrees.

Prepare the salad

In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, shaved purple cabbage, microgreens, pepitas, goat cheese, and thinly sliced red onion.

Toss everything together until well-mixed.

Make the dressing 🥑

In a small bowl, mash the avocado or use Trader Joe's guac.

Add the extra virgin olive oil, water, nutritional yeast, onion salt, garlic salt, and lime juice.

Whisk together until smooth and dreamy… I mean creamy. Adjust the water to achieve your desired consistency.

Drizzle the avocado dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat.

and finally….

Enjoy your vibrant and nutritious salad!

Would you add anything else? Let’s share the inspo in the comments!