BAKED FALAFEL & CAULIFLOWER TABBOULEH, GREEN TAHINI SAUCE & CHARRED SPRING ONIONS

Baked falafel & cauliflower tabbouleh, green tahini sauce & charred spring onions image

Forget soggy sandwiches for lunch and try these easy falafels, served with delicious cauliflower tabbouleh, tahini sauce and charred spring onions

Provided by Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

400g can chickpeas , drained (or 85g dried chickpeas soaked in 500ml cold water overnight, then drained)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
½ small red onion , chopped
2 garlic cloves , roughly chopped
1 tbsp sesame seeds
½ tsp baking powder (gluten free if you like)
small bunch parsley , stalks and leaves separated, leaves chopped
1 tbsp olive oil , plus 1 tsp
½ small cauliflower , cut into florets
½ small bunch mint , leaves chopped
1 lemon , juiced
6 spring onions , kept whole, topped and tailed
handful rocket
½ small bunch coriander , stalks and all
2 tbsp tahini

Steps:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Tip the chickpeas, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp ground coriander, cayenne pepper, red onion, 1 garlic clove, sesame seeds, baking powder, parsley stalks and ½ tbsp water into a food processor. Blitz until everything is combined but not mushy - you want the falafel to have some texture, rather than being like hummus. Season to taste, then roll into 18 even-sized balls. Flatten each ball into a disc shape and put them on the baking sheet (the more surface area the crisper they will become). Brush them with ½ tbsp oil. Bake for 20 mins, turning halfway, until golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, clean out the food processor. Briefly pulse the cauliflower until you have a 'couscous' consistency. Mix the cauliflower with the remaining ground spices, ½ tbsp olive oil and seasoning. Tip onto a baking tray and roast for 10-12 mins, stirring occasionally, until slightly toasted. Once cool, mix through the chopped parsley, mint and half the lemon juice. Season to taste.
Heat the grill to high (this can be done the night before, if you like). Brush the spring onions with 1 tsp oil, season, then grill until soft and charred for around 5 mins, turning halfway.
Meanwhile, blitz the rocket, coriander, remaining garlic, lemon juice and 1 tbsp water together in a food processor until bright green. Put the tahini in a bowl, then gradually whisk in the herby water until the tahini loosens to a sauce consistency. Season to taste.
Divide the green tahini and spring onions between the baked falafel and tabbouleh in bowls.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 447 calories, Fat 25 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 30 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 14 grams fiber, Protein 19 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium