Ingredients
Falafel
- 8-12 premade falafel balls or patties
Salad Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce, chopped vertically and horizontally to make bite-sized pieces
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 small carrot, grated
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ⅔ cup black olives, sliced
- ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 handful cilantro (fresh coriander), finely chopped
Harissa Ranch Dressing
- 4 tbsp sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp harissa paste
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp onion powder
- 0.25 tsp dried parsley
- 0.25 tsp dried dill
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine sour cream or Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, harissa paste, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried dill, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth and set aside to let the flavors meld.
- Cook the falafel: Heat the premade falafel according to package instructions, typically by baking or pan-frying until crispy and heated through. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped lettuce, diced red pepper, grated carrot, quartered cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, crumbled feta, and finely chopped cilantro. Toss gently to combine the vegetables evenly.
- Assemble the salad: Drizzle the prepared Harissa Ranch dressing over the mixed salad ingredients and toss gently to coat everything evenly with the flavorful dressing.
- Serve: Plate the dressed salad and top with the warm falafel balls or patties. Serve immediately while falafel is still warm for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing option.
- Adjust the amount of harissa paste to control the heat level of the dressing.
- For gluten-free diet adaptations, ensure premade falafel are gluten-free or make your own falafel from scratch using chickpea flour.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness of vegetables and crunchiness of falafel.
- Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving can enhance the salad’s brightness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegetarian
