Gluten Free Falafel Bowls

Ingredients

Cooking specialties from around the world requires expanding your pantry. Rather than looking at the ingredient list and thinking of what you don't have, look and see what you're excited to buy and try!

• Cooked rice or quinoa - Use the grain of your choice, freshly cooked or leftover.

• Fresh spinach or arugula - A little green adds variety, lots makes it more salad like.

• Homemade falafel balls - When I always make the whole recipe and freeze some. It is a time commitment but note to self, the chickpeas are simply soaked, there is no cooking required.

• Raw veggies: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and radishes are my choice.

• Baked, grilled or roasted: Peppers, zucchini &/or eggplant.

• Garnishes: Kalamata olives (essential), seasoned roasted chickpeas, fresh parsley are optional.

• Tahini - This is a single ingredient, just sesame seeds ground to a paste. If the label has anything else on it look for another brand.

• Pomegranate molasses - Similar to balsamic glaze, this is an ingredient worth finding. I've got more ways for you to use it.

• Ground sumac - Find this spice at a Mediterranean food shop.

• OPTIONAL: Pork or chicken souvlaki with za'atar spices (recipe below).

See recipe card for full ingredient list and exact amounts.

Ingredients: Homemade Za'atar Spice Blend

Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend that includes sumac, a spice you might not have (yet). Like all spice blends I make them from scratch because I have all the spices in my kitchen and it helps keep everything in my pantry moving. This is the recipe I use but to keep the recipe card for this bowl easy to follow I simply put this into the notes section.

• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• ​​​​​​​1 Tbsp ground cumin
• ​​​​​​​1 Tbsp ground coriander
• ​​​​​​​1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• ​​​​​​​1 Tbsp sumac
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon chile flakes

Instructions: How To Serve Falafel Bowls

The beauty of food bowls is that you can change the ingredients based on what's in your fridge, what's in season and what you like. Similar to charcuterie boards, variety is the key.

Family Style Bowls

For everyday meals prepare the basic bowl with a few ingredients like rice, spinach and falafel balls. This step is perfect when you want to divide the last 12 falafel balls out of the freezer or even some leftover rice. Serve the remaining ingredients, with or without skewers of meat, at the table family style.

DIY Bowls

For DIY bowls create a gorgeous buffet or simply take the lid off a large plastic container at a picnic or barbecue. This is ideal for groups with different dietary needs and preferences. Serve the sauces at the table so no one has to get up for more of that deliciousness. (I'm that person who always wants more sauce.)

Get The Pantry Stocked

Some dishes require new tools, some require new ingredients. I bought all these ingredients locally but Amazon never ceases to amaze, even a sesame free za'atar!

• Tahini (sesame seed paste)
• Pomegranate molasses on Amazon
• I made my own za'atar but you can order za’atar spice blend and even a sesame free za'atar.
• In researching for a recent episode of A Canadian Celiac Podcast, I found gluten free falafel mix in a box. Someone reading wanted to know that!

Variations & Substitutions: K.I.S.S.

Keep it Simple & Safe is my GF interpretation of the acronym, K.I.S.S. Here are three ways to enjoy this idea in half the time.

• Serve falafel balls with meat skewers and a big Greek Summer Salad.
• Top a bowl with rice, spinach and falafel balls with only one of the dressing options.
• Create a falafel salad starting with a bowl of lettuce or spinach, top with falafel balls, cherry tomatoes and one other vegetable (peppers, radishes or cucumber).

More Uses for Middle Eastern Ingredients

If you bought ground sumac, tahini or pomegranate molasses here are some ways to enjoy them and keep your pantry ingredients moving.