Ingredients

Quinoa Falafel (makes about 12)

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 15 leaves mint, thinly sliced
  • 15 leaves basil, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon buckwheat flour
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Avocado Salad

  • ½ small red onion, small dice
  • Several pieces of basil, chopped
  • ½ tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Roasted Beets

Creamy Mint + Basil Dressing

  • ¼ cup almonds
  • ¼ cup cashews
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ⅓ cup basil
  • ⅓ cup mint
  • ¼ olive oil
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt (start with less and add more to taste)

 

Method

For the Quinoa Falafel: 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a food processor or blender, combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, cumin,olive oil, salt and pepper.
  • Scoop into a medium bowl, and add the flour, baking soda, quinoa, mint, and cilantro.  Stir well.
  • Use a tablespoon to scoop out the mixture, and gently shape into balls.
  • Cook for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through so they are evenly browned. You will need to use a spatula to flip them since they stick to the parchment just slightly.  Be gentle and they will hold together nicely.
  • Enjoy with the below!

For the Avocado Salad

In a medium bowl, combine the red onion,  basil, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepperl Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Score the inside of the flesh with a knife, taking care not to cut through the skin.  Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh.  Toss it into the bowl and gently stir everything to combine.  Check for seasoning, and adjust as needed.

For the Creamy Mint + Basil Dressing

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or high speed blender until well combined. These measurements are approximate (I kept adding more as I went).  Since it is a dressing, you can adjust to your taste and add more/less water depending on how thick you want it!