Quick Seafood Falafel Bowls
Craving that Middle Eastern flavor but don't have time to prep chickpeas? This swap is your shortcut.
Look, traditional falafel takes forever because of the soaking and grinding. When you're exhausted, that's a non-starter. We’re swapping those labor-intensive chickpeas for protein-packed seafood—think shrimp or firm white fish—tossed in a bold Middle Eastern spice blend. It gives you all those earthy cumin and coriander notes with a satisfying crunch, but finishes in about 15 minutes. Serve it over a quick pouch of rice or just on its own with a dollop of yogurt. It’s high-impact flavor for the days when your brain is mush and you just need something delicious to land on your plate fast.
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp — peeled and deveined
- 1.5 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 0.5 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup cucumber — diced
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes — halved
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley — chopped
Method
- 1 Pat the seafood dry with paper towels. This is crucial to ensure they sear rather than steam.
- 2 In a large bowl, toss the seafood with olive oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- 3 Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned seafood and spread it out in an even layer.
- 4 Cook for 5-7 minutes (depending on protein type), flipping halfway through, until the exterior is golden and charred.
- 5 While the seafood cooks, toss the cucumber, tomatoes, and parsley together in a small bowl with a squeeze of lemon juice if you have it handy.
- 6 Remove the seafod from the pan and serve immediately over greens or rice, topped with the fresh salad mix.
Variations
- Vegetarian Swap — Replace the seafood with 1 lb of extra-firm tofu cubes, pressed and patted dry.
- The 'No Chop' Version — Skip the fresh salad mix; serve the seasoned seafood over a bag of pre-mixed salad greens with some hummus.
Notes
If using white fish (like cod or tilapia), ensure they are cut into 1-inch chunks so they cook as quickly as the shrimp.
Equipment that helps
- Large Skillet — Provides enough surface area to sear the seafood quickly without crowding the pan.
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