Like so many others, I wanted to start the New Year with a reinvigorated drive to focus on my health and wellness in 2026 by eating cleaner, moving my body more, getting an appropriate amount of sleep and continuing to check in on my mental health as often as I could so that I wasn’t getting overly stressed or burnt out. However, I also understand that this is often a lengthy process that takes dedication and, most importantly, consistency – and that results don’t just simply happen overnight.
So for my first shared recipe post of 2026, I wanted to give the details of a salad recipe I’ve been enjoying in recent days/weeks – and one that is completely customizable based on your tastes and preferences (the one pictured, for example, also features some leftover maple-glazed carrots I had in my fridge on top of the other ingredients noted below.)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
4 SERVINGS:
FOR THE SALAD:
- 1 bunch green-leaf lettuce, cored and chopped
- 1 head radicchio, cored and chopped
- 1 cucumber, seeded and chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped mint
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 16 homemade falafel (or premade)
FOR THE YOGURT SAUCE:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
1. MAKE THE YOGURT SAUCE. In a small bowl, stir the yogurt with the lemon juice and salt to combine. Add the Sriracha and paprika. Stir in ¼ cup water (or more, if needed) to achieve a thin, easy-to-drizzle consistency.
2. MAKE THE SALAD. In a large bowl, toss the lettuce and radicchio to combine.
3. In a medium bowl, toss the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro and mint to combine. Add the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. To serve, pile a quarter of the lettuce mixture onto a plate, then top with about ½ cup of the cucumber-tomato mixture. Top with 4 falafel patties and drizzle generously with yogurt sauce. Repeat with the remaining portions. Serve immediately.
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I could legitimately eat this every day for weeks on end and not get sick of it, and adding a protein like shredded chicken or tuna is a simple extra step you can take for more flavor, texture and dietary benefits.
But this one has me feeling good each and every time I eat it – and has been fueling me to get to the gym or head out for long walks and stretches in the snow this month!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 