Tomato falafel traybake with lemony couscous recipe

Name: Tomato falafel traybake with lemony couscous
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 2 x 400g tins chickpeas, rinsed and drained; 2 spring onions, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 tsp ground cumin; 10g fresh coriander, chopped; 15g fresh parsley, chopped; 1 lemon, zested and juiced; 30g plain flour; 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing; 1 x 440g jar tomato and herb pasta sauce; 200g couscous; ½ vegetable stock cube, made up to 400ml

A fan of falafel? Make this hearty falafel traybake recipe for a comforting vegan dinner idea. Homemade falafel are quick to blitz together, before being baked in tomato sauce and served with herby lemon couscous.

See method

Serves 4
20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook
467 calories / serving

Shop your ingredients

Tesco Chickpeas In Water 400G
Aldi Price Match
2 x 400g tins chickpeas, rinsed and drained
£0.41
£1.71/kg DR.WT
Tesco Bunched Spring Onions 100G
2 spring onions, finely chopped
£0.69
£6.90/kg
Tesco Garlic 4 Pack
Aldi Price Match
2 garlic cloves, crushed
£0.87
£0.22/each
Tesco Ground Cumin 43G
Any 4 for 3 Clubcard Price - Cheapest Product Free - Selected Cooking Ingredients
Offer valid for delivery from 29/09/2026 until 26/10/2026
1 tsp ground cumin
£1.00
£23.26/kg
Tesco Fresh Cut Coriander 30G
Aldi Price Match
10g fresh coriander, chopped
£0.50
£16.67/kg
Tesco Fresh Cut Flat Leaf Parsley 30G
Aldi Price Match
15g fresh parsley, chopped
£0.50
£16.67/kg
Tesco Lemons Each
1 lemon, zested and juiced
£0.37
£0.37/each
Stockwell & Co. Plain Flour 1.5Kg
Aldi Price Match
30g plain flour
£0.70
£0.47/kg
Tesco Olive Oil 250Ml
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
£3.10
£12.40/litre
Tesco Creamy Tomato & Herb Pasta Bake Sauce 500g
Aldi Price Match
1 x 440g jar tomato and herb pasta sauce
£0.69
£1.38/kg
Tesco Mediterranean Style Couscous 110G
200g couscous
£0.75
£6.82/kg
Oxo Ready To Use Stock Signature Vegetable 500ML
Any 4 for 3 Clubcard Price - Cheapest Product Free - Selected Cooking Ingredients
Offer valid for delivery from 29/09/2026 until 26/10/2026
½ vegetable stock cube, made up to 400ml
£2.50
£5.00/litre

Method

Put the chickpeas, spring onions, garlic, cumin, half the coriander and parsley, and half the lemon zest in a food processor. Blend to a coarse paste, but not completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Season the mix well and stir in the flour.
Heat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C. Roll the chickpea mixture into 16 ping pong-sized balls in your hands. Oil your hands to make this easier, if you like. Transfer the balls to a 20 x 30cm baking dish at least 5cm deep. Drizzle over 1 tbsp oil, toss to coat the falafel, then bake for 15-20 mins until firm and crisp.
Spoon the pasta sauce into the dish around the falafel and bake for 15 mins until the sauce has thickened and the falafel look golden.
Meanwhile, put the couscous in a heatproof bowl with the remaining lemon zest, 1 tbsp oil and some seasoning. Pour over the hot stock, cover with a plate and leave to absorb for 10 mins. Once absorbed, use a fork to fluff up and separate the grains. Stir in the lemon juice. Toss most of the chopped herbs through the couscous and scatter the remaining over the falafel bake.