Falafel is a deep-fried ball, doughnut, or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern food. It is commonly served in a pita or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon. The falafel balls are laid over a bed of salads, pickled vegetables, and hot sauce and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or as part of an assortment of appetizers. Falafel is now found around the world as a replacement for meat and a form of street food.
Recipe: Falafel Pita Sliders
Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 pita half)
Ingredients.
Tahini-Yogurt Sauce:
⅓ cup plain low-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons tahini (roasted sesame seed paste)
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Falafel:
1 ⅓ cups boiling water
⅔ cup uncooked bulgur
2 garlic cloves
⅓ cup fresh parsley leaves
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 large egg white
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas, halved crosswise
1 cup chopped tomato (1 medium tomato)
½ cup thinly sliced English cucumber
⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
Directions.
- Combine the first five ingredients in a small bowl to prepare Tahini-Yogurt Sauce. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- To prepare falafel, combine 1 1/3 cups boiling water and bulgur in a small bowl. Cover and let stand 25 to 30 minutes or until tender. Drain.
- Put garlic through the food chute with the processor on; process until minced. Add bulgur, parsley, cilantro, cumin, red pepper, and chickpeas, and process until smooth. Divide mixture into 8 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place patties on a baking sheet; cover and chill for 30 minutes.
- Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 patties; cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat the procedure with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and 4 patties.
- Spread 1 tablespoon Tahini-Yogurt Sauce inside each pita. Fill each pita half with 2 patties. Divide tomato, cucumber, and red onion evenly among pita halves, and drizzle each with one tablespoon of sauce.
fiber 11g; cholesterol 1mg; sodium 442mg
Resources
1. Falafel, From Wikipedia2. Falafel Pita Sliders