Falafel & Pita
INGREDIENTS
  • Falafel:
  • 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large egg
  • 15-ounce can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup panko
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/8 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Sauce:
  • Dash of ground allspice
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame-seed paste)
  • 2 garlic clove, minced
  • Remaining ingredients:
  • Pita bread, sliced in half
  • Lettuce leaves
  • Slices of tomato
  • Slices of cucumber
  • Olives (optional)
DIRECTIONS
  1. To prepare falafel, place first 9 ingredients in a food processor; process mixture until smooth. Divide mixture into 16 equal portions, and shape each portion into a 1/4-inch-thick patty. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties, and cook 5 minutes on each side or until patties are browned.
  2. To prepare sauce, combine yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and 1 garlic clove, stirring mixture with a whisk. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini sauce into each pita half. Fill each pita half with veggies and falafel.
RECIPE BACKSTORY
My husband is Lebanese and this is an adaptation of his family recipe.