Makes 20 falafel patties
Stuff a piece of whole wheat pita bread with these baked falafel patties for a delicious “Middle Eastern Taco.”
1 potato, diced
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained
1 small onion, finely chopped
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed butter)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
⅛ teaspoon cayenne
Pita bread
Garnishes: lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green onions
salsa (optional)
Steam the diced potato over boiling water until soft. Place the drained garbanzo beans in a bowl, add the cooked potato, and mash. Add the onion, parsley, garlic, tahini, soy sauce, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and cayenne. Mix well.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Form the garbanzo mixture into small (walnut-sized) patties and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn with a spatula and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Warm the pita bread in foil in the oven, or by steaming it, or heating it briefly in a microwave oven. Stuff two or three falafel patties into the warm pita bread and garnish with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and green onions. Top with salsa if desired.
Per falafel: 214 calories; 8 grams protein; 39 grams carbohydrate; 2 grams fat; 260 mg of sodium; 0 mg carbohydrate
Tip: Fantastic Foods makes an excellent instant falafel mix: just add water and let it stand a few minutes, then form into patties and bake as above.