Description
Enjoy a taste of Middle Eastern street food at home with these easy-to-make Falafel Pitas, complete with a creamy tahini sauce. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these falafel are perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, for frying
- 4 pita breads
- For the Tahini Sauce:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2-4 tablespoons cold water, to thin
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the chickpeas a few times until they are roughly chopped, not pureed.
- Add the parsley, cilantro, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper to the food processor. Pulse until the mixture is well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the flour until it forms a cohesive mass.
- Form the mixture into about 8 small patties or balls.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Carefully place the falafel in the hot oil and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy. Cook in batches if necessary.
- While the falafel are cooking, prepare the tahini sauce: whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Gradually add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Season with salt.
- Warm the pita breads slightly.
- Assemble the pitas by filling each one with falafel, a drizzle of tahini sauce, and any other desired toppings like lettuce, tomato, or cucumber.
Notes
- For extra crispy falafel, you can chill the formed patties for 30 minutes before frying.
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can mash the chickpeas with a fork and finely chop the herbs and onion by hand.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your spice preference.
- Other serving suggestions include a sprinkle of sumac or a dollop of plain yogurt.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pita with 2 falafel