The nice thing about making your own curry paste is that like anything homemade, not only is it far fresher than anything store-bought, but it is also completely customizable. This really makes a difference when it comes to heat level. I consider this recipe as written to be about a “medium” heat level. For “mild” omit the jalapenos, and for “hot” use 3 jalapenos and add 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or to taste).

Quite possibly one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. Imagine if you will, plunging your spoon through a crispy layer of caramelized sugar to expose a silky layer of frozen creme brulee ice cream beneath. Oh yea baby, this recipe is worth every single calorie-laden bite. Break out the kitchen torch! Your family and friends are going to flip over this one.

Recipe

Baked Falafel Pitas

by janecooks on April 15, 2011 in Legumes, Main Courses

5.00 Mitt(s) 6 Rating(s)

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Recipe Description

These healthy chickpea cakes have zesty Middle Eastern flavor and are a great, quick dinner-time treat when tucked into a pita! My meat-loving fiance doesn’t even miss the meat in this flavorful, filling meal!

Preparation Instructions

Throw the chickpeas, flour, parsley, and spices into a food processor and pulse until well blended—or mash up chickpeas with a fork or potato masher and mix in spices. Then form small patties out of the chickpea mixture, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick.

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and place chickpea patties on a lightly greased pan and pop into the oven for 15–20 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together the tahini and lemon juice and set aside with your other toppings (tomatoes, feta, and lettuce). When the patties are done, put them in a pita with plenty of toppings, and enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cans (15 Oz. Size) Chickpeas
3 Tablespoons Flour
3 Tablespoons Parsley (optional)
4 cloves Garlic
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
2 teaspoons Ground Coriander
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
½ teaspoons Salt
1 dash Black Pepper
4 Tablespoons Tahini
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
3 whole Tomatoes, Diced
1 block (8 Oz. Size) Feta Cheese, Crumbled
1 head Lettuce
12 whole Small Pitas

6 Reviews | Be the first to review!

Reviews

dangerouslydomestic on 4.27.2011

These were so, so good! Crispy on the outside and creamy, savory on the inside. I loved that I could enjoy falafel without having to consider how they’re a fried food. I served them with tzatziki which was a great cool accompaniment.

Katie on 7.3.2011

For not being fried, these were great! They were a little on the dry side which made them a bit difficult to work with, but I’ve never made falafel myself before, so that might be exactly how they’re supposed to be. The taste was delicious — instead of the tahini sauce, which I’m sure is wonderful, we made tzatiki using: 1 peeled and shredded cucumber, 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp. salt. You could also add 1 tsp. fresh mint if you have it.

Overall, this was a great, healthy dinner, and my husband said he didn’t even miss the meat!

Sarah Jo on 8.25.2011

These were so tasty! Made these along with Ina Garten’s tzatziki sauce and it was delicious! Just the right mix of wet and dry to make patties that stayed together. This will go in our regular rotation–it’s much easier to bake than fry the falafel.

ThreeManyCooks on 2.13.2012

These were so delicious. And hard to believe they are healthy too! Thanks for this great recipe, I’ll be using it again and again.

caroline37s on 7.8.2012

Very tasty and easy! I did add a few tablespoons of water to the paste, and a splash of lemon juice, as it was too dry. Also did the tzatziki sauce, instead of the lemon/tahini, which I didn’t care for. I’m a fry-a-phobe, so being able to bake these tasty treats was fantastic!

Jess on 2.23.2013

LOVED these. I’ve never thought to make falafel at home, but this baked version seemed totally do-able. The falafel was creamy and savory, and came together in a snap. I did make the tahini/lemon sauce (I had to thin it out with a few tablespoons of water), and it was great, though I bet the tzatziki sauce mentioned by other reviewers would be a nice twist too. Thanks!

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