Falafel Sandwiches

Total Time Prep: 10 min. + standing Cook: 15 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
A homemade falafel sandwich proves a cup of dried chickpeas and a fistful of fresh herbs can outdo your favorite food cart.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried garbanzo beans or chickpeas
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • 2 large tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/2 cup hummus
  • 1/2 large cucumber, sliced thinly
  • 8 small lettuce leaves
  • 1/2 medium red onion, sliced
  • Snipped fresh dill
  • 4 pita bread halves or small flatbread
  • 1/2 cup refrigerated tzatziki sauce

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cover chickpeas with water. Stir in baking soda. Cover; let stand overnight. Drain; rinse and pat dry.
  2. In a food processor, pulse cilantro and mint until finely chopped. Add beans, garlic, salt, pepper, coriander, cumin and chili powder. Pulse until mixture is blended and the texture of coarse meal. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
  3. Stir in sesame seeds and baking powder. Shape into sixteen 2-in. balls; then flatten slightly to form patty shape. In an electric skillet or a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry falafel balls, a few at a time, until golden brown, about 2 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on paper towels.
  4. To assemble sandwiches, spread 2 tablespoons of hummus inside each pita half or on flatbread. Top with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, red onion slices, fresh dill and falafel. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

1 sandwich: 518 calories, 23g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 1199mg sodium, 76g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 20g fiber), 20g protein.

These falafel sandwiches will soon become your favorite answer to "What's for dinner?" The recipe is perfect if you're looking for a delicious vegetarian dinner. —Nithya Narasimhan, Chennai, India
Recipe Creator

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