Panko Coated Falafal and Greek Salad Pitas
By
Linda Dalton
@Stripey
1
I think the best way to enjoy falafels is in a pita with a Greek salad. Here's my version of this very popular street food. The falafels are baked, not fried, and rolled in panko to give this vegetarian treat a little more pizzaz.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Notes from the Test Kitchen:
These smell - and taste! - divine. A terrific sandwich idea with memorable flavors.
These smell - and taste! - divine. A terrific sandwich idea with memorable flavors.
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp
- canola oil
- 1 can(s)
- 15.5 oz chick peas drained
- 1 small
- onion chopped
- 2 tsp
- garlic chopped
- 2 Tbsp
- all purpose flour
- 1 tsp
- ground coriander
- 1 tsp
- ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp
- ground cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp
- baking powder
- 1/2 tsp
- kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 c
- panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp
- hummus tahini (store bought)
- juice of one lemon
- 2 Tbsp
- light soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp
- toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 c
- canola oil
- 1/2
- cucumber seeded, peeled and diced
- 1
- roma tomato seeded and diced
- 1
- scallion chopped
- 6
- kalamata olives diced
- 4 oz
- feta cheese cubed
- 2 Tbsp
- cilantro chopped
- 4
- 6-8 inch pita rounds
- 8
- bibb lettuce leaves
DRESSING
SALAD
Step-By-Step
1Pre heat oven to 425 degrees. Pour canola oil in baking dish and place in middle rack of oven. While oil is heating, make the falafel mixture. Combine chick peas, onion and garlic in food processor or blender. Add remaining ingredients and whirl until combined.
2Shape mixture into 12 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls and roll in panko. By this time your oven is pre heated and your oil is hot. Place falafel balls in in the pre heated oil and bake 15 minutes. Turn them over and bake another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and keep warm by covering with aluminum foil.
3While falafels are baking, prepare your salad and make the dressing. Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk to combine. Pour half of the dressing on salad, toss and save the rest of the dressing to use at another time.
4Line each of 4 pita breads with lettuce and place 3 falafels on top of lettuce leaves. Top with dressed Greek salad, fold pita and try and get your big mouth around this delicious sandwich. You can do it, I promise.
