You guys.
Let’s take a moment. What if I told you you could have a delicious pita stuffed with homemade falafel, veggies, tzatziki sauce and hot sauce ready for lunch in 20 minutes flat? Beats canned soup and boring deli sandwiches, that’s for sure.
I’m gushing today over my friend Catherine’s new cookbook, Weelicious Lunches. If you haven’t seen it, you MUST check it out. If all the recipes are half as good as these falafel bean patties, then I don’t even know. Seriously. I get stuck in lunch ruts all the time. Maybe you guys think I eat these super cool lunches every day because I cook for a living but allow me to set the record straight : most days, my lunches consist of a big salad and canned {gulp} soup, egg sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly. I’m about as boring as they come, folks. So, when Catherine sent me her new book, which is filled with more than 160 creative lunch ideas, I was all over it! The recipes are easy, fun and healthy.
Today I’m sharing with you these amazing falafel bean patties straight out of the cookbook! Y’all know how much I adore falafel {the falafel from l’as du fallafel in Paris has been noted as my favorite meal on earth} but it’s not something I usually make at home for myself. I think I was just intimidated by the process. Well…not anymore! I can already tell this will be a staple recipe in my house…especially when stuffed in a loaded down pita.
I’m not exaggerating a bit when I tell you how simple these falafel patties are to make. Literally, you just throw all the ingredients into your food processor….
Give it a big ol’ whirl and bam! Done. Now all you have to do is form the patties and pan sear them in a little canola oil.
Catherine says they freeze and reheat beautifully but I didn’t have any extras this go around to try that myself. Maybe next time!
Like I said, I stuffed my hot falafel patties into a warm whole wheat pita with tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, lettuce and hot sauce. It was heaven. I highly recommend you guys try these out as soon as possible as well as give the new Weelicious Lunches book a go! Especially if you have little ones. Or husbands that take boxed lunches to work every day. π
from Weelicious Lunches
Ingredients:
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
olive or canola oil for pan searing
tzaziki sauce for serving
Directions:
Place all ingredients except for oil and tzatziki sauce in a food processor and process until smooth and combined.
With moist hands, form patties out of 1 tbsp of the falafel mixture. Place on a plate while you form remaining patties.
In a medium saute pan over medium heat, heat about 2 tbsp oil {enough to cover the bottom of the pan}. When hot, add half the patties to the pan and saute for 4 minutes on each side, or until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels while you finish the next batch of patties.
Cool and serve with tzatziki sauce!
Time:
20 minutes
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
October 3, 2013 at 3:40 amI love this idea! I can’t believe how easy it is!!
Mary (Sisters Running the Kitchen)
October 3, 2013 at 4:06 amthese look so simple to make…and delicious! do you make your tzatziki sauce too?
jenna
October 3, 2013 at 11:33 amI didn’t this time around — I used Fage Tzatziki sauce from the store. Catherine has a great recipe for homemade in her cookbook though!
Lauren @ The Highlands Life
October 3, 2013 at 4:10 amSo simple and delicious looking. Right up this momma’s alley. I need to make these for lunch next week.
Danielle
October 3, 2013 at 4:11 amThese sound absolutely delicious! I love falafel but I was always intimidated by making them. Thanks for proving me otherwise. I can’t wait to show them off to my coworkers soon π
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama}
October 3, 2013 at 4:40 amThanks for sharing–I’ve been wanting to check out the Weelicious cookbook. More for myself than my littles. π This looks like my kind of lunch!
Betsy
October 3, 2013 at 4:58 amYUM! I am obsessed with falafel! Now I just need to get a food processor…
Amy Walters, A DESIGN DOCK
October 3, 2013 at 5:29 amI’ve never had a falafel before, and I would have assumed it was beyond my cooking skills, but this one looks super approachable. Thanks Jenna!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
October 3, 2013 at 5:34 amWhat a great, fast, fun option for lunch. Catherine’s ideas are always so fun! Love the bright, fresh, vibrant food colors in this one, too!
Kathleen
October 3, 2013 at 5:40 amTahini sauce??? Where and when…a typo?
Eve & Faye
October 3, 2013 at 6:00 amWow! This looks amazing! We’re always on the hunt for new recipe ideas, especially for lunch time which can get repetitive. We’re going to replace the breadcrumbs with gluten free ones and a get a gluten free pitta bread and do this! π
Eve & Faye x
Sugar Spun Sisters – A blog about cosmetics, clothes & coeliac disease
padma
October 3, 2013 at 6:02 amI love a good falafel, but every time I make them, they turn out so dry. And I’m always disappointed. How do you avoid a problem like dryness?
jenna
October 3, 2013 at 11:32 amHmm…I’m not sure about the dryness but this recipe definitely is not dry if you want to give it a go!
Nicole
October 3, 2013 at 6:07 amFalafel are the best! I made them at home once and loved them…but this recipe will blow those out of the water.
Robyn @thereallife_RD
October 3, 2013 at 6:12 amI love falafel and this looks SO easy! I bet extra would be super yummy with hummus smeared all over the top!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
October 3, 2013 at 6:40 amThis sounds divine Jenna! I lived in the Middle East for 5 years but didn’t have my first falafel till I got back here to Canada (totally crazy, I know!) I can’t believe it, but I absolutely love them now. Sign me up for this recipe! π
Alisha @ Alisha's Appetite
October 3, 2013 at 6:40 amI’ve literally been thinking about making falafels with the can of chickpeas hanging out in my pantry for like a week now!
Stephanie @ Pink Sugar Running Shoes
October 3, 2013 at 6:52 amPinned this one immediately!! I have been on such a chickpeas kick for the last few months now. I will definitely be trying this! Thanks for the awesome recipe π
Laurel
October 3, 2013 at 7:16 amThis couldn’t have come at a better time — not only are we big fans of falafels and will be putting this recipe in queue, but my husband also has been requesting some new ideas for his work lunch pail. This book sounds perfect for new ideas!! Thanks!!
April
October 3, 2013 at 7:33 amI just bought her book yesterday, woot woot! Will put these at the top of the list to make, thank you!!!! And praying my little guy will love it too…
Vicki @ WITK
October 3, 2013 at 8:56 amOoo, I love falafel! Especially ones that are easy to prepare. Thanks for the recipe!
Caroline L.
October 3, 2013 at 10:12 amSoooo close to lunchtime. This is pure torture, Jenna!
Lisa
October 3, 2013 at 10:51 amThis looks yummy! π Can you share the recipe you use for the sauce?
jenna
October 3, 2013 at 11:29 amI just used storebought tzatziki sauce but there’s a great recipe in Catherine’s cookbook if you’re inclined to make your own!
Megan
October 3, 2013 at 10:54 amThis looks amazing and easy! Definitely will be making soon!
Kelly
October 3, 2013 at 11:21 amYummy! I’m a big fan of falafel and this looks delicious. Often when I buy it at a restaurant it’s a little dry and one would think that there would be a solution for that.
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog
October 3, 2013 at 11:55 amThis recipe is just what I’ve been looking for. I’ve wanted to make homemade falafel, but didn’t want to have to deep fry. Looking forward to trying it.
Bryony @ Friday Night Dinners -- PDX
October 3, 2013 at 11:56 amThose look and sound absolutely delicious! I love falafel. Thanks for sharing!
Jillienne @ ChasingRaspberries
October 3, 2013 at 1:17 pmI have never seen falafel look so beautiful! Typically I am not much of a fan of falafel but this recipe makes me want to give it another try! Love the photography! Can I just steal you for a while to take my food photos?! π
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs
October 3, 2013 at 1:54 pmI’ve never tried making falafel before, but I might have to give this recipe a try! Looks delicious!
Amanda
October 3, 2013 at 2:35 pmThese looks amazing! Do you know how to make your own breadcrumbs without buying store bought?
Kimberly
October 3, 2013 at 2:41 pmThese look amazing! There’s this awesome middle eastern deli/restaurant in San Rafael where my fiancΓ© and I go to get falafel wraps (the wraps are delicious and are only $3 a piece!), but we’ll have to try making these at home.
Coty and Mariah
October 3, 2013 at 3:17 pmI absolutely love falafels! Cannot wait to to make this!
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Sandy Coughlin
October 4, 2013 at 7:33 amFalafel?! How fun! These look tasty.
Karena
October 7, 2013 at 12:30 pmThese look amazing! I always thought falafel was a lot harder to make, but this looks easy and healthy! π
taylor
October 7, 2013 at 1:12 pmAny suggestions for an alternative to the breadcrumbs for those not wanting the gluten?
jenna
October 7, 2013 at 1:42 pmQuinoa flakes? I haven’t personally tried that but others have recommended it as a good gluten-free option!
Erina
October 8, 2013 at 6:29 pmMy concern is the binding factor, as in, there doesn’t seem to be any. Do these fall apart easily?
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Catherine
October 22, 2013 at 6:08 amThese were, hands down, delicious. They did not fall apart, were very flavorful and even satisfied my meat loving husband.
Lauren
October 23, 2013 at 5:19 pmI made these a couple nights ago and they turned out great! To answer Erina’s question, they held together just fine. Plus they were super fast to make and dinner was on the table in less than half an hour. Major win!
Julie
October 27, 2013 at 5:48 pmQuick question about the bread crumbs: Are they regular plain bread crumbs? They look so white that they resemble panko bread crumbs. Thanks!
Clara
December 19, 2013 at 11:01 amHi Julie, I made these today, and I used plain breadcrumbs and they came out very nice.
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Doni
October 19, 2014 at 8:21 pmI just bought the book!! I will be making these tomorrow my daughter loves falafel and takes lunch to her college classes on wednesday’s as that is her super late day she is going to love this!!
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