Falafel Sandwich

Falafel Sandwich will definitely “fill” you up with all the protein you need and make you “feel” healthy for sure! How I wish there were more Falafel sandwich options as there are Subway sandwich options! That would be a real nice addition for those watching weight and trying to lose weight once you hit the middle age! Falafel has a very confused origin, but it favours Egypt, to be the most likely place from where it came, and there it is traditionally known as Tamiya. the word coming from Tam,meaning plenty, and tamiya is also a prominent part of the meals of Gujaratis of Sudan and East Africa! Tamiya though are made purely from Fava bean base. I took some time to cultivate this taste, as I definitely did not like the sesame taste as a young kid, as well as the taste of fava beans. My journey to becoming a Falafel fan started with the Cheap Food Eats at Mamoun’s Falafel. The college kids in SOHO district in Manhattan, which housed the all night open joint of Mamoun’s Falafel are always on the lookout for good cheap eats. I have an old school friend of mine to thank for introducing us to this gem.

Mamoun’s is an extremely small joint with hardly 2-3 tables to sit at MacDougal St in Manhattan. A video on the store can be seen at Mamoun’s at MacDougal. They claim to be one of first ones to introduce Middle Eastern cuisine and Falafel to New York. And their Falafel comes from chickpeas base, and hence I can see why it got such a vast popularity, that it has now four new locations in New Jersey and Connecticut! Way to go for a cheap filling, healthy food place, that 15 years back charged just $2.50 a falafel sandwich, and now is just $3:50! The quality has remained consistent over the years, and this is one place we really miss not going to.

So had to resort to making the same at home, and much easily done when using instant mix of Nirav’s Falafel mix, easily available at Indian Grocery store. The ingredients in the pack include, chickpeas, fava, sesame, onion, garlic and parsley and spices and salt. The whole story of the various versions of falafel as well as the making of falafel from scratch is well explained on this blog http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/01/falafel/ where she mention how originally this started as vegetarian base food only!

This is a very healthy recipe that satisfies your tastebuds, mind and replenish your body and muscles with the great amount of protein in chickpeas, fava beans and yogurt, and the ease with which this is made. makes it a much frequently had meal in our house. Another great point about it is, it]S rainbow color meal, a principle I try to follow, to ensure the different nutrients are consumed via the different color of foods.

Check out the tips section for more options to the balls and sauces to get more unique flavors or get original and try the various version from scratch as detailed in the blogs mentioned above! This can be a very easy party menu, as it is simple to fry the balls before hand and then slice everything and guests can assemble the falafel sandwich according to the sauces and garnishes of their choice. So why not have a fulfilling Falafel flavoured full on party at home?!

FALAFEL SANDWICH

Recipe makes 9 falafel balls

Time to cook 20 min

Ingredients

[/shopeat_ingredients]

1 1/2 cup of Nirav Falafel Mix
Oil for frying
1 1/4 cup of water
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes thinly sliced into half circles
1/2 cup cucumber sliced thin and then further sliced vertical like strips
1 1/2 cup of hummus – my recipe detailed here Hummus Using Canned Chickpeas
salt to taste
8-9 pita or 4 pitas cut into halves( Middle Eastern brand Pitas is what I prefer)

For Tzatziki Sauce

1 medium sized plain greek yogurt or any thick yogurt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated cucumber
salt to taste
2-3 pods of garlic crushed

For Hummus Recipe

Refer my previous recipe of Hummus Recipe Using Chickpeas Canned or Soaked

Method

For Making Falafel

Soak 1 cup of Falafel mix with 1 cup of water and leave it to rest for 30-45 min.

Heat oil for frying on high flame and then reduce it to medium
Using an ice cream scoop drop scoops of mix into the oil.

Fry till golden brown and then flip and cook the other side.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the falafel balls from oil and drain.

For making Tzatziki Sauce

Mix all ingredients and serve.

Serving the Falafel

Cut the pita into halves, and insert your fingers in the half to create a pocket in the middle.

Layer the bottom of the pocket with some hummus.
Layer some tzatziki sauce on top.
Insert couple of falafel balls.

Top it with chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes and thinly sliced cucumbers.

Layer it again with some tzatziki and hummus and sprinkle of salt. Another way of serving is on flat whole pita bread. with falafel , veggies and dressing and fold over and eat.
Or serve just the falafel balls with hummus and tahini sauce. Bon Appetit!!

Tips

If the oil temperature is not right, the falafel balls will be uncooked, and not crispy on the outside and soft to bite. So medium heat, while cooking is essential.

If the mix is too dry, add little water to make it to dropping consistency.

Instinct Factor

If you like sesame seeds on top, use 1 cup water only, and form balls with your hand and then roll it in sesame seeds and fry.

Additional toppings of pickled cucumber, spicy Sriracha sauce are good additions to the falafel sandwich.

I like the pocket pita sandwich but it is also served on a flat pita bread and layer things on top and then folded like a wrap.

Feel Factor

A sandwich of a different kind that is more protein based, cooling, healthy, and tasty as well! It is colorful, makes you feel like you are eating a pakora and yet feel healthy! Crunchy taste of the pakoras with the dressings of hummus, and yogurt based tzatziki is an interesting combination. A definite addition to my monthly menu for the huge protein components that are of high importance for vegetarian diet. And interesting enough. Falafel originated as a vegetarian sandwich and not a meat based so a definite another plus point for me!