Falafel and Cucumber Sauce

So, to complete the meal I made Falafel and Cucumber Sauce. I used my yogurt in the cucumber sauce and the pita bread to accompany the falafel. YUM! This was a wonderfully healthy and filling meal. And totally homemade! Proof that you can have wonderfully prepared meals with a busy schedule. It was also CHEAP. I prepared and cooked the falafel and sauce last night after my son went to bed. The pita bread was already made so all I had to do was heat it all up. I found this recipe on Allrecipes the same time I found the pita bread. I took the salt out because the canned chickpeas have enough sodium. I also reduced the amount of cumin because well, I don't like that much cumin. You can increase it to suit your own tastes. I also baked them instead of frying. It's easier (for both clean up and cooking) and healthier.

(Remember, my pita bread wouldn't open, lol. So, I just served it on top of the bread and we folded it to eat :) )

Falafel

• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 dash pepper
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs

Cucumber Sauce

• 1 (6 ounce) container plain yogurt
  
• 1/2 cucumber - peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine yogurt, cucumber, dill, salt, pepper and mayonnaise. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. In a large bowl mash chickpeas until thick and pasty; don't use a blender, as the consistency will be too thin. In a blender, process onion, parsley and garlic until smooth. Stir into mashed chickpeas.
3. In a small bowl combine egg, cumin, coriander, pepper, cayenne, lemon juice and baking powder. Stir into chickpea mixture along with olive oil. Slowly add bread crumbs until mixture is not sticky but will hold together; add more or less bread crumbs, as needed. Form 8 balls and then flatten into patties.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes, flipping the patties half way through. Then, broil on each side for 1-2 minutes. You can skip the broiling but it gives them a nice crispy exterior.