Tzatziki
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup cucumber, peeled and shredded
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste
Place the yogurt in cheesecloth, tie tightly and leave to drain for at least two hours or overnight.
Place the cucumber in a colander set over a pan and leave to drain for at least two hours or overnight.
Then mix all ingredients together and season to taste.
Draining the yogurt and cucumber is not completely necessary but will give the tzatziki a much thicker texture.
I have been wanting to make, or at least try, falafels for quite some time now. I think the word is just so fun to say! For those of you who aren't sure, falafel kind of rhymes with waffle, and is not pronounced fall-a-fell. Falafels are essentially a Mediterranean-style veggie burger made with chickpeas and enriched with Eastern flavors, and served in a pita bread with vegetables. This version is not deep-fried like some traditional versions, rather this is an incredibly quick and healthy version. It only makes two servings, but quantities can easily be increased. It makes a nice light meal or a nourishing snack. The recipe could also be used as a simple veggie burger recipe.
Falafel
olive oil
1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced or finely chopped
1/2 Tablespoon whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon coriander
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
salt and pepper to taste
whole wheat pita breads
tzatziki
desired garnishes - fresh vegetables, cheese, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice
Heat a little oil medium skillet over medium heat.
In a medium bowl, mash together all falafel ingredients. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to put all the ingredient in, get your hands in there, and mash. It's also fun.
Form mixture into four small patties. Brown in the skillet, a few minutes per side, until golden and cooked.
To assemble: Spread two pita breads with tzatziki. Sprinkle with chopped baby spinach. Place the falafel patties on top. Garnish with cherry tomato halves. Or, use you favorite garnishes and flavorings.
I think my version with tzatziki and spinach and tomato is colorful and extremely tasty. Then again, I've never tried anything else. Tzatziki is a Greek sauce made with yougurt, cucumber, parsely, and lemon. It really adds some nice flavor and is a great source of calcium. The pita could be followed over and eaten like a sandwich, or just as is.
