Falafel with Sweet-Tahini Sauce: Vegan Friday Post #1

Posted by Nichole Leigh

As you may surmise from the title of this post, I'm back with a fury! I've really missed writing on Veggie Horizons, so I thought I'd (re)open with a bang. J and I have decided that we eat more cheese than is probably normal or healthy, so we're trying to cut down a little. We don't really consider this change restrictive. It's just a chance to try more vegan recipes!

Anyway, welcome to Vegan Friday! This week's installment features Falafel Patties with Sweet Tahini Sauce, Garlicky Quinoa, and Baked Sweet Potato Wedges. Looks good, huh? For tonight, I'm just going to post the Falafel and Sweet Tahini Sauce recipe, but I'll follow up with the other recipes tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Falafel with Sweet Tahini Sauce

Falafel is generally a mixture of dried chickpeas, herbs, and spices, combined with liquid to make patties (though I have seen some use fresh chickpeas). I make my falafel patties with a dry falafel mix that I get from a wonderful Turkish grocer in Pittsburgh. The proprietor makes the mix himself, and can vouch for its wholesomeness.

If you would like to make your own falafel mix from scratch, I recommend this recipe from the Iraqi food blog, It's Sooo Good. The following describes how to form the patties, followed by the recipe for the sweet-tahini sauce.

This recipe makes three falafel patties and three servings of the sweet tahini sauce. Falafel is traditionally fried, but I brown mine own both sides and throw it in the oven for a lighter version. 

Falafel Ingredients

3/4 cup dry falafel mix

1/4 cup warm water

1 teaspoon olive oil

Falafel Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300F. 

2. Mix together the dry falafel and warm water until the ingredients form a firm batter. Add more water, as necessary, to keep the batter moist. If you don't use enough liquid, the patties will become hard. The mixture should just be able to hold its shape when formed into balls.

3. Divide the batter into three portions, and it into balls. Press each ball with your palm until it forms a patty like the one pictured below.(Wet your hands with a little water if the batter is too sticky.)

4. Heat the olive oil in an oven-proof pan on medium-high. Lay the patties in the pan and allow to brown on each side, about 3 minutes.

5. Put the pan in the oven for another 5-7 minutes to finish cooking the patties. Remove from the oven. They're ready to serve!

Sweet Tahini Sauce Ingredients

2 tablespoons Tahini

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon agave nectar (or honey for a non-vegan version)

1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard

Sweet Tahini Sauce Directions

1. Combine all ingredients. Spoon onto cooked falafel patties. Top with avocado and tomato.

Check back tomorrow for the Garlicky Quinoa and Baked Sweet Potato Wedges! Happy friday!