Open-Faced Falafel Burgers

15 Reviews
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Randy Mayor
Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 burger)
By Lorrie Hulston Corvin
August 2006
RECIPE BY Cooking Light

These Open-Faced Falafel Burgers are a delicious spin on a Middle Eastern vegetarian sandwich typically stuffed in a pita, but our version offers a more eye-catching presentation. Garnish with parsley.

Ingredients

  • Sauce:
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1/4 cup tahini (sesame-seed paste)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Patties:
  • 1 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs, divided
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • Remaining ingredients:
  • 6 mini pitas (about 5 inches wide)
  • 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 2 cups chopped tomato
  • 2 cups sliced peeled cucumber
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

Nutritional Information

  • Calories 437
  • Caloriesfromfat 24%
  • Fat 11.6g
  • Satfat 1.7g
  • Monofat 4.1g
  • Polyfat 4.6g
  • Protein 14.8g
  • Carbohydrate 70.8g
  • Fiber 9.1g
  • Cholesterol 0.0mg
  • Iron 4.7mg
  • Sodium 903mg
  • Calcium 159mg

How to Make It

Step 1

To prepare sauce, combine the first 5 ingredients in a blender, and process until smooth.

Step 2

To prepare patties, combine 1 cup onion and next 7 ingredients (through 4 garlic cloves) in a food processor, and process until smooth, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Place bean mixture in a large bowl; stir in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Divide bean mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Dredge patties in breadcrumbs.

Step 3

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 patties to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 teaspoons oil and patties.

Step 4

Warm mini pitas according to package directions. Place 1 pita on each of 6 plates. Top each serving with 1/2 cup lettuce, 1/3 cup tomato, 1/3 cup cucumber, and 4 teaspoons onion. Drizzle each serving with about 3 tablespoons sauce; top each serving with 1 patty.

Step 5

Wine note: Light in body and tannin, pinot noir is the perfect red wine for robust vegetarian dishes. These burgers include spices like coriander and cumin, which are echoed in Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir ($15), with its savory nuances and aromas of smoke and dried herbs. Bright fruit and ample acidity help to cut the burgers' rich tahini sauce. -Jeffery Lindenmuth

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Ratings & Reviews

Banderson16's Review

SueBee888
November 13, 2013
The first time we made this, we didn't love the sauce. I imagine this is the only reason it isn't rating as well. I made fresh Tzatziki sauce to go on these, instead. Outstanding! All 4 of my kids love these!!

Candcmama's Review

ozzyfan1125
March 13, 2012
I made the falafel recipe as written and had no problem with them falling apart. My husband and I really liked them, but I thought there was a lot of garlic. Next time I will only put in 1 or 2 cloves in so that my kids will eat it. For the sauce, I followed others advice and gradually added the water, I only used about 1/3 to 1/2 cup. I will defintely make these again!

SOOOOO GOOD!

KatieD8
June 20, 2016
We love this recipe and it beats "store bought" vege burgers hands down. We find that we feel great after a meal with these "burgers".

anasta3d's Review

itsmehg
November 23, 2014
One of the best falafel recipes. More tender result than others.

gidget265's Review

phildynan
July 06, 2014
Husband said - best all veggie meal, ever. BUT - we had this with regular Tzatziki instead of the sauce suggested.

BeccaCurrie's Review

Ndcummings0418
May 24, 2013
I omitted the sauce and finisher. I made the burgers, cooked and stuffed them inside a pita bread half with some romaine lettuce and enjoyed my food that way. I admit, I gobbled up 2 of those babies! They were good! Which amazed me. My husband liked it so much, he gobbled up 2, and one of my sons sort of liked it, but liked the meat burgers better. two sons absolutely hated it, one, so much so, that he tried to hide the burger (17 yrs old)...lol I didn't have garlic or the seasonings, which is probably a good thing, because my family thinks I use TOO much garlic in everything!! LOL Overall I loved this recipe.

unclebernie's Review

sole
February 23, 2013
N/A

liv2bake's Review

BeccaCurrie
January 08, 2012
The patty mix is much too wet, be sure to add the egg as sugested above. Otherwise, a tasty flavor.

itsmehg's Review

Candcmama
September 26, 2011
N/A

ozzyfan1125's Review

liv2bake
August 26, 2011
Turned out great! We skipped doing the sauce and just made the falafel. We had to use more breadcrumbs than the recipe called for.