Vegetarian Falafel Pita Pocket Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

This is a fantastic recipe for making 6 half pita falafel burgers. Once you try in you’ll think to yourself, “vegetarian isn’t all that bad!” I can eat this every day for lunch.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
• 1 large handful parsley, chopped
• 1 cup of bread crumbs or you can make your own.
• 3 to 4 tablespoons flour or whole wheat
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon coriander
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• 1½ teaspoons turmeric
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Milk or Soy Milk for coating
• ½ cup olive oil
• 3 pita pockets, regular or whole whest ,cut in half
• Romaine lettuce, shredded
• ½ seedless cucumber, sliced
• 2 vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced

Tzatziki Sauce

• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced finely
• 1 cup greek yogurt, strained
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh dill
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. white pepper

Preparation:

Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined. Using a whisk, blend the yogurt with the sour cream. Add the olive oil mixture to the yogurt mixture and mix well. Finally, add the cucumber and chopped fresh dill. Chill for at least two hours before serving.

Preheat your over to 350° to heat up the pitas. Drain and rinse the garbanzo (chick peas). Pat the beans dry with a paper towel and place into a food processor. Add in the onion, garlic, parsley, flour, spices and seasonings, and process until fairly smooth and very thick – so you can form patties. Form 6-3 inch patties, cover them and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Place the pita pockets in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, to heat and soften.

Pour 1/4 cup olive oil in a cast iron or regular skillet and bring it up to medium-high heat. Remove the veggie burgers from the freezer. Brush them lightly with milk and dredge carefully coat them with bread crumbs; patting them down to absorb a nice coating. Cook 3 at a time for approximately 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Remove the vegan patties and place on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil. Repeat with the remaining three veggie burgers.

To assemble your falafel vegan pita burger, line the inside of one half of pita with tzatziki sauce, add the veggie burger, tomatoes, romaine and drizzle a little more tzatziki sauce over the top.