Yummy Baked Falafels with Fattoush salad

Falafel is a popular ancient Egyptian dish that is now loved by the Middle East and the rest of the world too! While mostly fried, these taste equally delicious if baked too! Here is a great recipe I found on the web with a little twist of my own on the serving style. Hope you enjoy it!

INGREDIENTS

For the Falafel :

3 cups boiled chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 cup chopped red onion

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

1/4 cup loosely packed parsley

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Fattoush salad:

4 cucumbers, chopped

2 medium/large tomatoes, seeded & chopped

1/2 medium red onion, halved & thinly sliced

3 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1-2 garlic cloves, pressed

1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried mint

salt & pepper to taste

For serving:

Lettuce leaves

Homemade hummus

Hung curd

Paprika

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the chickpeas, red onion, garlic and parsley in a mortar and pestle. Mash until crushed down to a thick chunky consistency.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the remaining ingredients (through to baking soda). Mix well.
Form the falafel mixture into patties. Make small, thick patties as it makes it easier to flip them and they hold together better.
Place the patties on a plate, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or, you can stick the patties in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
Preheat the oven. Remove falafel patties and space them out evenly on a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for about 20 minutes and then flip carefully. If any of the patties fall apart a little, you can carefully use the spatula and your hand to smush them back together.
Bake another 10-15 minutes, until brown and firm.
Remove the falafel patties and keep warm on a pan.
For the fattoush salad, combine all the ingredients. Balance the seasoning and keep aside. Make sure the salad is chilled.
For serving, place a nicely washed lettuce leaf at the bottom. Place the patties and drizzle with hummus and hung curd. Sprinkle some paprika and spoon some fattoush salad on the side.
Hot tasty falafels are ready to serve.