Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce

Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri, 2008

Show: Guy's Big Bite Episode: Middle East Feast

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (24)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(24)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 45 min

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil, plus extra for frying
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (14-ounce) cans chick peas, drained
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 egg
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons flour
2 cups freshly chopped parsley leaves
3/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
Pitas, for sandwich
Toppings: shredded lettuce and chopped tomato, sliced cucumbers
Yogurt Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

In medium skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and sweat onion and peppers 2 to 3 minutes then garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

In a food processor, pulse together chick peas, red chili flakes, ground cumin, the egg, salt and black pepper to form a coarse consistency. Then add flour, parsley, and cilantro. Pulse until mixture starts pulling from the sides of the food processor.

Remove mixture to a large bowl and mix in the onion mixture. Chill falafel until ready to cook.

Roll falafel dough into 1-inch rounds. Then form rounds into an oblong quenelle shape, like a football.

In a thick-bottomed skillet heat 1/2 inch of canola oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Cook falafel balls a few at a time, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Be sure to turn them so they do not burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt while still hot.

Open the pita bread to make pockets. Place 3 to 4 falafels inside. Stuff with lettuce tomato and cucumbers and drizzle sauce generously on the inside. Serve immediately.

Yogurt Dipping Sauce:

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl and chill until ready to use.

Yield: 1 cup

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
SUZANNE Morristown, NJ 03-11-2010
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Salt Overload!!!!
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

The amount given for the salt in the yogurt sauce,whether it's regular or Kosher salt, is way off. My guess is it should have... been 1 teaspoon, certainly not 1 Tablespoon. It ruined our falafel and despite adding more of the other ingredients to compensate, the sauce all ended up in the trash. Read more
recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
Kristen Hoboken , NJ 03-11-2010
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Tasty minus the salt overload in the sauce
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I definitely should have read the reviews before making this dish. The falafels themselves were great (a tad salty but not... crazily so) but the sauce was insanely salty. We just finished dinner and my mouth is dry even though I tried scraping most of the sauce off. In the future I will make this recipe as listed except for the salt. I will add to taste for both the falafel and DEFINITELY the sauce. Read more
recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
Diane Cape Coral, FL 02-25-2010
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very good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

used 2 19oz cans of chickpeas hoping to have enough to freeze. there are none left! they were very good. i wasn't sure... about the texture before they were cooked, seemed very wet, but they turned out crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. i used olive oil to make them healthier. i also added tahini to the yogart sauce because i love tahini. and i also made rachael ray's feta pesto sauce to go with them. yum! a lot of flavor going on.Read more
recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
ROBERT Danbury, CT 02-04-2010
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Added some other ingredients
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Followed the recipe plus added some (1 tsp) of coriander and about the same of Cavenders all purpose Greek seasoning. Adds... more flavor to a great recipe.Read more
recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
Jaime Pompano Beach, FL 12-07-2009
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very tasty
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is very good and moist. Some falafels are dry, but not this recipe. I will definitly make it again!!!!
recipe Falafel in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
jennifer Chippewa Lake, OH 12-03-2009
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What kind of salt??
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but I am definately going to. I just saw this episode this afternoon and although time... consuming, it looks delicious and well worth it. I've read a lot of the reviews here and see that there is a general concensus that it is too salty. I wonder what kind of salt is being used because Guy is probably using Kosher salt, not table salt, which can make a HUGE difference. I only use Kosher salt in my recipes now because I do not like highly salty foods.Read more