Falafel with tzatziki sauce
4 servings
30 minutes
Falafel with tzatziki sauce is a refined blend of Eastern traditions and European flavors. Originating from the Middle East, falafel is made from chickpeas with aromatic spices, creating a crispy crust outside and a tender texture inside. Its rich nutty flavor is complemented by the freshness of herbs and the spiciness of garlic. The tzatziki sauce from Greece makes the dish even more harmonious—a yogurt base with crunchy cucumbers and fragrant herbs refreshes and softens the richness of the spices. It’s an ideal dish for a vegetarian diet, rich in protein and flavor. Falafel can be served as an appetizer, in pita or on a plate with salad, while tzatziki will be a great addition not only to it but also to other Mediterranean dishes.
1
Chickpeas should be soaked for at least 8 hours, preferably 10. This allows them to absorb water and swell well. So it's better to do this overnight.
2
Woke up. Rinsed the chickpeas with cold water and let them drain in a colander.
3
Now the chickpeas need to be ground. This can be done with a blender, food processor, or meat grinder. The last one is even more convenient.
4
Then add to the mixture pureed onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 3 bunches of parsley and cilantro, cumin, and tahini. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Onion: 100 g
- Garlic: 5 clove
- Parsley: 5 bunch
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 5 bunch
- Cumin seeds (jeera): 10 g
- Tahini: 3 tablespoons
5
Roll balls from the prepared mass and send them to hot oil. Fry until they turn brown.
6
For tzatziki sauce, finely chop two cucumbers, garlic, parsley, and cilantro, and mix them into yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cucumbers: 2 pieces
- Garlic: 5 clove
- Parsley: 5 bunch
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 5 bunch
- Greek yogurt: 250 g