Lightened Up Falafels

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 large egg
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained (garbanzo beans)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame-seed paste)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 whole wheat pita bread, cut in half
• lettuce
• tomato, sliced
• cucumber, sliced

Recipe

• 1 to prepare falafel, place the first 8 ingredients in a food processor, process until mixture is smooth. divide the mixture into 16 equal portions and shape each portion into a 1/4-inch thick patty. heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium0high heat. add the patties and cook 5 minutes on each side or until patties are browned and crispy.
• 2 for the sauce, combine yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and 1 garlic clove, stirring mixture with a whisk. spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons tzatziki sauce into each pita half. fill each pita half with lettuce, tomato and cucumber slices and two patties.