Goat Cheese Falafel Pitas Recipes

GOAT CHEESE FALAFEL PITAS

Steps:

• Falafel: sort and wash chickpeas, and place in a large bowl. Cover with water to 2 inches above beans; cover and let stand 8 hours or overnight. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Combine chickpeas and next 11 ingredients (through 2 chopped garlic cloves) in a food processor; pulse 8 to 10 times or until finely chopped. Spoon mixture into a bowl. Add egg whites to chickpea mixture, and stir well. Let stand 15 minutes. Divide mixture into 16 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place patties on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350º for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Relish: combine tomato and next 5 ingredients (through chile).
• Sauce: combine yogurt, goat cheese, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1 minced garlic clove, stirring with a whisk until smooth.
• Place 2 falafel patties in each pita half; spoon about 1/3 cup relish and 2 1/2 tablespoons sauce into each pita half. Serve immediately.

GRILLED PITAS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onions, sugar, salt, and cook stirring frequently, until onions are very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often until onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes longer.
• Preheat grill.
• In a cup stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tarragon, and thyme.
• Brush cut sides of pitas with the herb mixture.
• Sprinkle the goat cheese crumbs over the pitas and top with the caramelized onions.
• Place pitas on grill rack over low heat, and grill until bottoms are crisp and topping is heated through, about 3 minutes.
• To serve sprinkle with parsley and cut into wedges.

EASY FALAFEL PITA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Place the drained chickpeas, the onion and the garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times to combine. Next, add the parsley (or cilantro), seasoning, and spices. Process again until everything is blended, but not pureed. Sprinkle in three TBSP. of flour and the baking powder and pulse to combine. Check the mixture. You want to be able to form a small ball with the mixture, that does not stick to your hands. If necessary, add a little more flour.
• Empty the mixture into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour (or even overnight if you are not ready to cook them).
• Remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Fill a medium skillet (10" - 12") with about ½" olive oil. Form the chickpea mixture into small patties about ½" thick each and set on a plate (I prefer forming patties instead of balls because they cook faster this way).
• Set the skillet over medium to medium-high heat and, when it gets hot, carefully slide the patties into the oil. Shallow fry them in batches, for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown (the time depends on their size). If they cook too quickly, lower the heat.
• Place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain.