Chickpea burgers/tacos/flat falafels/wraps/whatever
I’m not sure really what to call these because I ate them a couple different ways and they’re similar to a couple different standard dishes.
Originally, I was looking for a new way to use chickpeas. I love hummus and all, but something a bit more substantial would be nice, ya know? So when I ran across these, we thought they’d be worth a shot. They’re called burgers there, but tucked into a pita with a yogurt/tahini sauce and sprouts….which sounds a lot more like a larger, flattened falafel to me.
Anyway, it was worth a shot. We soaked and cooked the chickpeas (why use canned when the dry ones are so freakin’ cheap and easy to do yourself?). I had every intention of making some pitas….but then, well, didn’t. And for the same reason of time constraint, we couldn’t really throw together a loaf of bread either.
But corn tortillas I could do! Five minutes to mix and let set, and then another 2-3 per tortilla for frying? Easy peasy.
Here’s what they should look like before ^….and then below is what they should look like after. Well, minus the bleh lighting. Take note in the above one that it’s on half a ziploc bag. Best trick ever for using a tortilla press…..slit a plastic bag in half and place your tortillas in between there.
This one was caught bursting with smiles…or something cheesy like that:
Oh, and just so you know… If you try to rush to finish a sauce while you leave one in a pan too long, it burns. It’s still edible when it’s brown like this, but it smells exactly like burnt popcorn. Can’t imagine why… :P
Even though I didn’t have time to make pitas, I apparently had time to let my yogurt strain.
This is to let a lot of the liquid drain out, leaving you with a thick, creamy, almost greek yogurt texture to use for a sauce.
Put a layer of cheesecloth in a strainer and let it sit for a couple hours (or overnight in the fridge even if you want). Use plain yogurt, not vanilla, and if you’re one of those people who don’t like to use full fat, real yogurt, be prepared for a lot of liquid in your 2% milk versions:
^ That’s a ton of liquid in that bowl considering I was only straining a cup of yogurt.
The burgers were a cinch to throw together. All the ingredients got tossed into the food processor and because I apparently left the chickpeas too hot, the mixture was put in the fridge for a few minutes to harden up. It was just enough to form several little patties without them falling apart.
Made the sauce while the tortillas and burgers were frying, and it all came together nicely.
Eaten like this, they were definitely more like falafel taco combos, but were delicious beyond my expectations. The burgers were thin/thick enough to be soft on the inside but crispy on the outside. I could’ve gone for some lettuce or sprouts in them as well, but I had already devoured two wraps, plus some extra patties on the side before I thought to add anything else.
Wanna make your own? Here are the recipes for everything above:
Chickpea burgers – Inspired by Eating Well
- 1 19-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed – We used a couple cups of fresh ones
- 4 green onions, trimmed and sliced
- 1 egg
- 2-4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Some oregano – I don’t know how much
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil – for frying
- Seems like we added some hot sauce, too…like some chili garlic paste….because the original recipe called for cumin as well, but meh…..add what you want…it’ll be amazing regardless
Place everything but the oil into your food processor and pulse. You could also mash the chickpeas by hand with a fork, but it’ll take longer….then add your other ingredients. Expect a lumpier, coarser mix this way, but the idea is the same.
If using a food processor, stop a couple times to scrape down the sides and check to see if the mixture holds together. If it’s too wet, add a bit more flour. It should be moist, but it should hold shape, too, so if it’s falling apart from being too dry or wet, add ingredients accordingly. If the mixture feels excessively warm from handling, toss it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.
Heat oil over medium-high heat in your favorite pan. Form chickpea mixture into whatever size patties you prefer. Cook 2-3 minutes per side….or until they’re brown and to your desired crispiness…which is of course going to vary, depending on the size of your burgers/patties.
Tzatziki Sauce – Inspired by All Recipes
This isn’t authentic tzatziki, but I didn’t want the tahini sauce that the previous recipe suggested, so I combined a few tzatziki recipes for this.
1 cup plain yogurt (strain if you don’t want it to be runny) 1 clove crushed garlic 1/4 teaspoon salt Some black pepper 1/2 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, shredded Again, this was done in the food processor to make it fast. To cut down on liquid again, slice or shred your cucumber a bit in advance, lay out on a plate, and sprinkle with salt. When you’re almost ready to use it, rinse and squeeze it dry. It’ll retain a bit of the salt, so watch out when it comes to adjusting your recipe, but much of the moisture will be removed. Then pulse everything and refrigerate while you wait.
Corn tortillas – Inspired by the bag of masa :P
- 1 cup masa harina
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/8 tsp. salt
Combine and mix thoroughly for 2 minutes. if dough is dry, add more water (about a teaspoon at a time). They should hold their shape, but not stick to your hand. If you pinch off a piece and roll it into a small ball, press it flat between your thumb and finger….if the edges crack, add a little more water.
Divide into 8 equal balls. Cover with a damp cloth to keep them moist. Let set for a few minutes while you prepare your tortilla press.
Heat ungreased griddle skilled on med-high. Cook them one at a time for about a minute, then turn and cook for another minute. Depending on the heat of your skillet, you may find you need another minute per side. They’re done when they start showing slight brown marks like in the first picture of my cooked tortillas above. The second side may not brown the same because the edges sometimes start to curl and not all parts will touch the pan.
(The browned marks on this tortilla even lined up to be the perfect nose as I was putting my falafel tacos together, hehe)
Enjoy!
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Shelby
November 5, 2011
I love this recipe and I love your cute little Falafel taco!