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Make it a Meal
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Wine Pairings
Beans are one of humanity’s earliest cultivated crops, and, in turn, have been critical to the survival of ancient civilizations. Today, many cultures incorporate beans into their trademark dishes. One particular bean dish is falafel, a dish as popular in the Middle East as hamburgers are in the United States.
Preparation facts
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces or 425g) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup (10g) packed parsley leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (1g) ground cumin
3/4 tsp (1.5g) dried oregano leaves
2–3 tsp (10–15mL) lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup (115g) dry plain bread crumbs, divided
1/4 cup (40g) chopped raisins
1 egg yolk
Olive oil cooking spray
Tomato-Cucumber Relish:
1/2 cup (100g) chopped tomato
1/2 cup (75g) chopped cucumber
1/3 cup (80g) fat-free plain yogurt
1/2 tsp (1g) dried mint leaves (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste (sea salt if on a corn-free diet*)
Directions
Process garbanzo beans, onion, parsley, garlic, cumin and oregano in a food processor until smooth; season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup (60g) bread crumbs, raisins and egg yolk.
Form bean mixture into 16 patties, using about 1 1/2 Tbsp (25mL) for each. Coat patties with remaining 1/2 cup (60g) bread crumbs.
Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook falafel over medium heat until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Spray tops of falafel with cooking spray and turn; cook until browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Arrange 4 falafel on each plate; serve with Tomato-Cucumber Relish.
To make Tomato-Cucumber Relish:
Combine tomato, cucumber, yogurt and mint leaves in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
* Allergy notes: People following a corn-free diet should avoid iodized salt since it contains dextrose, which should be avoided by those allergic to corn.
Nutrition facts
Copyright 2007, Healthnotes, Inc., 1505 S.E. Gideon St., Suite 200, Portland, Oregon 97202, www.Healthnotes.com.
2006-09-07
