Falafel

To know falafel is to love falafel. It is the original veggie burger, older than you or me, or any hippie from the 70s. It's a chickpea pattie, seasoned with spices, herbs and garlic. It can be pan-fried or deep-fried, served on a pita as a sandwich or alone with a dipping sauce. We love them. I came across this recipe from Cooking Light for a falafel sandwich served on a whole wheat pita with tzatziki sauce and we had to give it a try. It is really delicious, easy to make and HEALTHY. Each sandwich is coming in at around 220 calories, so you can eat two and not feel guilty. I served mine with a slaw, dressed with a greekish dressing (red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, some dried oregano and a little feta all whisked together.) It was a nice, crunchy, tart counterbalance to the spicy, beany sandwich with a cool, creamy sauce. These are a definite "make again." They come together quickly too, but you'll benefit from making the sauce a little in advance because the flavors develop as it thickens up. Greek yogurt is a must here. Fage is the best.