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FALAFEL PITA SANDWICH

mayurisjikoni
Falafel Pita Sandwich is a quintessential sandwich from the Middle Eastern Cuisine. Falafel along with tomato, cucumber, salad are stuffed in pita pockets and served with either hummus or tahini sauce.
5 from 13 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
RESTING/ SOAKING TIME 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 35 minutes
Course Light Meal, Snack
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

FOR THE WHOLEWHEAT PITA BREAD:

  • 2½ cups wheat flour atta
  • 1 cup plain flour all purpose flour
  • 1-1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp instant dry active yeast
  • 1- 1¼ cups warm water
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • extra flour for dusting

FOR THE FALAFEL:

  • 1 cup chickpeas dried
  • 1 small onion peeled and chopped roughly
  • 4-6 cloves garlic peeled
  • ¼ cup coriander chopped
  • ¼ cup mint chopped
  • ¼ tsp soda bicarbonate baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp coarse pepper powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • ½ -1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • oil for deep frying

FOR THE SPINACH HUMMUS:

  • 1 cup chickpeas cooked
  • 1 cup spinach roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup sesame seeds roasted
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • 10-12 mint leaves
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2-4 tbsp olive oil

FOR THE SALAD FILLING:

  • 1 medium English Cucumber sliced
  • 1-2 large tomatoes sliced
  • 2 handfuls salad leaves
  • 1 cup spring onion chopped

Instructions
 

PREPARATION OF WHOLEWHEAT PITA BREAD:

  • Sieve both the flours with salt.
  • Add sugar and yeast and mix.
  • Add oil and rub into the flour.
  • Make a dough using the warm water.
  • Knead the dough for 10 minutes till it is smooth.
  • Form a ball, smear oil over it and put in a greased bowl. Cover with cling film and let it rise till its double the size. This will take about 1½ hours.
  • Punch the dough down gently. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
  • Divide the dough into 8-10 parts.
  • Roll each part using flour into an oval shape, approx. 4" X 6" and about ¼ of an inch thick.
  • Place the rolled pita on a greased baking tray. Rest the rolled pita for 5 minutes.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • In between turn them over. They should puff up.
  • After 10 minutes remove from the oven.
  • Bake the remaining pita if any are left.
  • Cover the pita bread with a cloth till required.
  • If you like you can cook the rolled pita bread on a griddle pan instead of the oven.
  • Cook till bubbles appear on the bread and then flip it over. It does puff up on its own.

PREPARATION OF FALAFEL:

  • Soak chickpeas for the falafel overnight or for 6 hours in warm water.
  • Drain out the water using a sieve or colander.
  • Wash the chickpeas under running water.
  • Process the chickpeas in a food processor along with chopped coriander, mint, garlic, onion to get a coarse batter or mixture.
  • Add salt, baking soda, pepper, cayenne, cumin, coriander powders, sesame seeds.
  • Mix the batter well.
  • Divide the batter or mixture into 12-14 parts.
  • Shape the falafel into balls or discs. I prefer flattened discs as it makes it easier to stuff them into the pita bread.
  • Heat the oil for frying over medium heat.
  • To test if the oil is hot, drop a small piece of batter in the oil. If it comes up immediately then the oil is ready.
  • Deep fry the falafel, turning them over frequently with a slotted or spider spoon. Fry them till they become golden brown in colour.
  • Repeat with the remaining falafel.

PREPARATION OF SPINACH HUMMUS

  • Process all the ingredients in a food processor or liquidizer.
  • Remove into a serving bowl.
  • Top with extra olive oil If you wish.

TO SERVE:

  • Warm the pita bread on both sides under a hot grill or a griddle pan.
  • Cut into half.
  • Smear the inside of the pita pockets with hummus.
  • Arrange tomato and cucumber slices in the pocket.
  • Add a falafel.
  • Top with salad leaves and chopped spring onion.
  • Serve falafel pita sandwich with extra hummus on the side

Notes

  • Add green chilli to hummus if you like.
  • If you get tahini sauce add that to the hummus instead of sesame seeds.
     Keep the pita bread wrapped in a cloth and in a closed container as they tend to get dry.
  • To make plain hummus, omit adding spinach leaves.
  • Deep fry the falafel just before you want to serve the sandwich. Or you can deep fry them and warm them up in the oven before serving.
  • Can use ready made pita bread and falafel if you wish.
  • Cut leftover pita bread into smaller pieces and bake at 150C till they become crispy. Enjoy pita chips with your favourite dip.
Keyword falafel pita sandwich, homemade falafel sandwich