Goat Cheese Falafel Pitas Food

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.

CHEESE PITA

Steps:

• thaw phyllo.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• lay thawed phyllo on a flat surface and cover with damp tea towel.
• mix cheese, eggs and salt - set aside.
• on an 11" x 17" greased baking pan lay phyllo to cover.
• brush with melted butter.
• repeat until there are six layers.
• spread cheese filling evenly over phyllo, leaving about 1/2" around the edges.
• cover with phyllo brushed with butter.
• repeat until there are eight layers.
• tuck in egdes.
• brush top lightly with butter.
• bake until top browns, approximately 30 minutes.

FALAFEL PITAS

Steps:

• Turn the grill/broiler to medium.
• Tip the chickpeas into a food processor or blender with the onion, carrots, garlic, cilantro, cumin, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
• Whizz briefly so that you retain some of the chunky texture to the chickpeas.
• Using your hands, shape the mixture into six burgers.
• Brush both sides of each burger with a little oil.
• Carefully place the burgers on to a grill/broiler pan lined with foil and grill/broil for 5 minutes on each side.
• Meanwhile, toast the pita breads and tear the lettuce into strips.
• Stuff the hot burgers into the pita breads.
• Add a small handful of torn lettuce and a few slices of cucumber.
• Serve drizzled with a spoonful of yogurt, if you wish.