Baked Falafel Balls Recipe

We’ve been enjoying this meal often at our house and a friend requested the recipe, so I thought I’d
post it. I love the flavors of all of these ingredients together, and it keeps us from having to go out
to a restaurant to enjoy this great middle-eastern delight!

Serves 4. Serve in a pita with your favorite Tzatziki Sauce and fresh sliced or cut roasted vegetables.

Ingredients:
¾ c water
½ c bulgar wheat
1 T olive oil
1 red onion, finely minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 ¼ tsp cumun
1 ¼ tsp coriander
1 ½ c cooked chickpeas
1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
¼ c dried breadcrumbs
¼ c cilantro, minced
¼ c parsley, minced
salt
olive oil cooking spray

Topping ideas: onion slices, tomato & cucumber slices, lettuce, crumbled feta cheese, tzatziki sauce
Instructions:
1. Bring water to a boil and remove from the heat.
2. Mix in the bulgur.
3. Cover well and allow the wheat to sit until all the water is absorbed -- about 20 minutes.
4. Heat the olive oil in a small pan and saute the onion and garlic over medium heat until the onion is just transparent.
5. Add red chili flakes, cumin, and coriander and saute for 1 more minute.
6. Combine the chickpeas and bulgur in a food processor. Add the lemon juice, bread crumbs, cilantro, parsley and salt and process until just mixed, and has a pleasing texture.
7. Set mixture aside for 15 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
9. Form falafel mixture into 2 inch balls and place on a lightly oiled sheet pan.
10. Spray the balls with some olive oil.
11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden, turning the pan once during baking.
Make it a meal by adding some of these items:

Tzatziki Sauce (Cucumber Yogurt Sauce)

1 c plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp salt
¼ c mint leaves, ground
1 cucumber , peeled, seeded, shredded, and juice squeezed out
1 T olive oil
½ lemon, juiced

Instructions: Combine all ingredients. Chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

Greek Salad
Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Kalamata Olives, Banana Peppers, Salt, Pepper, Parmesan, Italian Dressing

Roasted Vegetables
Roughly chop up 1 red onion, 1 bell pepper, and 1 zucchini (or vegetables of your choice).
Toss the chopped vegetables, along with a handful of kalamata olive, with 1-2 tbsp olive oil,
and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper. Roast in the oven while the falafel balls are baking. Enjoy
in a pita with the Falafel or on their own with feta cheese crumbled on top.