Falafel, Hummus & "Tzatziki"

The other day (or so) the Hubs said proudly that he uses the food processor more than I do. Well that won’t do, challenge accepted, and completed with making falafel, and hummus. Everybody knows you can't have falafel without a sauce, "tzatziki" was the way to go!

What is falafel, think of a chickpea (garbanzo bean) meatball of sorts, filled with spices, onion, and well goodness. Hummus is like a dip or spread, depending on thick or thin you make it,  pureed chickpeas, oil, and seasonings. “Tzatziki” is a dipping sauce is plain yogurt, lemon juice, and spices.


Falafel, crockpot style:
This is a doubled recipe, so it’s easy to cut in half for trying the first time. If reducing by half just use white onion.

30 oz chickpeas (canned or if using dried make sure you have soaked them according to directions)
½ onion
4 green onions
2-4 minced garlic, depending on how much you like
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2-3 tsp coriander, I added more.. I roll like that
½-1tsp black pepper
½ -1 tsp cayenne pepper
Splash or two of lemon juice
1 C bread crumbs
Oil for bottom of pot
Small bowl with oil
Crockpot
Food Processor


Blend onion, garlic, eggs, lemon and spices in food processor
Blend drained chickpeas, and mix
Add breadcrumbs, mix
Place oil in bottom of crockpot, swirl to spread it around
Form mixture into squished golf ball sized patties
Dip each side in oil, and place in crockpot (its ok to overlap)
Cook on high about 3 1/2hrs or until brownish gold

Hummus

15oz chickpeas (can or soaked per directions if dried)
1-2 tsp cumin
½ tsp salt
1 clove crushed garlic
1-2tsp tahini, plain sesame seeds work fine, or can omit
1 tbsp oil
If using canned chickpeas, drain but reserve the liquid.

In a blender or food processor combine garbanzo beans, garlic, cumin, salt and olive oil. Blend on low speed, gradually adding reserved bean liquid (water is fine), until desired consistency is achieved.

"Tzatziki" Sauce

Why the quotations? Simply because there is no cucumber in it.. I know. It really is a dill yogurt sauce but it does the trick. Also this way you don't have to worry about straining your yogurt.

8oz plain yogurt, if you want thick use greek
1/2-1 tbsp lemon juice, depending on the tartness preference
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped*
3 cloves pressed garlic

Combine all together. It does make you feel better to sing "cu-cumbah, cu-cumbah, cu-cumbaahhh" as you are stirring it. Well, maybe that is just me :P

*I didn't have fresh dill, so I just kept sprinkling dill in till I got the taste I liked.