Falafel burgers in pita pockets are the perfect veggie midweek meal

Fancy 2 tasty falafel burger recipes?

I’ve got just the ones for you.

Falafel burgers

One of the best things about falafel burgers is being able to whip up a meal from your store cupboard.

And this also ticks the box for a delicious, filling meat-free dish.

As well as simple and quick.

This means, avoiding anyone in the household from getting angry.

(P.s. here’s another favourite emergency meal from the store cupboard, butter beans, paprika and peppers

What to serve with falafel burgers

Here are a few ideas to get you on your way:

  • Red onion – You can soften some onions in oil or just cut them thinly and add them to your pita pocket
  • Carrot – grate some carrots for colour and freshness
  • Pickle – slices of pickles can add a nice sharpens or some sliced jalapeno’s
  • Chilli sauce – liven it up with a dash of chilli sauce
  • Ketchup – what doesn’t taste better with ketchup? So put a big dollop on your falafel burger pita taco
  • Mayonnaise – mayonnaise (you can find vegan mayonnaise as well if you want).
  • Yoghurt – a dollop of yoghurt instead of mayo
Falafel burgers in pita bread

Quick spiced yoghurt

This is lovely to have on the side to let people add some spice vibes to your 2 tasty falafel burger recipes.

Ingredients

  • 150 g natural yoghurt
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper

Method

 In a small bowl, mix the yoghurt with the garam masala.

2 tasty falafel burger recipes

1. Falafel burgers in pita bread

  • SERVES: 4
  • PREP: 10 mins
  • COOK: 5 mins
  • DIFFICULTY: easy

A healthy burger that’s filling too.

Ingredients

  • 400g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 small red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • a handful of flat-leaf parsley or curly parsley
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp harissa paste or chilli powder
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
  • toasted pitta bread, to serve
  • Lettuce, to serve
  • Cucumber, chopped, to serve
  • Carrot, grated, to serve

Method

  1. Drain the chickpeas and pat dry with kitchen paper.
  2. Tip into a food processor along with the onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, harissa paste, flour and a little salt.
  3. Blend until fairly smooth, then shape into four patties with your hands.
  4. Now, heat the sunflower oil in a non-stick frying pan, and fry the burgers for 3 mins on each side until lightly golden.
  5. Serve with the toasted pitta bread, cucumber, lettuce, grated carrot and spice yoghurt (recipe above).

Recipe inspired by: BBC Good Food

2. Moroccan falafel burgers in pita bread

A great, nutty flavour burger.

  • SERVES: 4
  • PREP TIME: 20 mins
  • COOK TIME: 15 mins
  • DIFFICULTY: easy

Ingredients

  • 400 g tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 60 g breadcrumbs
  • 1 large free-range egg
  • 2 tbsp tahini paste or smooth peanut butter
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 6 spring onions, chopped
  • 1½ tbsp canola (rapeseed) oil

Instructions

1. Place half the chickpeas in a food processor with the breadcrumbs, tahini paste, egg, coriander and cumin and blitz until smooth. Remove the blade and stir through the remaining chickpeas and the spring onions. Season with sea salt and ground black pepper.

2. Form the mixture into four 10cm burgers by hand and place on a plate and cover, leaving to sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours to firm up.

3. Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Fry the burgers in the pan for 5–6 minutes on each side, until they have a nice golden colour.

Serve the warm burgers in the pitta bread with the spiced yoghurt, salad leaves and grated carrot.

Recipe: SBS