Falafel Tacos with Chipotle Tzatziki

Recipe: Falafel Tacos with Chipotle Tzatziki

Author: Allie Riebe, Happiness Team Member

Prep Time: 25 minutes 

Cook Time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 4 servings

I love Falafel (Ground chickpeas & spices formed into a ball and fried... yum)! I am gluten-intolerant so I always had to forgo the pita but then had an idea…FALAFEL TACOS! These tacos are a spin on the Mediterranean favorite - They include freshly fried (or baked) falafel, pickled veggies, cilantro, Hamama Microgreens, avocado & chipotle tzatziki all nestled in a gluten-free corn tortilla.

 

 

Ingredients: 

Chipotle Tzatziki: 

• ½ medium size cucumber, peeled, seeded, and patted dry 
• 1 Cup plain greek yogurt, full fat. 
• 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped (can sub 1-2 tsp chipotle seasoning) 
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• 1 tsp fresh dill (can sub ½ tsp dry dill) 

Falafel Tacos:

• 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas or 1 15oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro (or mixture of fresh parsley and cilantro)
• ¼ red onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• juice from ½ a lemon
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• several dashes of black pepper
• salt to taste (I used about 3/4 tsp)
• 3 tablespoon chickpea flour
• 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional, but adds a little extra oomph)
• 4-8 Homemade or store-bought corn tortillas  

Garnish:

Your favorite Hamama Microgreens (I used Super Salad mix) 
Cilantro
Mixed leafy greens
Diced avocado
Pickled Carrots/Onion/Jalapeno
Prepared Hummus

Instructions: 

Making the Chipotle Tzatziki:

1. Slice the seeded cucumber & wrap it in a thick paper towel and squeeze it over the sink to drain out the moisture. 
2. Combine the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, chipotle pepper, lemon juice, and dill in a food processor (You can use a blender if you prefer). Blend until smooth. 
3. Chill for about 30 minutes in the fridge. The longer it sits, the more flavorful the sauce will become!

Making the Falafel: 

1. Combine all falafel ingredients (chickpeas through nutritional yeast) in a food processor and process until you have a mostly smooth ball of “dough.”
2. Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough and use your hands to roll the scoop into a ball. Flatten it slightly and fry in a large dutch oven with about 2 inches of hot vegetable oil until golden brown on all sides. If you prefer to bake your falafel, place on the prepared baking sheet. You should have about 16-20 falafel.
3. Spread prepared hummus on corn tortillas and stuff 3-4 falafel in each. Then top with pickled veggies, cilantro, mixed greens, microgreens, & diced avocado.  Drizzle the taco with the Chipotle Tzatziki Sauce & serve.

Enjoy!