Falafel Waffles and Tzatziki

It's Fri-yay! Can't wait until I can spend this whole weekend just eating, watching Korean dramas and lounging in my bed. Since I won't be seeing the bf for a while as he's finished school, we've spent our weekends packed with activities and now that he's left, I have so much ME time! Haha kidding :P I'm just jelly he's going to Korea next week and I don't....sob :'(

I've been on the psych ward for two weeks now, and boy, it's been interesting. I think especially as a small Asian female, who has to talk to old veterans with absolutely no filter, I get SO many inappropriate comments and weird questions thrown at me. But, my patients otherwise have been really nice to talk to and just interesting.

Anyway, I made these healthy faWAFFLES, because I love chickpeas and falafels that don't taste like they've been deep-fried at least 3 times and rock hard. The waffle iron makes they so crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside like they're supposed too! I guess this could work as pancakes too... but I love the many notches to hold the tzatziki.

Falafel Waffles and Tzatziki

makes 6-7 square fawaffles

Fawaffle
1 can chick peas, rinsed and drained
½ small onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
¼ tsp tumeric
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp fine Black pepper
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 large egg white

Tzatziki sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
½ persian cucumber
½ tsp fresh dill
¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt to taste

1. Drain chickpeas well and coarsely chop onion. Add both to food processor with cloves of garlic. Pulse to a coarse mixture
2. Add oil, salt, all spices, flour and baking powder. Pulse again and push down sides with spatula to make sure it is evenly mixed.
3. Add in chopped parsley. Pulse few times. Separate egg white and mix with spatula
4. Preheat oven to 350F. Heat waffle iron and brush surfaces with olive oil
5. When ready, place about 1/4 cup of falafel mixture. Make sure not to cover the whole surface because it will squash and spread. Cook until golden brown on surface. Repeat for rest of mixture. Place on baking sheet in single layer and bake to crisp up for 8-10mins
6. Meanwhile, make the tzatziki. Cut cucumber in half and seed with a small spoon. Dice into small pieces
7. Mix yogurt, garlic, salt, lemon juice and dill. Just before serving, stir in diced cucumber
8. Serve hot out of the oven with tzatziki, sliced cucumber and tomatoes and a wedge of lemon. Garnish with parsley too!