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!

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Roasted Beets + Spiced Chickpea salad

Hooray! Free few hours after an exam before I have to study again...booo... :( I feel a little delirious from no sleep, but so happy to blog! Also, I just ate a lot of brisket and maybe a half a rack of ribs, and I am hitting serious food coma right now. Thought I might put up a recipe I made last week before I go to sl..zzzZZZZZzzzz

Roasted Beets + Spiced Chickpea salad

Adapted from 'love and lemons' blog
Serves 3-4

Ingredients
4-5 medium sized beets
1 can chickpeas
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp paprika
I threw 2 thai chilis for some extra heat
salt and pepper

handfuls of arugula
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
crumbled feta
Red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
olive oil
yogurt (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Wash beets and wrap in foil. Roast for 40-50 minutes or until fork can pierce through easily. Let it cool and slice it up!
2. Heat a little bit of olive oil in a skillet. Add the the chickpeas, garlic powder,chili flakes and italian herbs. Cook until chickpeas are golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste
3. Assemble your salad. Place beets and spiced chickpeas on a bed of arugula. Crumble with feta cheese, drizzle olive oil and red wine vinegar. Garnish with parsley and yogurt. Finally, crack some fresh pepper.

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