Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 1
| Last Updated on March 4, 2024
Make the ultimate falafel sandwich complete with homemade pitas. Crisp, flavorful falafels sit on a bed of vegetables, pickles with a dollop of garlic aioli and is encased in a soft, pita made from scratch.
Utensils Dinner
Globe Middle Eastern
22
ingredients
15
steps
270
minutes
Driven by her love for cooking, Chef Romina catapulted herself into highly esteemed positions in the culinary industry. She has extensive experience working in fine-dining restaurants around Toronto, including seven years as head chef. In the past, she won cutthroat cooking competitions and even worked closely with the Master Chef Canada culinary team. Chef Romina has always been a passionate teacher of the culinary arts with a fondness for sharing her knowledge with aspiring chefs.

Ingredients

Servings:
7
2 tsp
active dry yeast
1/2 tsp
granulated sugar
1 cup(s)
filtered water
2 1/2 cup(s)
all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 tsp
salt
2 tbsp
neutral oil, plus more as needed
1
small onion
1/2
bunch cilantro, thick stems discarded
1/2
bunch parsley, thick stems discarded
2
garlic cloves, peeled
200 g
dried chickpeas, soaked for at least 24 hours
1/2 tsp
ground coriander
1/4 tsp
ground cumin
1/4 tsp
chili powder
1/4-1/2 tsp
salt
1 tbsp
water
1 tbsp
chickpea flour, if needed
1/2 cup(s)
sesame seeds
1 l
oil
1
garlic bulb, peeled
1/3 cup(s)
olive oil
1/4 tsp
salt
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Directions 15 steps | 270 Minutes

Step 1

Measure and prep all ingredients.

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Measure and prep all ingredients.
Step 2

Make the pita dough. In a bowl, combine the active dry yeast, sugar and water. Mix until combined. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Make the pita dough.
Step 3

Add the all-purpose flour, salt and oil to the bowl. Mix well until a shaggy dough forms.

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Add the all-purpose flour, salt and oil to the bowl.
Step 4

Lightly flour a clean surface and place the dough on the flour. Knead for 5 minutes until the dough comes together. Place a clean towel on top and let the dough sit for 10 minutes. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Lightly flour a clean surface and place the dough on the flour.
Step 5

After 10 minutes, start kneading the dough until a smooth, semi-moist dough has formed. If the dough is too dry, slather your hands with oil and knead the dough for 15 minutes. The dough should be smooth. Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside. Add more oil on top and cover with the kitchen towel. Let sit in a warm space for 1½ hours or until doubled in size. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: After 10 minutes, start kneading the dough until a smooth, semi-moist dough has formed.
Step 6

Form and bake the pitas. After 1½ hours, punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 6-7 balls and roll until smooth. Cover the dough balls with a kitchen towel and let sit for 10 minutes. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Form and bake the pitas.
Step 7

While the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 450°F and place a large baking sheet in the oven. If you have a cast iron pan or sheet, use that instead. With a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into 7-8 inch round discs. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: While the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 450°F and place a large baking sheet in the oven.
Step 8

Place the discs on the hot baking sheet and bake in the oven for 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until puffy and soft. Cover the pitas with a kitchen towel until ready to use. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Place the discs on the hot baking sheet and bake in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
Step 9

Make the falafel. Roughly chop the onion, cilantro, parsley and garlic. Transfer the roughly chopped onion, cilantro, parsley and garlic into a food processor along with the chickpeas and pulse until a coarse and crumbly mixture forms.

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Make the falafel.
Step 10

Add the coriander, cumin, chili powder, salt and water to the food processor. Pulse until a moist mixture has formed. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Add the coriander, cumin, chili powder, salt and water to the food processor.
Step 11

Take a clump of the chickpea mixture and form a ball. If it falls apart, add one teaspoon of chickpea flour at a time and pulse until the ball doesn't fall apart. Do not add too much chickpea flour as it will result in a gummy falafel. Once your mix is done, transfer it to a bowl and cover. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Take a clump of the chickpea mixture and form a ball.
Step 12

After 1-2 hours, remove the falafel mixture. In a large pot, add the oil and heat it to 350°F. Place the sesame seeds in a bowl or plate. With an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, form golf sized falafel balls. Once the balls are formed, roll the balls into the sesame seeds until all sides are covered. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: After 1-2 hours, remove the falafel mixture.
Step 13

Fry the sesame covered falafels in the oil for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Fry the sesame covered falafels in the oil for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 14

Prepare the garlic sauce. In the bowl of a food processor, add the peeled garlic and process until chopped. As it is processing, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until very smooth and the mixture has emulsified. Season with salt. 

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Prepare the garlic sauce.
Step 15

Assemble the pita sandwich. Slice the pita down the center leaving 1-inch of the bottom intact. Add a spoon of the garlic aioli, three to four falafels, your favorite vegetables and pickles, more garlic sauce and serve. Enjoy!

Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli Recipe: Assemble the pita sandwich.
Nutrition Per Serving
View All
CALORIES
483
FAT
21.9 g
PROTEIN
13.8 g
CARBS
59.8 g
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1 Comments
1 Comments
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Ten A.

Ten

11 Apr 2023

This is an amazingly good recipe for a Falafel Sandwich with Homemade Pita and Garlic Aioli. It would surely satisfy your taste buds.

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