Falafel and Cucumber Sauce

Falafel and Cucumber Sauce                      It's easy to make your own falafel!                   Mashed chickpeas are combined with onion, bread crumbs, egg, and herbs, and fried until browned and crisp.              Serve in pita halves topped with chopped tomatoes and cucumber sauce.

Ingredients:

For Falafel: 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained 1 onion, chopped 1/2 cup fresh parsley 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 egg 2 teaspoons ground cumin For Sauce: 1 (6 ounce) container plain yogurt 1/2 cucumber - peeled, seeded, and finely chopped 1 teaspoon dried dill weed salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (optional)

1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon salt 1 dash pepper 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup dry bread crumbs oil for frying

Directions:

1.	In a small bowl combine yogurt, cucumber, dill, salt, pepper and mayonnaise and mix well. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
2.	In a large bowl mash chickpeas until thick and pasty; don't use a blender, as the consistency will be too thin. In a blender, process onion, parsley and garlic until smooth. Stir into mashed chickpeas.
3.	In a small bowl combine egg, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, cayenne, lemon juice and baking powder. Stir into chickpea mixture along with olive oil. Slowly add bread crumbs until mixture is not sticky but will hold together; add more or less bread crumbs, as needed. Form 8 balls and then flatten into patties.
4.	Heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry patties in hot oil until brown on both sides. Serve two falafels in each pita half topped with chopped tomatoes and cucumber sauce.