Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus
After nearly 13 months at home, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’m itching for a vacation. The other day, I was looking through old pictures from my trip to Israel in 2018, reminiscing about the amazing falafel I ate there. This inspired me to make a falafel platter on my own that is still healthy and budget-friendly! This recipe uses ingredients from Trader Joe’s and can make up to four servings!
Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus
Ingredients:
- Trader Joe’s Falafel Mix
- 1 large cucumber
- 4 Roma tomatoes
- ½ of a red onion
- Trader Joe’s Mini Pita Pockets
- 1 container of hummus
- 1 vegetable of your choice (I chose corn)
- Cooking spray (coconut oil or olive oil work best)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Trader Joe’s Za’atar Seasoning Blend
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Juice of 1 lemon
Stephanie Gerson / Daily Nexus
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare 1 cup of the falafel mix according to the package instructions, and let the batter sit for 30 minutes to thicken.
- Once the batter has thickened, form the mixture into 12-15 small balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Do not flatten the balls, as they will lose their round shape.
- Since I wanted corn on my platter, I sprayed two corn cobs with coconut oil spray before wrapping them in aluminum foil and placing them straight onto the oven rack. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- While the falafel and corn are baking, cut up the cucumber, tomatoes and red onion into two-inch pieces and place them into a large bowl.
- In the same bowl, mix in the lemon juice, olive oil, Za’atar, salt, pepper and paprika. Adding in Za’atar, a traditional Middle Eastern spice, really elevates the salad.
- Place all of your ingredients on a long platter and enjoy!
This recipe idea is the perfect way to change up your usual dinner menu. These falafels may not compare to the one I had in Israel, but they come pretty close! With summer approaching, whip up a falafel platter this weekend and enjoy dinner outside with your quarantine bubble!
