Baked Falafels

Servings: 7-8

INGREDIENTS

For Falafels:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 small onions (200g/7oz in total), finely chopped
• 2 x 400g tins chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 4 garlic cloves, grated
• 3 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 2 tsp sea salt flakes
• 30g/1oz coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• 30g/1oz flatleaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
• 40g/1½oz plain flour
• freshly ground black pepper
• olive oil spray

For the tzatziki sauce:

• 200ml/7oz 0% fat plain yoghurt
• 140g/5oz piece cucumber, grated
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves
• pinch sea salt
• pinch granulated sweetener (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 230C/210C Fan/Gas 8 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
2. Heat the olive oil in small frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about 10 minutes
3. Until softened and starting to brown (add a splash of water if they start to stick), remove from the heat and leave to cool.
4. Put the onions, chickpeas, garlic, spices, salt, chopped herbs, flour and some pepper in a food processor.
5. Pulse until the mixture is fairly smooth, stopping every so often to scrape down the sides with a spatula as paste should be able to hold together.
6. Divide the mixture into 18 equal pieces and shape into patties. Place on the prepared baking tray and spray the patties with 10 sprays of oil.
7. Cook on the top shelf of the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until golden-brown.
8. For the tzatziki, put the yoghurt into a small bowl. Squeeze the grated cucumber to remove excess liquid, then add to the yoghurt with the garlic, mint, salt and sweetener. Mix well.
9. Lower the oven setting to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6 and move the tray of falafel to the bottom shelf of the oven.
10. Bake for a further 20–25 minutes, or until cooked through. Sprinkle with a little salt and serve with the tzatziki.