So, I heard of this thing called "Taco Tuesday."
Apparently, some people designate one day a week, Tuesdays, for eating tacos. How genius is that? I can't necessarily make those kinds of rules in my life because if a taco craving comes on, I need to be able to have them immediately, regardless of the day is Tuesday or not. I really, really, really like this concept, though, and I am going to designate today as Taco Tuesday.
The Chickpea really digs this concept too. We brainstormed for about 6 minutes hours for ways to put chickpeas in a taco, something I've done and loved in the past. We came up with a lot of great ideas but finally settled on one idea: Falafel Tacos. I have never been more excited for any other Tuesday in history.
Falafel wraps and/or sandwiches are one of those things I love with a passion but don't eat nearly enough. I usually order them at restaurants but about six years have passed since I last made falafel at home. Once I made the little falafel ball/patties for these tacos, I had no idea why I hadn't been doing this the whole time. Like, every Friday. For Falafel Friday (do I smell a new trend?). Because they're baked, they're extremely easy and healthy, and because they can't help themselves, they are unbelievably delicious.
Putting the falafel ball/patties in taco shells and drizzling them with a Sriracha Tahini Sauce might be the best idea I've had since The Philly Reuben (I guess I'm a sucker for fusion). The Sriracha Tahini Sauce has the heat of a normal hot sauce that one would add to their tacos, but the tangy creaminess of a tahini sauce one would drizzle on their falafel. The falafel have a crisp outer coating but are soft and chewy on the inside, a perfect filler for crisp taco shells. The combination of flavors and textures in these falafel tacos is pretty spectacular.
These Falafel Tacos are a perfect choice for your Taco Tuesday or your Falafel Friday. Or your I-Like-To-Eat-Amazing-Vegan-Food-On-Days-That-End-In-"Y" Days. Your choice.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas or 1 15oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro (or mixture of fresh parsley and cilantro)
- ¼ red onion, chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- juice from ½ a lemon
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried dill
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- several dashes of black pepper
- salt to taste (I used about 3/4 tsp)
- 3 tablespoon chickpea flour
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional, but adds a little extra oomph)
- 6 taco shells
- 1-2 cups lettuce
- tomato slices
- other taco fillings
- ¼ cup tahini sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1-2 tablespoon Sriracha
- juice from 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or if using an immersion blender, a small bowl. Blend the ingredients until smooth. Chill until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine all falafel ingredients (chickpeas through nutritional yeast) in a food processor and process until you have a mostly smooth ball of “dough.”
- Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough and use your hands to roll the scoop into a ball. Flatten it slightly and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until there is no more dough left. You should have about 18-20 falafel
- Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even cooking. Remove from oven. Stuff a little lettuce in each taco shell, then stuff about 3 patties into each taco shell. Top with tomato slices and any other taco fillings you would like to use (cucumber, avocado, bell pepper, etc.). Drizzle the taco with the Sriracha Tahini Sauce (recipe below) and serve warm. Enjoy!
First time here? Check out the rest of my Chickpea Love Affair Vegan MoFo Entries!
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Photography by Chris Miller
Caitlin
wow! this is my kind of meal! the falafel looks delicious. i am making these for dinner!!!
keepinitkind
Oh yay! I hope you and Dayv enjoy them! 🙂
Annie
YUM, Kristy! It's been too l since I've made falafels. And the sauce...sigh.
keepinitkind
Thanks! They are so good! 🙂
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Well I certainly love eating delicious food anyway of the week so I'll have to try these. Hopefully you don't mind if I make them on Tuesday 😉 I especially like the sound of that tahini sauce. Anything with tahini and sriracha has to be good!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Gabby! Eat them today, eat them everyday! Enjoy!
Cadry
This is so right up my alley! It's a fusion of two of my favorite types of cuisines. I usually add hot sauce to my homemade falafel, and the Sriracha tahini sauce sounds even better. Can't wait to try it!!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Cadry! I'll be expecting a postcard any day. 😉
The Cookie Fairy
I LOVE falafels! I tried making them at home once and failed miserably, to my greatest distress. But your recipe sounds simple enough... I might give this a try. They are a favourite meal of mine 🙂
keepinitkind
Thank you! I can't imagine life without falafel- I'm glad I figured out a way to have them more often! 🙂
nancy
OMG This is so good I made it over a salad thinned the dressing out a bit to use on salad
SO SO SO GOOD thank you ox So it was a falafel salad MMMMMMMMM
keepinitkind
Nancy, that is so great to hear! I love that you put it on a salad! I have some leftover, so I'm definitely trying that! 🙂
Melissa
LOVE this post! i could eat falafel every day... yours looks delicious!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Melissa!
Bobbie {the vegan crew}
I adore falafel, and the Sriracha tahini sauce sounds like something I need to try, pronto! Beautiful presentation!
keepinitkind
I think you need to try it, pronto, as well! Thank you for stopping by, Bobbie! 🙂
Richa`
Ahh Sriracha Tahini.. yes yes! i will be eating a lot more chickpeas soon. those falafels look so perfect and delicious!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Richa- I'm very happy to hear The Chickpea is going to be spending more time with you! 😉
Joanne @ Inspired Taste
This looks wonderful! I love that you added sriracha to the tahini sauce!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Joanne! It's amazing how well they work together!
Julia
This looks delicious! Are there any substitutions for chickpea flour though (doesn't have to be gluten-free)
keepinitkind
Thank you, Julia- I would just use regular flour. 🙂
Somer
yay! I haven't figured out how to make a decent falafel that doesn't crumble to bits when you touch it, I've tried the chickpea flour and I've tried chickpeas. I didn't think to combine them. I'm definitely making this. And that sriracha sauce tahini is all ready giving me (awesome) heartburn! 🙂
Somer
I just realized I posted a tahini cream that looks a bit familiar to this one today. Sorry I swear I didn't beg borrow or steal 😉 great minds!
keepinitkind
No worries! You are quite a great mind. 🙂 And give these a try- these falafel are not crumblers!
Reia@TheCrueltyFreeReview
It's funny how the more you like something, the less you actually make it. I'm the same way with falafel--I love it to death but never make it at home. And such a great idea putting them into tacos! Living with an omnivore I'm always looking for ways to bulk up taco filling--he doesn't like seitan, tempeh, or soy curls--but he does enjoy falafel! And sriracha. I bet this would be a hit with him. Thanks for sharing!
keepinitkind
Thank you! These are super omnivore friendly- I hope your boyfriend likes them! 🙂
Bex @ Vegan Sparkles
haha, YESSSS!! The best of all days and all countries combined!! GENIUS!!
keepinitkind
Right?! 😉 You are too kind, Bex!
Heather
YES! Falafel Fridays, i am totally in 🙂
Can you please come visit me and make these for me - pretty please!
keepinitkind
I would totally make these for you and Justing in a heartbeat! 🙂
Bridgette
Very delicious! I didn't make the sauce but the falafel tacos were divine!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Bridgette! 🙂 I'm so happy that you liked them!
Bridgette
Okay, so I just needed to comment again and let you know how much I love these. I have been making them 2-3 times a month, and cannot get enough. They are so divine, and trump any other falafel recipe out there. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Ben
I made these tonight for my girlfriend and I and who have only been eating vegan for about 3 months. We both cook a lot and I have to say this was one of the most tasty recipes we've made at home since we've been vegan. Really delicious falafel recipe, and great to not have to mess around with frying! The sauce was amazing too!
keepinitkind
That is just the greatest compliment! I am so happy you both liked it! 🙂
Caitlin | The Siren's Tale
Oh my goodness, I literally am drooling. I immediately pinned this recipe, and cannot wait to make it this weekend! I have a feeling it's going to be my Taco Tuesday, Falafel Friday, and my every day delight.
Anne
I made these for lunch today. They were so incredibly delicious, and really easy to make too! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Chloe
Love Falafels. Do falafels freeze well?
Thanks
keepinitkind
I don't see why not.
Shauna
Made this tonight and it was delicious. The sauce is to die for! Yum!
Adrienne
Made these last night for dinner and all around they were WAY too lemon-y for our taste. Would be really good with the lemon dialed back, perhaps even cut out of the falafels and just kept in the tahini sauce.
Diana
I can't wait to try these. I recently had my first Falafel and love it. Happy to find a recipe for them and to have Sriracha sauce to boot - I'll be in heaven. But I am a little new to vegan cooking. So I have tahini paste in the pantry. Your recipe calls for tahini sauce. So what do I do to the paste or should I make my own sauce. I found a recipe one that. Just wondering if your sauce had any other ingredients than "tahini paste"? Diana