World Wide Vegan

I forgot to take pictures until after everyone had made their falafel so I took an ugly photo of my sandwich. Although it isn't a great photo, the falafel was delicious and satisfying. These are easy and quick to make and are every bit as good as the ones at your favorite falafel stand. And they only take about 20 minutes to prepare.

Now don't let the garbanzo beans put you off. I am not a fan of the weird white bean, but when pureed with this blend of spices and vegetables the flavor and texture transforms into something wonderful. And although the patties are fried in oil, the bean mixture absorbs very little fat.

If you haven't ever tried a falafel you are in for a treat. The first time I had one I was a little leery, the taste was different than I imagined and at the time I hadn't cooked with much coriander. However, after finishing my meal I was hooked. In fact I started making extra Tahini sauce to use on other types of sandwiches. So try something new and allow yourself to indulged a little. You will be glad you did.

Falafel Burgers

* 2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
* 1 red onion, chopped
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup of fresh Italian parsley, chopped
* 3-4 tablespoons flour
* 1 tablespoon cumin
* 1 tablespoon coriander
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
* 1/2 teaspoon Salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 3 Tablespoons Peanut oil
* 1/2 cup tahini paste
* 3 tablespoons water
* Juice and zest of 2 lemons
* 4 whole grain pita pockets
* 1-1 1/2 cups lettuce, torn
* 1/2 cucumber, sliced
* 2 ripe tomatoes, sliced
* sliced red onions (opt.)

1. After rinsing garbanzo beans dry them on paper towels. Pour beans into a food processor with chopped onion, garlic, parsley, flour, spices and process until well pureed and forms a sticky ball. If your beans weren't dry enough you may need to add a Tablespoon or more of flour until you get a consistency that you can shape into patties.
2. Heat oils in a large skillet (350 degrees in electric skillet). Form the bean mixture into 4 large patties and place them in heated oil. Fry for about 4 minutes on each side until browned and somewhat crispy.
3. Measure tahini paste into a medium size mixing bowl. Add water, lemon juice lemon zest and some salt and pepper to taste. Mix until smooth and set aside. This is your sauce for the for the falafels.
4. Cut the pitas to form large pockets. Spoon about 2 Tablespoons of Tahini sauce into each pita pocket. Insert some lettuce, tomato slices, cucumber slices and additional sliced onion. Slide in a falafel burger.
5. Serve with fruit salad for a complete meal.

Preparation time - 15 minutes. Cook time about 5 minutes.

Labels: falafel, pita bread, tahini, Vegan, Vegetarian

Barcelona is a relatively new large city compared to most large European cities. Until the 1992 Summer Olympics Barcelona was a quaint mid-sized town that attracted few tourists. Now it is a hub for cruise lines and a popular destination for travelers.

We recently took a Mediterranean cruise which embarked in Barcelona, Spain. We decided to arrive in Barcelona several days early to take in the sites and culture of this port city in Catalonia. One of the many activities we took advantage of was a stroll down La Rambla, a tourist must-see destination. La Rambla is a street filled with sidewalk cafes, street performers and artists of every type.

Although there are several vegetarian and vegan eateries in the city, I recommend visiting Maoz on La Rambla. Maoz serves falafal pita sandwiches , smoothies and fries as well as sodas and salads. The menu is limited but the food is good and fairly priced. The original Maoz was opened in 1991 in Amsterdam, Holland. It has since become a popular European vegan eatery and has recently come to the east coast of the US.

For an excellent and detailed listing of other Barcelona eateries and grocery marts visit Sin Carne. This site has more information on Barcelona eateries than I can include in a single blog.


My favorite place to shop for fresh vegetables in Barcelona is an open market just off La Rambla called La Boqueria. It is a huge open market featuring over one hundred vendors selling everything from fresh fruits, herbs and veggies to cookbooks, pizza and paella. There are also a few small cafes serving expensive but authentic regional cuisine.



Spending an afternoon at La Boqueria is a must for everyone planning to visit Barcelona. The seemingly endless supply of colorful and aromatic foods is tantalizing, and well worth enduring the crowds.
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Labels: Barcelona, falafel, La Rambla, Moaz, Vegan, Vegetarian