Falafel + Nachos = Falachos

Next level food porn.

This article has less to do with beer, but more to do with my most recent brainchild.

Nachos are by far my favorite bar snack.  And donairs are the prescription for post-imbibing munchies.  Falafel is donair's hot vegetarian cousin.

Falafel + Nachos = Falachos.
The name is suggestive if you have a dirty mind, but the dish is delicious no matter how you pronounce it.

The success of falachos got me thinking...what other culinary concept could I fuse with nachos?

Buffalachos: Corn chips with buffalo chicken, hot sauce, and blue cheese.

Jambalachos: Corn chips with andouille sausage, shrimp creole, cheese, and Tiger sauce (I’ll probably leave out the okra).

Kormachos (Indian) : Papadum chips with chicken korma, lentil dal, coriander, and tamarind chutney.

Breakfast Nachos: Melba toasts with scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato, cheese, and hollandaise sauce.

Dessert Nachos: Cinnamon sugar pita chips with melted chocolate, fruit salsa, and whipped cream.

I could open an entire restaurant that served only nachos!

In the meantime, enjoy this Middle Eastern-inspired bar snack.  If you consume these before going to the bar, make sure you brush your teeth.  Or else you may be the only one on the dance floor.  SO MUCH GARLIC!

Garlic Pita Chips

No-meat nachos made from pita.
A bar snack to satisfy the PETA (*crickets*)

4 pita breads

2 tbsp olive oil

½ tsp minced garlic

½ tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cut pitas into triangles, and tear the pockets apart.
3. Whisk together olive oil and garlic.  Brush mixture on each pita triangle.
4. Arrange pitas on baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crisp.

Makes about 72 pita chips

Falafel

Great balls of fibre!
This snack has bowel health benefits.

1 can chickpeas, drained

¾ cup breadcrumbs

½ cup onion, finely diced

¼ cup minced fresh parsley

¼ cup minced fresh mint

1 egg, beaten

1 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp cumin

½ tsp coriander

¼ tsp turmeric

¼ tsp salt

2 tbsp canola oil for frying

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine all ingredients except canola oil.
3. Process with a food processor or handheld blender until an even consistency is reached.
4. Form mixture into balls approximately 1” diameter.
5. Heat oil in pan and add falafel, lightly pressing dough to form patties.
6. Cook for about 1 minute on each side or until crisp.
7. Transfer patties to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes until patties are heated through.

Makes about 24 small falafel patties

Roasted Garlic Beer Hummus

Plated like a boss.

1-19 oz. can of chickpeas, drained

¼ cup lemon juice

2 tbsp tahini

1 head roasted garlic

½ cup beer

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp salt

1. Combine all ingredients except parsley and blend with a handheld blender or food processor until a smooth consistency is reached.

Makes about 2 cups hummus

Tzatziki

Better than sour cream?

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 cucumber

1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

1 tbsp chopped fresh mint (optional)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp lemon juice

¼ tsp salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Peel and seed cucumber.
2. Grate cucumber finely and drain to remove excess moisture.
3. Combine cucumber with remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

Makes 1 cup tzatziki

Bar snack fusion.

Falachos

1 recipe garlic pita chips

1 recipe falafel

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1 tomato, diced

4 tbsp za’atar (spice mixture)

1 recipe beer hummus

1 recipe tzatziki

Fresh parsley to garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Arrange half the pita chips on two large baking sheets.
3. Crumble half the falafel over the pita chips.  Evenly distribute 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 2 tbsp of the first layer of chips.
4. Arrange remaining pita chips on top of first layer.  Top with remaining falafel, cheese, diced tomato, and za’atar.
5. Bake.
6. Garnish with finely minced fresh parsley and extra za’atar.
7. Serve with beer hummus and tzatziki.

Roasted Garlic Beer Hummus recipe adapted from The Beeroness http://thebeeroness.com/2012/07/19/jalapeno-ipa-hummus/
Additional photos from www.ifood.com, www.cbc.com, and www.aoinspiration.