Low Fat Carrot & Cumin Falafel

I'm finally in my new kitchen (even though its on it's last legs), so I've been busy cooking up some dishes to make up for the time I lost moving [ and trying to get the stove to work]. It's my last day before I go back to work and start the commute so I thought I'd set some time aside and make a lunch today, that will do nicely for lunch tomorrow also to take to work.

For those of you that know me, I'm a big fan of the high protein, low carb approach to my food, especially mid week. It's because of this that I had decide to make carrot and cumin falafels which are made with predominately chickpeas. Chickpeas are a great source of protein and are very filling and low fat.
Falafels are basically deep fried pattys made from chickpeas and usually used as a filling in a pitta bread or as part of a salad originally from the Middle East.

My falafels are not deep fried [heaven's forbid no!!), they are instead baked in the oven for 20 minutes or so. My falafels will be used in a salad, but please yourself. Falafels are absolutely divine in a pitta with crispy lettuce, tomato slices and cumcber with a tahini dressing.

Makes 20 mini falafels

Ingredients

• 400g can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 red chili, deseeded
• 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove, quartered
• 2 tbsp of cumin powder
• salt and pepper
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp of flat leaf parsley
• 1 egg white
• 2 spring onions, chopped

Method

1. In a food processor, add all the ingredients
2. Whizz until smooth
3. Preheat the oven to 210 degrees
4. Place the whizzed mixture in the fridge to firm, while the oven is preheating.
5. Get a baking tray and line with baking parchment
6. Using a teaspoon, make 20 little balls from the falafel mixture and place on the baking sheet.
7. Bake in the oven, from 15 minutes and then turn and cook for a further 10 minutes.
8. Serve as part of a mezze or as the main attraction for a salad.

I'm serving mine falafels with 1 tbsp of cous cous, 1 tbsp of hummus, rocket leaves, and stuffed peppers. Falafels are not complete without some low fat natural yogurt and lemon juice.