Last month I went on a last minute trip to Berlin to visit my parents that were there for a short holiday. I wasn’t planning to go at all, but that night when they told me they had space for me to sleep in their apartment, I booked a bus ticket and left early in the morning. I arrived in beautiful spring-like berlin (big difference with when we visited in the winter, remember Ellen?) and although I was only there for more or less 2 days, it was absolutely wonderful. I think Berlin is an amazing city and there is so much good food! Because, lets be honest, isn’t that the reason we go on holiday :)?
One morning we visited one of the city’s great farmers markets and of course we had to try out some food. There was so much to choose from, I think we walked around a few times before we could make a decision. We settled on a Turkish food stand that had a variety of patties stuffed in pita bread. I chose the zucchini patties and they were so delicious, I knew I had to try to make them at home.
This recipe was one of the first attempts to recreate them and although the patties itself were not that much like the ones in Berlin, they were very good and I wanted to share them with you. These patties are kinda like baked falafel but with the edition of zucchini. This is a good thing because more veggies! The less good thing is that the zucchini makes them a little less easy to work with and that’s why we chose the best way to cook them is in a pan. We serve them just like the ones in Berlin in a pita bread, with enough tzatziki and some extra veggies.
Although these patties are very delicious, I had an urge to make a more a-like version of the ones I made in Berlin and I am happy to tell you that I did! We will share those with you soon as well! For now, try these! They are a wonderful adaption of baked falafels we know you will love!
Zucchini falafel patties
for 4
1 courgette/zucchini
240 gr chickpeas (1 can)
1 onion
1 garlic
½ tbsp dried paprika
5 sprigs of mint
1 tbsp coconut oil
salt and pepper
To garnish:
4 pita breads, sligthly toasted
1 cup tzatziki (see recipe below)
2 hands of mixed lettuce
3 radishes, thinly sliced
2 carrots, grated
Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until just mixed but not totally smooth yet. Form balls with your hand and press them down a bit so you end up with patties. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat and add the patties in batches. You have to be really patient here and not try to turn them before they are cooked underneath, or you end up with not so pretty patties (still delicious!).
To serve, open the pita breads and fill with some lettuce, radishes and carrots. Top with the patties and tzatziki.
Tzatziki
1 cup greek yoghurt
½ cucumber, grated or chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 garlic, finely chopped
¼ lemon, juiced
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
Mix all the ingredient into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
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