Turkish Falafel Potato Bowl with Lemon Sesame Dressing

Preparation

Prep Time: 20min | Cook Time: 30min

1. Preheat the oven to 450 °F (232 °C).
2. Prepare the falafel mix and shape into 48 1-1/2 ounce patties, this can be done using a red #24 (1.5 ounce) disher.
3. Once the patties are formed into balls, place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, using a wet hand, gently press the falafel balls down slightly.  Bake the falafels for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.
4. To prepare the mashed potatoes, simply follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s packaging and hold warm at >145 F for no longer than 4 hours.
5. To make the yogurt sauce: combine the yogurt, cucumber, mint, and dill together in a large bowl.  Keep the sauce cold (<40 °F or <4.4 °C)
6. To make the lemon-sesame dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, water, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and salt until smooth. If the dressing is too thick, add more water, ½ tablespoon at a time, until it’s a drizzleable consistency.
7. To plate up, place a ½ cup or white disher of the mashed potatoes at the base. Spoon 1 ounce of the yogurt dressing followed by two falafel. Drizzle a tablespoon of the dressing over the potato bowl and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. This dish can be made with a baked potato instead of mashed potatoes if desired.

Notes

If falafel is not an option, turkey meatballs can also be used.