Fawaffle with Tahini Herb Sauce

Ingredients

For the fawaffle:

• 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight in water in the refrigerator)
• ⅓ cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh herbs, chopped (I use a combo of parsley and cilantro)
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp Shawarma blend
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• Pam or other cooking spray

For the Tahini Herb Sauce:

• ½ cup room temp water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• ½ cup fresh herbs, chopped (you can use a single herb or a combo of parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, etc.)
• 1 small serrano chili, chopped
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup tahini paste

Instructions

1. Rinse and drain the soaked chickpeas under cold water.
2. Place in a food processor with the onion and garlic. Blend until they are well blended but not into a puree, there should still be small pieces visible. Add all other ingredients except cooking spray. Blend again until all of the ingredients are blended together and the mixture is the consistency of lumpy oatmeal. It will not be smooth like a regular waffle or pancake mix.
3. Heat a waffle iron on medium heat.
4. When waffle iron is ready, spray top and bottom with cooking spray and add about a ⅓ cup of the waffle mix in the center. You want to leave a bit of room on each side so when you close the waffle iron the batter can expand to the edges. Depending on the size and make of your waffle iron you may need more or less batter.
5. Close the lid and let the fawaffle cook for about 5-6 minutes. Open the lid and check to see if it is browned evenly. Remove if ready, if not cook for 1-2 minutes more.
6. Repeat until all of the batter is used up.
7. You can keep the fawaffles warm in an oven set at about 175°F or cover with a piece of foil on a plate or baking sheet.
8. Serve with Tahini Herb Sauce (recipe below) and topped with your choice of mixed greens, and/or a fried egg or spiced honey.
9. To make the sauce: Place all ingredients except the tahini paste in a blender or food processor. Blend until herbs, garlic and serrano are well combined and blended. Add tahini paste and blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick add water (1 tsp at a time) until you get the desired consistency.