Falafel-Stuffed Pitas

I am a HUGE fan of Falafel. It's very flavorful, crispy, healthy, and oh so good!

Falafel:

1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp ground red pepper

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 lg. egg

1 (15-oz) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

1 Tbsp olive oil

Sauce*:

1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)

1 garlic clove, minced

Remaining Ingredients:

4 (6-inch) whole wheat pitas, cut in half

8 curly leaf lettuce leaves

16 (1/4 inch thick) slices tomato

1. To prepare falafel, place first 8 ingredients in a food processor; process mixture until smooth. Divide mixture into 16 equal portions, and shape each portion into a 1/4-inch-thick patty. Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties, and cook 5 minutes on each side or until patties are browned.

2. To prepare sauce, combine yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, and 1 garlic clove, stirring mixture with a whisk. Spread about 1 1/2 Tbsp. tahini sauce into each pita half. Fill each pita half with 1 lettuce leaf, tomato slices, and 2 patties.

*When I make this I don't make the tahini sauce. Instead I spread some hummus (homemade or store bought) inside the pita and I whip up some ranch dressing to go over the top. Mmmm!