If McDonald’s can have special sauce for the Big Mac, why can’t I have special sauce for my baked falafel burgers?
I usually think of burgers as delivery tools for their toppings and condiments. When I get a hamburger, I want lots of cheese, caramelized onions, fresh lettuce, and barbecue sauce. Sure, it needs to be a good burger, but all of the other pieces are incredibly important.
When I made the falafel burgers, I made sure that they were full of flavor- cilantro, parsley, and garlic all played key roles. In addition to that I wanted flavor surrounding the burger. I kept the bun minimal by using pita. (No need to lose all of the other flavors due to the bread component.) I added diced red onion and butter lettuce for crunch and brightness. The final component was the sauce. Typical toppings of mustard and ketchup wouldn’t work, and mayo was too bland. Time to create a sauce of its own!
I thought about the flavors that I wanted to evoke, and tahini came to mind. Tahini is a key part of hummus (which is made with garbanzo beans, just like falafel), so I knew that they would pair well. However, tahini is thick, a sesame version of peanut butter. It also is one-dimensional in flavor, so I needed something to brighten it. With that came the idea to add some heat. Thank you, sriracha! Combined with Greek yogurt I had a sauce that made me say, “Yum!” out loud. In an empty house. I take that as a sign of success, not that I’m losing my mind.
If you’re thinking about making the falafel burgers, definitely take the 60 seconds to make a batch of this sauce. It will transform the burgers from delicious to unbelievably out of this world!
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tb. tahini
- 1-½ tsp. sriracha
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well.
- Serve with baked falafel burger.
- Store remaining sauce covered in refrigerator.
- If you like spice, you may want to double the amount of sriracha.
