Chickpea Cakes with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce ♥

Today's vegetarian quick supper recipe: Chickpea Cakes aka chickpea patties or chickpea burgers. What is the difference between a "cake" and a "pattie" and a "burger"? Never mind. Served with a little Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce aka tzatziki on the side, these are great, with a nubbly texture, plenty of moistness and lots of fresh flavor. Weight Watchers 4 to 5 points.

One thing's for certain, we each get 24 hours in a day. No matter who we are and where we live. No matter our age, our education, our bank accounts, our weight, our ambition, our baggage, our Facebook friends, our cars, our clothes, our homes, our good intentions. Nobody is shorted for 23 hours, no one can buy 25.

So February 29th is a special day, a day that comes just once every four years, often enough to take notice, rare enough to not waste. Every four years, we get the gift – all of us – of an extra day, a whole day, an entire yet-to-be-explored, yet-to-be-lived day.

How do you spend February 29th? Is it a day of contemplation? of carefree live 'n' let live? Is it a day to play it safe in simple gratitude for oh-so-many gifts or one to toss gifts to the wind, risking plain gifts for gifts with ribbons? Is it a day to step forward or step back? And oh yes, is taking a step back really ten steps forward? Or is it the other way 'round, that a step forward really means slipping twenty steps back? Life math so confuses me.

February 29th. Make it a good one.

CHICKPEA CAKES with CUCUMBER-YOGURT SAUCE

Hands-on time: 10 minutes for cucumber-yogurt sauce, 20 minutes for chickpea cakes
Time to table: 30 minutes
Makes 4 chickpea cakes & 1 cup cucumber-yogurt sauce

CUCUMBER-YOGURT SAUCE
1/2 an English cucumber, grated
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1 green onion, white and green parts, chopped fine
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Salt & pepper to taste

Arrange the grated cucumber in a colander in the sink and sprinkle with salt. Let drain for 10 minutes or until the chickpea cakes are cooking, whichever is longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients

CHICKPEA CAKES
1 large egg
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 - 1 teaspoon garam masala
1/16 teaspoon cayenne
Salt & pepper to taste
15 ounces canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), mashed fine with a fork
1/2 cup panko (what is panko?)
1 green onion, white and green parts, chopped fine
1-1/2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Light film of oil, for frying

While the cucumber drains, in a large bowl, whisk the egg, then whisk in the yogurt, olive oil, spices and seasoning. Stir in the chickpeas, panko, green onion and cilantro, combining without overworking. Divide mixture in four, gently form four one-inch thick patty with your hands, compressing the mixture just enough to hold it together.

In a large skillet, heat oil on MEDIUM until shimmery. Add the chickpea cakes and cook without moving for four to five minutes per side or until golden and hot clear through.

Serve immediately with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce on the side.

ALANNA's TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS VS GARDEN CUCUMBERS English cucumbers have tender skins and fewer seeds. If you use a garden cucumber, you may want to peel or "stripe" the skin if it seems tough and scoop out the center seeds if they're large and tough.
WHY SALT & DRAIN CUCUMBERS? Salt and a little time helps a cucumber release its excess water, it's a good step to make time for, otherwise the Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce can be a little watery.
0% VS 2% GREEK YOGURT The inspiring recipe called for 2% Greek yogurt and usually I would agree, since I find that 0% fat products range from awful to so-so. But I'm a fan of the Fage 0% yogurt and since I was buying yogurt especially for this sauce, went for it, no regrets.
GREEK YOGURT SUBSTITUTE No Greek yogurt? Or is Greek yogurt a tad expensive? I hear you on both counts. A decent substitute is to drain plain yogurt through a paper towel lining a colander or strainer, releasing the whey and leaving a thicker, creamier yogurt.
MASHING the CHICKPEAS The inspiring recipe specified using a food processor for mashing the chickpeas. But it was really easy-peasy to smash the chickpeas, half at a time, in a flat bowl with sides to stop the chickpeas from flinging themselves onto the counter. A side benefit? An small upper arm workout.
DRAINING the CHICKPEAS I did drain but did NOT rinse the chickpeas before mashing. But after publishing, a reader asked if the chickpeas should be drained and y'know, I like the idea of saving a tablespoon or two of the chickpea liquid to mash in. Your choice.

TODAY'S VEGETABLE RECIPE INSPIRATION The Best of America's Test Kitchen "Best Recipes and Reviews 2012" - available on Amazon with a list price $35, as of the date of writing $23 but the cover price is $9.95 and this is what I paid for it in a Barnes & Noble store two weeks ago, on display, the cover says, until March 26, 2012.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
CHICKPEA CAKES ONLY Per Chickpea Cake: 229 Calories; 8g Tot Fat; 1g Sat Fat; 52mg Cholesterol; 350mg Sodium; 31g Carb; 5g Fiber; 1g Sugar; 9g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 4, PointsPlus 4

CUCUMBER-YOGURT SAUCE Per Serving (about 1/4 cup): 18 Calories; 0g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 81mg Sodium; 2g Carb; 0g Fiber; 2g Sugar; 2g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 0, PointsPlus 0

BOTH Per Serving (1 cake and 1/4 cup sauce): 246 Calories; 8g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 52mg Cholesterol; 431mg Sodium; 33g Carb; 5g Fiber; 3g Sugar; 11g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 4.5, PointsPlus 5

---

Still Hungry?

NEVER MISS A RECIPE! For 'home delivery' of new recipes from A Veggie Venture, sign up here.
Once you do, new recipes will be automatically delivered straight to your e-mail In Box.

KITCHEN PARADE, my food column LAST WEEK
Orange-Kissed Marshmallows &
Milk-Braised Pork Roast

ST LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, my restaurant-recipe column LAST WEEK
Beggar's Purses from McGurk's Public House

EAT VEGETABLES IN SEASON: THIS WEEK, 2005 - 2011
White on White Pur&eactute;e Chickpea Gumbo Mom’s Favorite Leftover Magic Curried Vegetable Bisque Simple Braised Celery Potato & Ridge Gourd Curry Parsnip Fries Candied Fennel Ice Cream Provencal Green Monster Soup Carrot Buttermilk Pancakes Simple Butternut Squash Soup Pepper Sandwiches with Goat Cheese Pepper Spread Kohlrabi & Apple Slaw with Creamy Coleslaw Dressing (<<< this week's favorite!) Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi with Creamy Tomato Sauce

MORE FAVORITE RECIPES for CHICKPEAS
~ Pumpkin Hummus with Honey ~
~ Hot & Sour Chickpeas ~
~ Chickpeas with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta ~
~ Chipotle Chickpea Salad ~
~ more recipes with dried beans, lentils & other legumes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ Broccoli Rigatoni with Chickpeas & Lemon ~
~ Chickpea & Chicken Salad ~
~ Simple Hummus ~
~ more recipes with dried & canned beans ~
from Kitchen Parade, my food column

A Veggie Venture is home of 'veggie evangelist' Alanna Kellogg and the
famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.
© Copyright Kitchen Parade 2012