I don’t know what it is that makes a burger so attractive? I’d like to think it’s because of all the colorful layers you can see (or is it the juicy beef and ketchup?). Well, I love this falafel naan burger for its colorful layers and its incredible taste!
Falafel naan burger; healthy, tasty, easy to make and most importantly my kids’ favorite!
I like to add this to my meal plan when I have put falafel, naan and pickled onions and/or cucumber on the week menu as well. Because then this burger will be on the table within 10 minutes; grab naan from the freezer, thaw it and quickly heat it up in a skillet. Form a burger patty from the falafel mixture you have in the fridge and prepare it on the stovetop. Make the quick-pickled red onions and cucumber. Or maybe you still have some left in your fridge?.. even better! Lastly, prepare the 1, 2 or 3 sauces (or grab them from the fridge if you have them made already).
How I make this falafel naan burger from scratch?
To be as efficient as possible follow this order:
- I make the dough for naan bread. Because the dough needs to rise, I start with this. You need approximately 2 hours;
- While the naan dough is rising, I make the mixture for the falafel patties. Once it is ready I put it in the fridge to firm up and I continue with the next step;
- I make the pickled red onion and the pickled cucumber. It’s a quick-pickle recipe, so it doesn’t take much time to make;
- I take the falafel mixture out of the fridge and form burger patties. I heat up a skillet and cook the falafel golden brown on both sides. Carefully I transfer the burgers to the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes;
- Now that the naan dough has doubled in size, I divide it in 4 pieces and form balls. I cover them for another 10 minutes with a towel (as explained in this naan bread recipe);
- While the naan bread dough balls are resting again, I prepare the sauce(s); this will only take about 5 minutes. Until assembling the burger, I store them in the refrigerator;
- I wash the greens;
- Now it is time to roll out the naan breads. Instead of rolling them out round into a circle, I try to make ovals/rectangles like you can kind of see in the image below:
- I heat up a large skillet with a bit of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, I slide a rolled out naan bread into the skillet and cook it until it is golden brown with some nice air pockets. I flip it over and repeat on the other side.
- Now it is time to build the falafel naan burger; Stacking all ingredients on one side of the oval naan bread, I begin with some greens followed by tzatziki or yogurt-lime sauce, then pickled red onions. I add the falafel burger patty on top and some pickled cucumbers, harissa sauce and finally more greens. Once all is stacked up, I fold over the other end of the naan bread and my falafel naan burger is ready.
If you prefer to make round/circular naan bread, you can do that as well. You stack the ingredients the same way, but just use two individual mini naan breads:
Such a tasty wholesome burger! I love it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. It is
flavor packed – wholesome – easily adjustable – & so delicious
Love falafel? Check out my mediterranean night; falafel, tzatziki, pita bread and hummus. Create the perfect mediterranean sharing platter!
Falafel naan burger
Ingredients
- 4 whole wheat naan breads (homemade is best*, but store bought works as well. You won't have the oval shape though)
- 1 handful greens (use whatever you have on hand. I usually use either kale or arugula)
- 4 falafel burgers (homemade is best! Recipe attached in Notes**)
- 4-6 tbsp tzatziki (homemade is best! Recipe attached in Notes***) or sub yogurt lime sauce*****
- 4 tbsp pickled red onions (homemade ****** or store bought)
- 4 tbsp pickled cucumbers (homemade ****** or store bought)
- 2-4 tbsp harissa sauce (homemade is best! Recipe attached in Notes****)
- 4 tbsp olive oil (for making the naan breads)
- ¼ cup oats (optional, to coat the burgers with)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F/175C;
- Start by making the dough for naan bread. Because the dough needs to rise, start with this. You need approximately 2 hours;
- While the naan dough is rising, make the mixture for the falafel patties. Once it is ready, put it in the fridge to firm up;
- Make the pickled onions and cucumbers by mixing all ingredients together in a jar.
- Take the falafel mixture out of the fridge and form burger patties. Optionally, coat the burgers with (quick) oats to some extra crunch.
- Heat up a skillet and cook the falafel golden brown on both sides (3-5 minutes). Carefully transfer them to a baking tray in the oven for 5-10 minutes;
- Now that the naan dough has doubled in size, divide the dough in 4 pieces and form balls. Cover them for another 10 minutes with a towel (as explained in this naan bread recipe);
- Prepare harissa sauce**** and tzatziki*** and/or yogurt-lime sauce*****
- Roll out the naan breads. Instead of rolling them out round, try to make ovals/rectangles;
- Heat up a large skillet with a bit of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, slide in a rolled out naan bread and cook it until it is golden brown with some nice air pockets. Flip it over and repeat on the other side;
- Assemble the falafel naan burger; stack all ingredients (greens – tzatziki – red onions -falafel burger -pickled cucumbers – harissa sauce – more ¾greens) on one side of the naan bread. Once all is stacked, fold over the other end of the naan bread and the burger is ready.
Notes
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
If you like this recipe, please consider rating it with the star rating system and leave a comment below – it’s so helpful for us and other readers. Thank you! And don’t forget to snap a picture if you make this and tag @familicious.kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #familicious. Awesome! You can also find us on Facebook and Pinterest.
Leave a Reply