This is a great vegetarian meal that includes fresh summer veggies, protein and is packed with flavor. I set up all of the toppings and let people choose what they want to put in in their pita pocket – just as they do at a falafel stand – but don’t skip the tehina! It brings it all together. Try swapping out the traditional Middle Eastern falafel sandwich with this this Sabich sandwich for a great weeknight dinner.
CourseMain Course
CuisineMiddle Eastern
Servings
Prep Time
4people
30minutes
Cook Time
15minutes
Servings
Prep Time
4people
30minutes
Cook Time
15minutes
Ingredients
4Pita breadspocket cut open to fill
Baked Eggplant roundsrecipe below
Tahinirecipe below
Cabbage slawrecipe below
Israeli Saladrecipe below
6Eggs, Hard Boiledsliced with an egg slicer into rounds
1 Can or JarSour Picklessliced into bite sized rounds (A can of Israeli pickles are best)
Israeli Salad
1CucumberDiced very small
2TomatoesDiced very small
1Red PepperDiced very small
1/8CupRed onionDiced very small (optional)
1/4 CupParsleyFinely chopped (optional)
Juice of 1 Lemon
1/4CupExtra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepperto taste
Eggplant Rounds
1Globe EggplantSliced into 1/2 inch rounds
1/4CupCup Extra virgin olive oil
1CloveGarlicgrated on a microplane
Salt and Pepperto taste
Cabbage Slaw
2CupsGreen cabbagesliced thin
Juice of 1 Lemon
Salt and Pepperto taste
Tahini
3/4CupRaw Tahini paste
1 CloveGarlicgrated on a microplane
1/2 Cup Parsleyfinely chopped
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt and Pepperto taste
Instructions
To Assemble the Sabich Sandwiches:
Cut open the pita bread so that it can be stuffed. For the more hungry, use a whole pita and for the smaller people cut the pita in half and then open up.
Stuff the pita with the various salads, eggplant, and eggs (as people want) and then drizzle tahini over the various veggies inside.
Open your mouth wide and take your first big bite!
To make Israeli Salad:
Mix all of the ingredients together and enjoy! The key to this Israeli salad is dicing everything into very small pieces and making sure you dress it well with the lemon juice, olive oil and salt. I have a special chopper that makes this process super quick.
For the Eggplant Slices:
Mix together the olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Peel (zebra-like) stripes the long way down the eggplant.
Then slice the eggplant (the short way) into ½ inch rounds.
Line a sheet pan with parchment or foil and spray with cooking spray.
Place the eggplant rounds on the tray. Using a pastry brush, “paint” the upward facing side of each eggplant round with the olive oil mixture.
Bake at 425 until the outside is light brown and the meat of the eggplant is soft, with a fork easily going through.
NOTE: Traditionally, the eggplants in this dish are fried, but I lighten it up by baking them. Cook them until they become soft and have a creamy flesh and you wont miss the frying!
Simple cabbage slaw
Mix the raw shredded cabbage with the lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
For the Tahini:
Mix all of the above ingredients together. Add water, and mix with a spoon or whisk until the mixture has a light, almost white, color and a pourable consistency.