Tomato and Mint Patties on Sesame Cucumber Ribbons with Vegan Tzatziki
After buying a whole crate of cherry tomatoes at the farmer's market yesterday, I wanted to come up with a light lunch dish that would help to use them up. These patties turned out to be an instant hit! The fresh mint perfectly compliments the sweet tomato flavour, while the cucumber provides a fresh crunch. The creamy vegan tzatziki tastes just like the real thing and finishes the dish off perfectly. Not only does it all look great on the plate, but it's so tasty it left everyone wanting more!
To begin with, make the tzatziki:
Take one packet of firm tofu (approx. 400g). Cut into slices and press between paper towels, with a weight on top, to drain.
Then:
Put the tofu in a vitamix/food processor along with the following ingredients and pulverise until smooth:
3 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 garlic cloves
½ tsp of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Put the paste into bowl and add:
1 tbsp of chopped mint
1 cucumber, de-seeded, grated and squeezed to remove excess moisture
Place in the fridge until ready to use
Next, make the patties:
Place the following ingredients in a vitamix/food processor and pulse until the mixture is chunky but not pulverised:
3 cups of cherry tomatoes
½ cup of mint leaves
1 cup of roughly chopped spring onions
½ tsp of sea salt
Place the mixture into bowl and add:
1½ cups of coconut flour
¼ cup of nutritional yeast
1½ tsps of dried oregano
The equivalent of 3 eggs*
*Use vegan egg replacer or finely grind 3 tbsp of chia seeds. Place them in a bowl and stir in 9 tbsp of water. Allow to sit for 30 minutes. The mixture will thicken to a gel-like consistency. Just before incorporating into the recipe, stir in a pinch of baking powder.
Combine the ingredients well.
Take one handful at a time and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hand. Then, with the heel of your palm, lightly press it down onto a baking tray that's lightly greased with coconut oil so that it forms a pattie shape.
The mixture makes 22 patties.
Bake on gas mark 6 for 12 minutes on each side.
While the patties are baking, make the cucumber salad:
Spiralise 5 cucumbers on the ribbon setting and put them in a bowl.
In a small bowl or jug combine the following ingredients and stir well:
The freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon
1 tbsp of olive oil
1/3 tsp of chilli powder
Pour the dressing onto the cucumber ribbons and make sure they are all evenly coated.
Finally, add 2 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds (I toast them by putting them in a hot, dry pan and constantly turning them until they're browned. Be careful because they can burn quickly)
To serve:
Put a large handful of cucumber ribbons on the plate, add 3 patties and drizzle the tzatziki on top. You may want to add some water to the tzatziki if you would like it to be a little less thick.
Enjoy!