Roasted Air Fryer Peppers, Citrus dressing and Falafel bowl

Choices to build flavor in your dish:

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Choice #1: Star Ingredient

Incorporating some ready-made ingredients is not something I shy from on a weeknight. In this case, I started the dish with some flavorful falafels. They are not extremely complicated to make, but frying food with a toddler around is not a relaxing activity so I prefered to use the air fryer.

Choice #2: Supporting actors

So, leveraging falafels as my star ingredient, I went on defining supporting actors. I had some bell peppers in the fridge and avocado which both combine well with middle eastern flavors. Eggplants would have been lovely too, for instance.

Choice #3: Binding it all together

Except from the avocado, both the falafels and the bell peppers are on the crunchy dry side. So, I knew I needed a sauce to add some creaminess and unctuosity. I had 2 main possibilities: either enhance the deep flavors and add spice with a paprika sauce or go full contrast with fresh herbs and citrus. I decided for the latter one, as I believed it would bring more balance to the dish with a contrasting flavor (and in case it is not clear by now, I LOVE lemons). But both would have worked very nicely. Tahini (traditional sesame paste) would have been of course an option, but not something I had in my pantry.

• 2 table spoons of high temperature cooking oil such as colza, avocado, or sunflower
• Paprika
• 3 bell peppers
• 2 portions of ready-made falafels
• Cilantro
• Half an avocado
• 1 lemon juice
• 3 spoons of olive oil
• Half a cup or 150 grams of Greek yogurt

• Cut the bell peppers in small cubes 1cm (they will cook faster). Add 2 tablespoons of your high cooking oil, paprika, and salt to taste
• I cooked mine in an air fryer at 200C for 20 min but 30-40min in a traditional oven at the same temperature works very well as well.
• Prepare the sauce by mixing the juice of the lemon, olive oil, cilantro, salt, pepper to the Greek yogurt.
• Enjoy a well-deserved rest and towards the last 5 min add the falafels in the air fryer to warm up with the vegetables.
• When roasted, add the vegetables to the avocado in cubes and mix with the sauce with some cilantro and falafels on top.

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Daddy verdict: there is just one downside with this dish… It is already finished

Mummy verdict: very flavorful, could add some pumpkin seeds for even more crunch. Why not try an avocado dressing next time?