FALAFEL

FALAFEL 

Another VERY popular dish in the Middle East. When I was on holidays in Egypt,  I stumbled across a falafel stand in almost every street corner. But this has become so popular, that it came as no surprise to me passing by the countless vendors selling it on the streets of New York (Oh how I love that city)

It is consumed for breakfast, dinner, or as a snack. As a main dish, it's served as a sandwich, stuffed in pitta bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and a tahini sauce. As an appetizer, it is served on a salad, or with hummus and tahini. 

1. 1 cup dried chickpeas 
2. 3/4 cup broad beans
3. 1/2 large onion roughly chopped onion 
4. 4 cloves of chopped garlic
5. 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
6. 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh coriander
7. 1 tablespoon coriander powder
8. 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
9. 1/2 teaspoon red pepper powder
10. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12. 2 tablespoons flour
13. 1 teaspoon of salt
14. Vegetable oil for frying
• 
  
• In a bowl, soak the dried chickpeas overnight in cold water. No need to do this if you are using canned chickpeas.  

• Blend the uncooked chickpeas (drained), garlic, onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, salt and red pepper in the food processor. Sprinkle in the baking powder and the flour. 
• 
  Using your hands, form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten. Then in a pot, heat approx 2 inches of oil . Fry the balls in the hot oil on each side until golden brown (approx 2-3 minutes on either side). Drain on a paper towel. 
• 
  Now this is where it gets exciting. YOU choose how YOU want to eat it. I'm usually quite impatient,and would have already eaten 2 or 3 falafels from the plate. 

It is also great eaten as a sandwich with some humus. 

Or you can stuff a pitta bread with falafel, chopped tomatoes, onion, green peppers, some harissa hot sauce or tabasco sauce and finally, drizzle some tahini sauce* 

• *Tahini Sauce
1. 1 cup yogurt
2. 3 tablespoons tahini (seasame seed paste)
3. 1 teaspoon minced garlic
4. 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
5. salt to taste
6. pepper to taste
7. 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 
  
• Whisk together yoghurt, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cumin. Thin with a little water (1/4 cup) to create a smooth sauce.

Simply DELISH :)