Homemade Falafel

(Image from One Hot Stove)

Last night I tried my hand at falafel and they turned out very well.  This is an easy recipe that uses mostly ingredients that you probably keep in your kitchen.  I never measure herbs and spices, so the amounts below are approximations, adjust to your liking.

2 cans garbanzo beans - rinsed and drained well

2 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced parsley

2 cloves of garlic (less or more is fine too)

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix above ingredients and blend in food processor to coarse grind or just mash very well like I did.

Mix in 2 tablespoons of flour ( I used whole wheat).

Form into approximately 12 balls.  You can also make patties if it is easier for you and your pan.

Get 1/2 oil in your pan (cast iron or enameled cast iron holds heat the best for fries) and heat it up until it sizzles when you drop water in.  Be very careful, it is also helpful to have a grease shield for splatters.

Do the balls in batches until brown and crispy all over.



Sauce - 2 tablespoons of tahini, mix with juice of lemon or more for taste and consistency, 2 tablespoons of water, a pinch of salt.  The sauce should be the consistency of, well like Nate said last night, the paste you used to eat in grade school.



Put a couple balls in a pita with sauce and lettuce, shredded carrot, sliced cucumbers, a little red onion and you have a yummy dinner.  If only we had some of those super hot small yellow peppers.



I know there is a lot of variation in this recipe, but you have to develop the food you make to your tastes.  Using more or less or something when cooking because you like garlic or you like food spicy is good, don't be so rigid to the recipe - unless you are baking.