Falafel

I have only very recently tried Falafel. I had a bite of Jon's at the new Baba D's in the South Side and it was REALLY good. So a few days later I ordered one for myself from Aladdin's Eatery. The falafel there is fava beans with chickpeas. I think the falafel from Baba D's is just (or mostly) chickpeas. I preferred the Baba D's falafel and looked for recipes that were mostly or all chickpeas.

I decided to try this from allrecipes.com. But I doubled it.



Sean's Falafel
2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, drained
1 1/2 onions, chopped
1 C fresh parsley
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 eggs
4 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp baking powder
2 TBLS olive oil
2 C dry bread crumbs
oil for frying

In a large bowl, mash chickpeas by hand. (do not use a blender, they will be too think).
In a blender, combine onion, garlic and parsley. Process until smooth.
Stir into mashed chickpeas.
In a separate bowl combine eggs, cumin, coriander, salt & pepper, cayenne, lemon juice and baking powder. Add mixture, along with olive oil, to chickpea mixture.
Add breadcrumbs until mixture is no longer sticky, but holds together. Use more or less as needed.
Divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and slightly flatten.
Heat oil to 350F.
Fry patties a few at a time, in hot oil until golden brown.
Service with Tahini Sauce in flat bread or on a bed of couscous.

Tahini Sauce
1 C tahini paste
6 cloves garlic
1 tsp salt
4 TBLS olive oil
1/2 C lemon juice
1 TBLS chopped parsley

Mix in a food processor until smooth. If it's too thick add water a little at a time until you get the consistency you like.

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In a large bowl, mash chickpeas by hand. (do not use a blender, they will be too think).






In a blender, combine onion, garlic and parsley. Process until smooth.






In a separate bowl combine eggs, cumin, coriander, salt & pepper, cayenne, lemon juice and baking powder.






Add breadcrumbs until mixture is no longer sticky, but holds together.
Use more or less as needed.




Divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and slightly flatten.


Heat oil to 350F.

Fry patties a few at a time, in hot oil until golden brown.






Service with Tahini Sauce in flat bread.






Or on a bed of couscous.


Tawny didn't care for these at all. She's never had falafel so I don't know if she just didn't like this recipe, or if she just doesn't like it.

Jon thought they tasted really good, but that they should be drier inside and requested that I add more bread crumbs next time... and maybe fry them a bit longer.

Lilly & I both liked them a lot. Bob of course didn't try them!

The Tahini Sauce was too garlicky and too thick after adding water. I think next time I'll make a yogurt tahini sauce.

Over all... these were very tasty and I'll definitely be making them again!