A Flavorful Falafel Recipe

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

22 Feb 2006 06:33 PM

If you are looking for a tasty vegetarian dish, falafel is the answer! Falafel is a Middle Eastern patty that is as popular in some countries as hamburgers are in the United States. If you have never had it, try this scrumptious recipe! You will need chickpeas, one medium onion, parsley, garlic cloves, chickpea stock, baking soda, coriander, cumin, all purpose flour, vegetable oil, tomato, lettuce, pita bread, 1/2 pound of red chilies, caraway seeds, and olive oil.

The falafel is great with a harissa sauce, but you will want to make your sauce up ahead of time. To make the harissa sauce, take 1/2 pound of red chilies and cut off the stems, remove the seeds, and chop them. Place the chopped red chilies and six cloves of garlic (peeled) in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Add one teaspoon of caraway seeds, one teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of coriander and process until the mixture is smooth. This will make about a cup of harissa sauce. To store, place in a small jar and put a thin layer of olive oil on top. Refrigerate until you are ready to use it.

If necessary, cook and drain 1 1/2 cup of chickpeas. Chop your onion then add that, the 1 1/2 cup of chickpeas, 1/4 cup of parsley, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of chickpea stock, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of coriander, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and salt and pepper to taste to the food processor. Process that mixture until it is smooth. Put your mixture in a glass bowl and refrigerate until it is firm (about 20 to 30 minutes). Shape into patties (should be enough mixture for about a dozen patties) then dust lightly with flour. Add vegetable oil in your skillet and turn the heat on to medium. When hot, add the patties and fry until brown and crisp. Place patties on a paper towel to drain. You can put the patty inside the pita bread with lettuce, tomato and a touch of the harissa sauce.

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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