Falafel recipe

Clockwise - Pita Bread, Tahini, Yogurt Dip, Falafel with Hummus, Veggies.

Falafel is one of my favorite dishes. It is wholesome and a complete meal when stuffed in Pita with veggies. On our trip to Egypt, I insisted that all our fellow travelers (friends) try out this Mediterranean dish. Everyone loved it so much that we had to order more ...

Here's the recipe that I have tried .....

Pita Bread: (or buy them )

• 1 package of yeast ( I used half packet of a 25 gm packet of dry yeast)
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup lukewarm water

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until water is frothy. Combine flour and salt in large bowl. Make a small depression in the middle of flour and pour yeast water in depression. Slowly add 1 cup of warm water, and stir with wooden spoon or rubber spatula until elastic. Place dough on floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes. When the dough is no longer sticky and is smooth and elastic, it has been successfully kneaded. Coat large bowl with vegetable oil and place dough in bowl. Turn dough upside down so all of the dough is coated.

Allow to sit in a warm place for about 3 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

Once doubled, roll out in a rope, and pinch off 10-12 small pieces. Place balls on floured surface. Let sit covered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 500 deg F. and make sure rack is at the very bottom of oven. Be sure to also preheat your baking sheet.

Roll out each ball of dough with a rolling pin into circles. Each should be about 5-6 inches across and 1/4 inch thick. Bake each circle for 4 minutes until the bread puffs up. Turn over and bake for 2 minutes. Remove each pita with a spatula from the baking sheet and add additional pitas for baking. Take spatula and gently push down puff. Immediately place in storage bags

Tahini Sauce:

• 5 cups sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 cups olive oil or vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350. Toast sesame seeds for 5-10 minutes, tossing the seeds frequently with a spatula. Do not allow to brown. Cool for 20 minutes. You can also dry roast in a pan. Pour sesame seeds into food processor and add oil. Blend for 2 minutes. Check for consistency. The goal is a thick, yet pourable texture. Add more oil and blend until desired consistency. 

Tip:  Blend the sesame seeds without oil in a dry blender first to get a powder before adding the oil, else it will be difficult to grind. This method will be good especially when you do not want to make so much Tahini sauce. 

Hummus:

• 1/2 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight, cooked and cooled to room temperature.
• 1/4 cup liquid from cooked chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus. Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional). Fors a spicier Hummus, add a slice of red chilli in the blender.

Falafel:

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 tablespoons flour

Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, coriander, cumin and salt. Add flour to bring the ingredients together and bind them. Mash chickpeas well. Use blender if needed so you get a thick batter. Make small balls, flatten and deep fry or shallow fry in a pan.

Yogurt Dip:

• 2 cloves garlic grated 
• 4 spring onions finely chopped
• 1/2 cucumber grated 
• 1 cup thick curd
• Salt to taste

Mix all together and refrigerate.

To assemble:

Slit open pita bread. Stuff with lettuce, slices of cucumber, tomato, falafel. Top with hummus, drizzle with yogurt sauce and tahini sauce to taste.  Enjoy !