ISO Falafel recipes PLEASE!

[erinyyc]

I just recently found out what a falafel is, does anyone have any good, tried and true, recipes? If possible not fried in 2 inches of oil!!

TIA
Erin:D

[gertdog]

Erin,

Not to be unhelpful, but falafel is one of the few things I make from a box (Fantastic Foods brand makes a good dry mix). I've made a few from-scratch versions but didn't like any of them much.

But I didn't post to tell you to use the boxed mix! :o It was to tell you that when I've made falafel (from mix or from scratch), I always cook the balls or patties in the same way... in my nonstick skillet with just a few teaspoons of olive oil. It always works beautifully.

So hopefully someone will post an awesome recipe for you... just know that most any recipe should easily adapt to cooking in a nonstick skillet. Good luck!

[erinyyc]

Thanks gertdog. I was wondering how you serve your falafel? When I had it at a friends, she served it as patties in a pita with a tahini/lemon juice sauce, romaine and tomatoes.

Thanks
Erin

[gertdog]

I usually serve it in pita too. I make a tahini-yogurt sauce (I make it from memory now, but can find the recipe and post if you like), and put sliced tomato and cucumber in the pita with the falafel.

When I was in France earlier this year, we had amazing falafel from a Jewish deli. They were served with the tahini dressing, a tomato relish of some kind, cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and strips of fried eggplant. A little over the top (and very messy to eat) but absolutely delicious!

A few times we've put falafel patties into a greek salad, and I've liked that too.

[kima]

I be to differ with gertdog- I much prefer homemade falafels. The recipe I have had the most success with is from Mollie Katzen's Moosewood Cookbook . Give it a try- lots of garlic is the key!!:)

[erinyyc]

kima... would you mind posting the recipe?? Or is there a site where I could find it?

Thanks
Erin:)

[kima]

No problem Erin- be forwarned I am not a great typist!:o By the way I was in Calgary a couple of weeks ago- sounds like you are still experiencing pretty hot weather!

Felafel
4cups cooked chickpeas (ok to use canned. Two 15oz. cans will provide the right amount)
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. tumeric
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. minced onion
1/4c. minced parsley
1/4c. water
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
a few dashes cayenne
1/3c. flour
oilfor frying

Rinse the chickpeas, and drain them well.
Combine all ingredients except the flour in a food processor or a medium bowl and process or mash until you have a uniform batter.
Add flour, and stir until thoroughly combined. You can cook the felafel right away or store in a container in the fridge for several days.
Heat a heavy skillet and add about 3 Tbsp. oil. When hot drop tablespoonfuls of the batter into the pan, flattening each slightly. like a small thick pancake.
Saute about 10 mins. on each side until golden and crisp. Add small amounts of oil to the pan as needed.
Place the cooked felafels on a plate lined with paper towel and if necessary keep warm in a 300 F oven.

I serve these in pita bread with chopped tomatoes, lettuce, cuke etc. Makes a great summer dinner!

[AndreaU]

gertdog, I also have been making falafel from the Fantastic Foods box! But after seeing kima's recipe, I'm motivated to try my own. I also serve falafel in a pita with tomato, cucumber and onion with yogurt sauce. Mmmmmmm!

[Robyncz]

Kima

Thanks for posting the falafel recipe! I'm going to give it a try. I'm a closet falafel fanatic in Austin, Texas, where falafel is a little difficult to come by and choices are limited. When visiting New York City or Paris, two of the best food cities in the world, it is actually difficult to get me into a restaurant because I'd much rather eat the fabulous falafel available from street vendors. In fact, I'm salivating right now at the thought of my favorite NYC falafel vendor in Rockefeller Plaza. I wonder what the plane fares from Austin to NY are running right now. Must . . . . have . . . . falafel . . . . soon . . .

Robyn

[BlueMoose]

What about a recipe for yogurt sauce? Anyone?

TIA,
Chrisi

[AndreaU]

Here are a few recipes for yogurt sauce that will go well with falafel:

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

1 (6 ounce) container plain yogurt
1/2 cucumber - peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Combine and chill for 30 minutes.


Tahini and Yogurt Sauce

3 tablespoons tahini
1 lemon, juiced
1 1/4 cups water
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup yogurt, drained
1/4-teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Mix together tahini, lemon juice, and water until smooth. Add garlic, yogurt, and pepper sauce.



Tzatziki Sauce

1 large English cucumber, peeled and shredded
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
salt to taste

1. Place cheesecloth over a medium bowl and strain the yogurt 6 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.
2. Drain as much excess liquid from the cucumber and garlic as possible.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, vinegar, olive oil and salt.
Stir until a thick mixture has formed.

**Tzatziki is traditionally used in Greek dishes like gyros, but it makes a wonderful sauce for falafel as well as a great veggie dip!

[gertdog]

All right, Kima, you've shamed into trying homemade falafels one more time! :D And now there are all the great dressing recipes on this thread to try too... all are different from the one I make.

I'm pretty sure I tried the Moosewood recipe a long time ago, but that was in my less-confident-in-the-kitchen days, so who knows what wrong turns I took with the recipe. I do love falafel, and I'll be excited if these turn out well!

Thanks for the recommendation. :)