Falafel is a Middle
Eastern version of our parupu vada made with fava or garbanzo beans or
combination of both. The beans are soaked overnight, ground to a coarse
mixture, rolled them into small balls and deep fried in oil. It can be eaten just
as a snack or roll them in a flatbread drizzled with homemade Tzatziki
sauce (yogurt sauce) and hot sauce. I tasted the Falafal for the first time in
Amsterdam, many years back. I was hooked to Falafel
since then. Amsterdam has lot of Falafel joints because of Turks and
Moroccan population there.
I have made
Falafel several times with Chickpea (Garbanzo beans). But this time I tried
with dried Fava beans.
Ingredients:
Fava Beans - 1 lb.
(soaked overnight)
Red Onion - 1 (very
finely chopped)
Garlic
- 1-2 cloves
Parsley
- 1/2 a bunch, chopped
Cilantro
-1/2 a bunch, chopped
Chili powder - 1 tbs
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
All purpose flour (Maida) - 2 tbs
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil
Salt
Method:
In a food processor,
combine beans with onion, parsley, and cilantro . Grind them to a coarse
mixture. Add chili powder, cumin powder, flour, baking soda and mix it well. Roll the mixture into
small balls and deep fry them. Stuff the falafel in a flatbread along with
lettuce, onions, hot sauce, and yogurt-dill sauce.
~Yummy Falafel
~ Slightly toasted flatbread
Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients:
Greek Yogurt – 1 cup
Dill or Mint leaves – 2 tbs (finely chopped)
English Cucumber- ½ (finely chopped or grated)
Garlic Clove - 1 finely minced
Lemon Juice – ½ tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp (toasted and powdered)
Siracha Sauce - 1 tsp
Salt & Pepper
Greek Yogurt – 1 cup
Dill or Mint leaves – 2 tbs (finely chopped)
English Cucumber- ½ (finely chopped or grated)
Garlic Clove - 1 finely minced
Lemon Juice – ½ tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp (toasted and powdered)
Siracha Sauce - 1 tsp
Salt & Pepper
Method:
Mix all the ingredients
and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Here is the Falafel wrapped in a Lavash (Armenian Flatbread).
Here is the Falafel wrapped in a Lavash (Armenian Flatbread).
