Fava Bean Falafel

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

  

Method:

Mix all the ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Here is the Falafel wrapped in a Lavash (Armenian Flatbread).