Author Topic: Falafel Making  (Read 5369 times)

Cheese Head

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Falafel Making
« on: March 11, 2012, 04:10:06 PM »
Love Falafel sandwiches ever since being posted in Damascus Syria where they were very cheap at SYP10 (about USD0.25).

Made a batch from scratch before, but the formed felafel's fell apart in the deep fryer, I think because too moist.

Made this batch from small retail package bought here in Houston but made in Lebanon. Very easy to make, (used 3/4 cup room temp water), shape, and cook for about 1 min per batch (made 23). End product very tasty but some granules little hard, not very re-hydrated. Next time will use full cup water and wait 3 hours.

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2012, 06:42:14 PM »
Oh john, you can't be serious!   a ready mix?!   
Its so easy and healthy to make your own fresh.

Buy some fresh chickpees of any verietal,soak them overnight (optional with baking soda) in cold water.
Use a meat mincer on fine plate, put some minced garlic and onion,fresh parsely,cumin powder,salt,pepper ,chilli powder if you like it hot and BOOM, you got falafel.

There is also the Mitzri version with fabba beans which is made the same way.

Offline DeejayDebi

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2012, 08:38:42 PM »
They look really good. I never thought to make them. There's a tiny little 10x10 shop down the road that makes them I get when I am nearby and they are excelent. I keep trying to rememeber to look them up but always forget. Thanks for reminding me.

So they are chickpeas? What is thet little donut thingy you have theree? Interesting shapes.

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2012, 09:59:18 PM »
Yep, falafel is basically fried hummus with the tahini on the side lol

Offline DeejayDebi

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2012, 10:43:41 PM »
I thought it would be more completcated than that - figures my favorrite food are simple leftovers.

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2012, 10:46:25 PM »
I made a great batch this week, the paste freezes really well and the left over frying oil is very flavorful to use in other dishes.

Offline DeejayDebi

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2012, 12:28:30 AM »
and that recipe would be where .... ???? Hint! Hint!

Nudge, nudge ....

Just wondering. I think the only way I have seen chickpeas here is in a can. Is that usable? I haven't seen any fresh or dried ones.

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2012, 09:17:51 AM »
Fresh are very rare and dont even arrive to the market, you need to know a grower to get some.
Dried is much more common and can be found in most spice stores.

Canned are already cooked which may or may not work.

As I said the recipe is fairly freestyle.

Here is the general direction:
1 kg of soaked pees.
1 head of garlic
2 large onions
salt and pepper
Coriander and parselly - the more the better,but a spring each will do. I pre chope them so they dont clog my mesh.
1 tbsp of cummin
1 tbsp of paprica (you can even use smoked)
1 tsp of baking soda (creats "air-ness")
Chilli powder if you like it hot
Optional : 3 slices of dry bread, just the crumb. soaked and squized of water. 

If it doesnt hold,use some bread crumbs. just a few tsps.


Grind everything in a meat mincer using a fine mesh. If your strugelling you can use a coarse and then redo with a fine.

Heat up the oil really hot and then turn down the heat, you want gental frying. when its dark brown, its ready.
Drain it of oil using a paper towel before eating or alse you will ruin your diet  O0
 

Cheese Head

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2012, 12:15:06 PM »
Hi Tomer, yep I know I needed chiding over using a package! It was a leftover from my Dad, I had tried making from scratch before from a recipe off the internet but they fell apart during frying. So thanks for your recipe above, will and have both canned and dry chickpeas/garbanzo beans. No meat grinder so will use food processor.

Also, had some at a nice restaurant last week, much larger 1.5"/3.5 cm balls than I made and much softer/less cooked on inside than mine and I think nicer. They were also lighter in colour than in picture of them with hummus etc.

Offline DeejayDebi

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2012, 01:54:41 PM »
Mmm they look good! Thanks for the recipe. I had no idea what they where so I needed a good starting place. Such a simple thing and yet such a guilty pleasure. Maybe it's the grease! I will have to look around for the dried beans. I don't recall seeing them dried only canned. Maybe the Italian market in the city has them dried. We use a lot of garbonzo beans in soups and salads.

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2012, 03:29:19 PM »
It can essentially be made with any kind of beans. 

John use a grater attachment on your food processor if you have it, it will give you better texture.

MolBasser

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2012, 04:23:16 AM »
I've made black bean falafel.  It was OK.

I still prefer chickpea.  I have done like 10 different beans, but not FAVA YET!!!!

Lame, I know.

It is super easy to make, no mix necessary.

MolBasser

Tomer1

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2012, 07:06:19 AM »
You can even use lentals and spice it up indian style.  very tasty.

dthelmers

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Re: Falafel Making
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2012, 12:44:44 PM »
It doesn't come out the same with canned beans, they need a binder or they fall apart. Check the Goya section of the supermarket for dried chick peas, they carry them regularly in all the stores around me. If not there, look for an Indian grocery; mine has several varieties.

Threelittlepiggiescheese

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