Filafel recipe

Filafel Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 small onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin 
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4-6 tablespoons flour and 1/2 cup for forming patties
• vegetable oil for frying
• Chopped tomato for garnish
• Diced onion for garnish
• Pita bread

 1. Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover them by at least 2 inches. Let soak overnight, then drain. Or use canned chickpeas, drained.

2. Place the drained, uncooked chickpeas and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, cilantro, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic, curry powder and cumin. Process until blended but not pureed.

3. Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for several hours.

4.  use a small ice cream dipper or use a falafel scoop, available in Middle-Eastern markets. Place 1/2 cup of flour on a plate and scoop some dough out and place it on the plate of flour. roll the dough around and form a ball then pat it lightly into a patty

5. Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees in a deep skillet and fry 1 patty to test. Then fry about 5 at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Stuff half a pita with falafel patty, chopped tomatoes, and onion.... you can use tahina sauce or cucumber mayo on it..