Falafel

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups dried garbanzo beans
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 4 pita breads
• 2 cups lettuce, shredded
• 1 tomato, sliced thinly
• hot pepper sauce, to taste

Recipe

• 1 soak chickpeas in hot water until doubled in size - about 2 hours (i often let them soak overnight) place in a food processor and chop finely.
• 2 add remaining ingredients down through red pepper and process until the mixture is coarsely pureed. remove to a bowl and and stir in flour.
• 3 with wet hands, form the chickpea mixture into patties. oval patties will fit in pita halves best. i try to make 8 patties. let stand for 15 minutes. while you're waiting, combine sauce ingredients (if making) and set aside.
• 4 pour oil in large skillet and heat. saute patties until golden on both sides. drain on paper towels if necessary.
• 5 to serve: warm pita breads in oven or microwave. cut in half and open the pocket. place a falafel patty in each half pita, garnishing with lettuce, tomato, and sauces as desired.
• 6 warning: i tried to make these with canned garbanzos. they were not very good - the texture was mushy, and the beans lacked the nutty taste that these get from the dried beans.