Quick CardFalafel with Tahini Sauce
24 patties · about 1 kg
Falafel
- ≈ 400 gdried chickpeas (not canned or cooked)
- ≈ 2.5 gbaking soda
- ≈ 60 gfresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- ≈ 12 gfresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
- ≈ 4.5 gfresh dill, stems removed
- ≈ 70 gsmall onion, quartered
- ≈ 21 to 24 ggarlic, peeled
- salt, to taste
- ≈ 7 gground black pepper
- ≈ 6.5 gground cumin
- ≈ 5.5 gground coriander
- ≈ 2 gcayenne pepper
- ≈ 4.5 gbaking powder
- ≈ 18 gtoasted sesame seeds
- ≈ 1840 gneutral oil, for frying (enough for 7.5 cm depth)
Tahini Sauce
- ≈ 3 to 6 ggarlic, peeled
- ≈ 3 gsalt
- ≈ 180 gtahini paste
- ≈ 120 gfresh lemon or lime juice
- ≈ 59 gcold water, about; add to taste
- ≈ 60 gfresh parsley, chopped
To Serve
- pita pockets, warmed, to taste
- English cucumber, diced, to taste
- tomatoes, diced, to taste
- baby arugula, to taste
- pickles, to taste
- Falafel A day ahead, put 400 g dried chickpeas (not canned or cooked) and 2.5 g baking soda in a large bowl with water covering them by at least 5 cm (2 in). Soak until a chickpea is tender enough to bite through, adding more time if they are still hard. 18 h
- Drain the chickpeas completely and pat them dry with a towel.
- Put the chickpeas in the food processor with 60 g fresh parsley leaves, stems removed, 12 g fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed, 4.5 g fresh dill, stems removed, 70 g small onion, 21 to 24 g garlic, peeled, salt, 7 g ground black pepper, 6.5 g ground cumin, 5.5 g ground coriander and 2 g cayenne pepper. Run it in bursts of about 40 s, scraping down in between, until evenly ground.
- Transfer to a container, cover tightly and refrigerate. 1 h to 12 h
- Just before frying, stir 4.5 g baking powder and 18 g toasted sesame seeds into the mixture with a spoon.
- With wet hands, scoop tablespoons of the mix and shape them into patties about 1.2 cm (½ in) thick. Makes about 24 patties. 10 min
- Pour 1840 g neutral oil, for frying (enough for 7.5 cm depth) into a medium heavy saucepan to a depth of 7.5 cm (3 in) and heat it over medium-high heat.
- Fry the patties in batches without crowding the pan until crisp and medium brown all over. 3 min to 5 min
- Lift them out into a colander or onto a paper towel lined plate to drain. Serve hot.
- Tahini Sauce Crush 3 to 6 g garlic, peeled with 3 g salt in a mortar into a paste, or grate the garlic finely and mix it with the salt.
- Blend the garlic paste, 180 g tahini paste and 120 g fresh lemon or lime juice in the food processor; it will seize and thicken as it emulsifies. Add 59 g cold water a little at a time, blending, until it is as thick or thin as you like.
- Taste and adjust with more juice or salt, then stir in 60 g fresh parsley.
- To Serve Serve the falafel hot with the tahini sauce, either on a platter with small plates of English cucumber, diced, tomatoes, diced and pickles, or stuffed into pita pockets, warmed with baby arugula and a generous drizzle of sauce.
- Safety: Lower the patties into the hot oil gently and away from you, and never fill the pan more than half full of oil. (The author)