Falafel with Tahini Sauce (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 1/4 cups plain yogurt, any fat level works.
02 -
1/4 cup sesame paste (tahini).
03 -
2 Tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed.
04 -
Salt and black pepper, adjust to taste.
05 -
Pita bread to serve alongside.
06 -
Canola oil, enough to fry the falafel.
07 -
1/2 cup standard all-purpose flour.
08 -
2 teaspoons baking powder.
09 -
2 teaspoons ground cumin powder.
10 -
1/4 teaspoon chili powder to taste.
11 -
1 teaspoon of salt.
12 -
1 cup cilantro leaves, loosely packed.
13 -
1 cup parsley leaves, loosely packed.
14 -
2 cups cooked chickpeas, make sure they’re drained.
15 -
6 peeled cloves of garlic.
16 -
2 cups of a coarsely diced white onion.
# Instructions:
01 -
Pop the onion chunks, garlic cloves, chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, salt, chili powder, cumin, and baking powder into your food processor. Blitz everything until it's well mixed but still a little coarse. Scoop the mix into a bowl and stir in the flour. Cover the bowl with wrap and stash it in the fridge for an hour.
02 -
Mix together the plain yogurt, sesame paste, and lemon juice in a small bowl while the falafel mix is resting. Throw in salt and pepper to your taste and whisk it all smooth. Seal it with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge to chill.
03 -
When the chilled falafel blend's ready, scoop out about 3 Tablespoons of mix for each falafel using spoons or a small scoop. Roll them into balls, flattening them a little into patties. If the mix feels sticky, toss in a bit more flour till it holds together better.
04 -
Heat a big pan on medium, pouring enough canola oil to cover the base generously. Let the oil warm up for a couple of minutes. Drop in each patty and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Move the finished ones to a paper-towel-lined rack, sprinkling with salt while they’re hot. Repeat until all are cooked.
05 -
Warm up a pita, slice it open, and stuff it with three or four falafel. Drizzle on the tahini yogurt sauce. Dive in while it’s fresh.
# Notes:
01 -
Want to bake instead of fry? Check out the method for crispy baked falafel. If you’re out of sesame paste, Greek yogurt works just fine as a mellow, cool substitute.