Anyone for Falafel Balls? - Green Diva Style!
Everything in this recipe is made from scratch, but you can always use can beans if you don't have enough time to prepare dried beans. If you find that your falafel balls are falling apart, feel free to add 1/2 to 1 egg beaten to your mixture.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup dried chickpeas or 16 oz. can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning without MSG
2 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 - tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
Preparation:
Place dried chickpeas in a bowl, covering with cold water and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Allow to soak overnight or at least a few hours. Omit this step if using canned beans. Drain chickpeas, and place in pan with fresh water, and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 5 minutes, then let simmer on low for about an hour.
Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, coriander, curry powder, salt and pepper (to taste) in medium bowl. Add flour. Mash chickpeas making sure to mix all ingredients together. You can also combine ingredients in a food processor. You want the result to be a thick paste.
Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten.
Grease baking sheet with oil (coconut or olive). Put balls on sheet and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown (15 - 20 minutes) or if you prefer frying, fry in 2 inches of coconut oil at 350 degrees until golden brown (5-7 minutes).
Serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
Falafel can be served as a sandwich. Stuff pita bread with falafel, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, raw cabbage (see recipe below), your favorite salad dressing, salt and pepper to taste or serve with a large salad.
Serves 4
Raw Cabbage Recipe
1/4 - shredded red cabbage
1/4 - shredded green cabbage
1 or 2 cloves of garlic - made into paste (to your taste)
1 - teaspoon Fish and Meat Sauce, Pickapeppa is another name (found in the ethnic aisle of your grocery store)
1 - teaspoon Adobo seasoning without MSG
1 - teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 - tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 - tablespoons olive oil
Put all ingredients into a large bowl, stir a few times, or if you're not shy, get your clean hands in there and stir up, making sure all ingredients are mixed together. Let sit for 5 minutes and add to your sandwich. You can even add Julienne carrot to this mixture. This is the Green Diva's version of coleslaw.
Note: Due to our different taste buds, seasoning should be used to your taste.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family.
Feel free to check back in a few weeks, when we'll post a delicious Eggplant Parmesan with Red Peppers
