Any Middle Eastern cooks out there?

[MonicaLeigh]

I regularly make the usual grape leaves, hummus, taboulli, kibbeh, baklava....but want to foray into fried falafel. Do any of you have a recipe for falafel that you know is good? Just curious.

[devila]

Sorry, I'm gonna tailgate on your thread and ask for Dolmades recipes too!

[hunter]

I don't have a recipe, but I use Fantastic Foods falafel mix, and it is wonderful. You just mix with water, let it sit for a while, shape into ballls, and fry. Very easy, very yummy. Near East also has a falafel mix which is OK but not as good IMO as Fantastic Foods.

[waterlilies]

I was looking through one of the recipes sites and came across this recipe.

Falafel:
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 egg
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash pepper
1 generous pinch cayenne pepper
1 generous teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup dry bread crumbs
oil for frying


1) In a large bowl mash chickpeas until thick and pasty;
don't use a blender, as the consistency will be too thin.
In a blender, process onion, parsley and garlic until smooth.
Stir into mashed chickpeas.

2) In a small bowl combine egg, cumin, coriander, salt,
pepper, cayenne, lemon juice and baking powder.
Stir into chickpea mixture along with olive oil.
Slowly add bread crumbs until mixture is not sticky
but will hold together; add more or less bread crumbs,
as needed. Form 8 balls and then flatten into patties.

3) Heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high
heat. Fry patties in hot oil until brown on both sides.

Great on Pita with cucumber sauce, lettuce and tomato!! "