Ingredients

  • Falafel
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (optional, but better with it)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
  • 2 cups cooked chickpeas (I cook mine in the pressure cooker, but canned would be fine)
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 3 medium garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup matzo meal
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons salt (use less if the chickpeas are salted)
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 quart oil (for frying, we use a mix of canola and peanut oils)
  • Tahini Sauce
  • 1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed, toasted and ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed, toasted and ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • juice of half a small lemon (prefrably Meyer)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder (we prefer ancho) or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (we prefer ancho)
  • 2 -4 tablespoons water

Method

  • Falafel: Grind the first four spices in a spice grinder or moprtar and pestle. Place the ground spices in the workbowl of a food processor along with the chickpeas, onion, and garlic. Pulse several times to mince the contents.
  • Add the sesame seeds, matzo meal, parsley, and baking powder and pulse until evenly mixed, being careful not to puree the mixture.
  • Beat the egg in a large bowl, add the chickpea mixture, salt, and pepper and mix well. Chill at least 15 minutes.
  • Form 16 balls of the chilled chickpea mixture and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, flattening each ball slightly.
  • Heat the oil to 360 degrees in a large heavy pot and fry the falafel until golden, turning at least once. This should take 2 or 3 minutes. Drain well before serving, hot, with the tahini sauce and lemon wedges.
  • Tahini Sauce ( makes about 1/2 cup):Combine all ingredients except water in the workbowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the water slowly with the motor running until it forms a creamy sauce.