Best Falafel In Lettuce Cups With Garlic Tahini Sauce Recipes

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FALAFEL WITH TAHINI SAUCE



Falafel with Tahini Sauce image

Falafel, usually tucked into pita bread with lettuce, tomato, and tahini sauce, is one of the best-known Middle Eastern street foods. At home, falafels make a rustic hot hors d'oeuvre, with a bowl of creamy tahini sauce for dipping. These fry up just right: crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. The baking powder gives the falafels a little lift so they don't sit in your stomach like belly bombs! All the fresh herbs make for a vibrant flavor and super green color. The chickpeas need to soak for a bit, so plan accordingly. The falafels are amazing with Quick Pickled Vegetables (page 235).

Yield makes about 2 dozen falafels

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 cups dried chickpeas, picked through and rinsed
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Canola oil, for frying
Tahini Sauce (recipe follows)
1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of kosher salt
(makes 1 cup)

Steps:

  • Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and add cool water to cover by 3 inches. Soak the beans in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours or up to 24; the chickpeas will swell to double their original size. Drain and rinse thoroughly.
  • Put the soaked chickpeas in a food processor and pulse until well ground (about the consistency of cornmeal). Add the onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, mint, cumin, coriander, baking powder, salt, and pepper; process until the mixture is completely pureed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. If you have a small processor, you will have to do this in batches, but be sure to combine the batches in a mixing bowl at the end so all the ingredients are evenly distributed. You can make the falafel mixture 3 or 4 days in advance; store it covered in the refrigerator.
  • Heat 3 inches of oil to 350°F in a countertop electric fryer or deep pot. If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer, a good way to test if the oil is hot enough is to stick the end of a wooden spoon or chopstick in it. If bubbles circle around the end, then you're good to go.
  • Form the falafel mixture into golf-size balls with your hands. Be sure to press the mixture tightly; if the balls are too loose they'll fall apart. Carefully slip a few of the falafels at a time into the hot oil with a slotted spoon, gently nudging them so they don't stick to the bottom. Fry until the falafels are a crusty dark brown on all sides, turning as needed so there are no hot spots, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the falafels with a slotted spoon and drain on a platter lined with paper towels.
  • To serve, arrange the falafels on a platter with a bowl of tahini sauce on the side for dipping.
  • Combine the tahini, soy, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a blender. Process on high speed to make a smooth and creamy sauce. If the tahini sauce gets too thick as it sits, mix in a little bit of water or lemon juice to thin it out.

FALAFEL WITH TAHINI SAUCE



Falafel with Tahini Sauce image

There's not one "right" way to make a falafel. So if you like less onion, put in less onion. If you like more herbs, put in more herbs. More spice, more spice. It's really up to you.

Provided by Amanda Cohen

Categories     main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 28

1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1/2 teaspoon za'atar
1/2 teaspoon sumac
Pinch allspice
Pinch chili flakes
Pinch black pepper
1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight (yields two cups)
1/2 red onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped
3/4 cup chopped parsley (half bunch)
3/4 cup chopped cilantro (half bunch)
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoons spice mix
1/2 tablespoon salt plus more to taste
6 cups vegetable oil (fill the pot ¾ full)
1 garlic clove, chopped
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup tahini
Juice of half a lemon plus more to taste
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt, to taste
parsley
Lemon wedge

Steps:

  • Make the spice mix: In a skillet over low heat, toast the coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Grind the toasted seeds in a spice grinder. Add the dried parsley, granulated garlic, chili powder, granulated onion, za'atar, sumac, allspice, chili flakes, a few turns of black pepper and continue grinding to combine. Set aside. Spice mix will keep for several weeks in an airtight jar.
  • For the falafel: In a food processor, add the chickpeas, chopped onion and garlic, parsley, cilantro, baking soda, spice mix and salt. Pulse until the mixture's combined and the chickpeas are pea-size, stopping and stirring halfway through. Tightly pack the falafel mixture into balls the size of an extra large marble and set aside.
  • Fry the falafel: Pour oil half full into a deep pan and set over medium heat. Secure a deep-fry thermometer to the pan's side and heat oil to 375 degrees F. Using a spider strainer, gently drop the falafel balls, one at a time, into the hot oil making sure the pot isn't overcrowded with falafel. Cook until most of the bubbles have disappeared and the falafel is golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack fitted over a baking sheet to cool and repeat the process until all of the falafel balls are cooked.
  • Make the tahini dressing and assemble the dish: In a blender add the garlic, water, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Blend until combined. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and lemon juice if necessary and blend again. Set aside. Tahini sauce can be made several days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. To serve, place falafel balls on a platter, drizzle with tahini sauce and garnish with parsley and a lemon wedge.

CLASSIC FALAFEL AND TAHINI SAUCE RECIPE BY TASTY



Classic Falafel And Tahini Sauce Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: dried chickpea, water, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, fresh mint, garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, sesame seed, salt, pepper, oil, sesame seed, sesame oil, olive oil, lemon juice

Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec

Categories     Appetizers

Yield 16 falafels

Number Of Ingredients 19

2 ½ cups dried chickpea
8 cups water
½ bunch fresh parsley
¼ bunch fresh cilantro
¼ bunch fresh mint
7 cloves garlic, halved, divided
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon paprika
2 ¼ teaspoons cumin, divided
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sesame seed, toasted
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
oil, to fry
5 tablespoons sesame seed
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Steps:

  • Soak the chickpeas in the water for at least one night, ensuring that the chickpeas are fully submerged.
  • Drain the chickpeas in a colander. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and add the chickpeas. Cover with more paper towels and let dry for at least 2 hours.
  • Add the dried chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, coriander, mint, 5 cloves of garlic, onion, paprika, 2 teaspoons of cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, toasted sesame seeds, salt, and pepper, in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Use your hands to form falafel the size of a ping pong ball.
  • Heat oil to 320°F (160°C) in a large pot.
  • Add the falafel in batches, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
  • To make tahini sauce, heat the sesame seeds in a frying pan over medium heat until the seeds brown slightly.
  • Let cool for about 5 minutes and pour into a small blender or coffee grinder.
  • Add the sesame oil and half of the olive oil and blend. Add the rest of the olive oil and blend again until you get a smooth mixture.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon of cumin, 2 garlic cloves and lemon juice and blend.
  • Serve the tahini sauce with falafel.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 156 calories, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 6 grams, Sugar 3 grams

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