Falafel and Hummus

Falafel is very popular in the Middle East as a fast food. Vendors sell it on the street corners in Cairo. As a main dish, it is served as a sandwich, stuffed in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and tahini. As an appetizer, it is served on a salad, or with hummus and tahini. Falafel is a favorite among vegetarians.

I made these falafels and we had it as an appetizer with homemade hummus and also with lavash as wraps.This middle eastern snack,though fried are nutritious and rich in protein.

Ingredients

Dried chickpeas - 1 cup / 16 oz. can of chickpeas
Onion - 1 medium sized
Garlic cloves - 2
Fresh parsley - 2 tablespoons chopped
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
Gram flour - 2 tablespoons or as required
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

Directions

Soak the chickpeas overnight if using the dried ones..Drain the water and set aside.Reserve some of the soaked water..Pressure cook the chickpeas until one whistle and allow it to cool..Transfer the chickpeas to a blender and blend it alnog with the other ingredients to get a thick paste.Add the flour in case it is not thick.If needed add a little of the reserved water while blending..The mixture should be in a consistency such that it hold together to form balls.Allow it to rest for about half an hour and form small balls..

Heat oil for frying in a heavy bottomed vessel.And once hot, fry the balls in batches for about three minutes on each side unitl it gets cooked through and turns golden brown..Drain in paper towels..

Serve with hummus..

Sending this to My Legume Love Affair Third Helping hosted this month by Lucy and the brainchild of Susan

Also sending this to Dips hosted by Archana