Falafel � The Opposite of How These Will Make You Feel

Unlike most of America�s other favorite fast foods, falafel is rarely attempted at home, which is a shame, since it�s very simple to do, and even a relative novice like me can get some very decent results. One word of warning: you do need to know you�re going to have a craving for this a full day before you actually want to eat it.

Whipping up a batch of these after a late night at the bar is not going to work, since soaking the dry beans overnight is a crucial step. While you can use canned beans for this, word on the street is not to do it. Those are cooked, and apparently just aren�t as good.

As you�ll see, you don�t really need a deep fryer to do this, as they pan-fry quite nicely, but the model you see me using has some advantages. In addition to being less messy, a small fryer lets you achieve the precise temperature, which means your food crisps up perfectly, while absorbing virtually none of the fat. People have done studies, measuring the oil before-and-after frying, and when done properly, it�s remarkable how little oil is used.

No matter what method you use to cook yours, I think you�ll be surprised how close this is to your favorite falafel stand, assuming they used the exact ingredients and amounts I did, which may not be the case. So, be sure to taste and adjust until you get it just right. I really hope you get this try very soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for about 12 falafel balls:

1 cup dried garbanzo beans aka chickpeas

1/2 yellow onion, diced

4 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley

1 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 rounded tablespoon flour

2 tsp lemon juice

- Fry at 350�F for about 5 minutes or until browned and crispy