Falafel (middle East, Palestine)

Total Time: 8 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 8 hrs Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups dried garbanzo beans
• 2 large onions
• 1 whole head of garlic
• 2 bunches parsley
• hot green pepper, to suit your taste
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• oil (for deep frying)

Recipe

• 1 soak the chick peas overnight. drain.
• 2 combine beans, onions, garlic, parsley, and hot pepper. grind twice (suggested is an electric meat grinder). add salt, pepper, cumin, and baking powder. mix thoroughly.
• 3 when ready to fry the falafel, add baking soda. shape into patties 1 1/2 inch diameter and 1/2 inch thick.
• 4 fry in deep hot oil until light brown and crisp.
• 5 serve hot with tomato slices in arabic bread (or pita bread) in the form of a sandwhich. if desired, you can add to the sandwhich tahnia sauce and slices of onions.
• 6 *the falafel batter can be frozen. thaw and add baking soda just before frying.