If you are a lover of all kinds of foods, like me…then this post is for you! Mediterranean cooking is one of my absolute favorite things to eat and cook! The foods from that region are so unique and have a taste that leaves you begging for more.
So when DedeMed asked me to review their Falafal seasoning and Falafel Mold, I was very excited!! I don’t remember if I shared this or not, but I am not the best cook in the world. My husband can share many stories with you on that subject! HA! But I did have fun experimenting with the seasoning and mold using the recipe listed below.
What is Falafel?
You can think of Falafel as a great source of protein without the meat. Falafel is a ball or patty made from ground chickpeas and/or fava beans. Usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa.
Falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. This great veggie patty is healthy and filling – making a great falafel sandwich (which can be an alternative to having a meat filled sandwhich). It can be baked as an alternative to frying and it makes it even healthier. It is great as an appetizer or main dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups garbanzo beans
- 1 1/2 cup fava beans
- 1 cup cilantro (coriander leaves)
- 1/2 cup parsley
- 1 large onion
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbs coriander & 1 tsp cumin (or use 3 tbs of Dede’s Falafel Spice instead)
- 1/2 tsp blk pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 3-4 tbs dried bread crumbs
- 1 tsp baking soda added before frying
- 1/2 tsp baking power added before frying
- vegetable oil for frying in a 2-3 inch deep frying pan
- use tahini sauce for dipping
Directions
Soak the garbanzo beans and fava beans in water over night the day before cooking. Chop and blend the garbanzo beans and fava beans in a food processor until the beans are the consistency of fine bread crumbs. Put in a large bowl. Next put the onion, garlic, cilantro and parsley in the blender and blend until it is a paste consistency, add to bean mixture. To the bowl add the cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, bread crumbs and cayenne pepper and mix very well. Taste to see if you would like to add more salt or not. Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a 2 to 3 inch frying pan, turn to medium-low heat. Add the baking soda and baking powder to the bean mixture about 15 minutes before frying and mix well. Mold the falafel mixture into small balls and drop into oil to fry, continually turn over the falafel balls to keep the color an even brown on all sides, when they are a medium brown color, remove the balls and drain on a paper towel for a minute. Serve warm and fresh with tahini sauce, pickled turnips, pita bread and vegetables.
My Challenge for you
Due to time, I won’t make this a requirement…but I would love to challenge any of our readers to try out this recipe, and tell me what you think? Was it easy/hard? Do you like Falafel? Would you serve this to your family?
Now for the giveaway…ONE Frugal Fabulous Finds reader will win their own DedeMed’s Falafel Seasoning and Mold of their own! Read the directions below to see how you enter!
1. Enter your name/email address in the giveaway form below (for each entry), so that I can contact you
There are also several other OPTIONAL entries as well, including (but not limited to):
Posting about this Giveaway on Facebook, liking this blog post via FB and more!
***Very Important: All of your entries MUST be entered into the giveaway form below, or they will not count towards winning!***
This giveaway will end Thursday, August 25th at midnight. The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.com and will be announced Friday, August 26th! Good luck!
Post published by Melissa Roach, our new Product Review & Giveaway Specialist.
Melissa is a Full Time Mom & Blogger HERE (please check out her blog!)
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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