Green Peas Falafel

A twist to the classic Middle Eastern dish 'Falafel'. Fresh green peas used instead of traditional dry chickpeas/kabuli chane. These are equally tasty. Try it once.... 

हि पाककृती मराठीतून वाचण्यासाठी इथे क्लिक करा.  

Ingredients:

• Green peas/matar - 1 cup (You can use fresh green bengal gram/hare chane or pigeon peas/hare tuvar instead of matar. They are equally good.)
• Onion, finely chopped- 2 tbsp
• Ginger, chopped- ½ inch piece
• Garlic, chopped - 3 to 4 cloves
• Green chillies, chopped - 1 to 2
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• Fennel seeds- ¼ tsp (optional)
• Cumin seeds - ½ tsp
• Red Chilli powder - ¼ tsp
• Besan / Gram or Chickpea flour - 3 tbsp
• Rice flour or fine semolina/suji- 1 tsp
• Salt- to taste
• Oil- as required

Method:

• Grind together ginger, garlic, chillies, coriander leaves, cumin and fennel seeds without water. You can use mortar and pestle /sil-batta.
• Add green peas and grind coarsely without water. You can use food processor.
• Put out this mixture in a bowl, add chopped onion, red chilli powder, besan, rice flour and salt. 
  
• Mix together and make small lemon sized balls.
• Heat oil properly. Deep fry on med to low heat. Falafels are  ready. (You can shallow fry also. But blanch the green peas and slightly roast the besan before using.)
• Serve hot with tomato ketchup or yogurt dip. Eat as it is or in pocket sandwich using pita bread.

Indian Flavoured Yogurt Dip:

• Thick curd/ yogurt- ¼ cup
• Peanuts, roasted and peeled- 2 tbsp
• Sesame seeds, roasted- ½ to 1 tsp
• Garlic, chopped- 2 to 3 cloves
• Red chili powder- ½ tsp 
• Salt- to taste

Grind peanuts and sesame seeds into fine powder. Add curd, garlic, chilli powder and salt into this powder. Grind again and make smooth paste.

Serving as Indian style:
Cut Jawar-Bajara roti/bhakari into 2 parts. Spread some yogurt dip. Lay spinach or lettuce leaves, tomato slices, cucumber slices and onion slices. Arrange 3 to 4 falafels on it and enjoy!

Hummus ~ Basic and Simple

Hummus, a very popular Middle Eastern dip that is used as an appetizer and served with pita bread.

Ingredients:

• Chickpeas, boiled- 1 cup
• Extra virgin olive oil-  ¼ cup + 2 tbsp (add more if required for blending)
• Garlic- 5 small cloves (Indian size)
• Lemon juice- 1 tbsp 
• Red chili powder or cayenne pepper- 1 tsp or to taste
• Roasted cumin powder- 1 tsp
• Sesame seeds- 2 tbsp (or ¼ cup tahini)
• Salt- to taste

Method:

• Soak chickpeas for minimum 8 hours. Boil with salt. Cook till soft.
• Roast the sesame seeds.
• Grind sesame seeds into fine powder.
• Add cooked chickpeas, chili powder, cumin powder, garlic, salt, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic in the same grinder.
• Blend to a smooth paste.
• Pour this paste~hummus in the bowl. Dazzle some olive oil and sprinkle little chili powder and cumin powder. 

Serving Suggestions: 

Serve hummus as dip with pita bread. 

Use as sandwich or wrap spread.

Note:

Extra hummus can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.