Falafel

Falafel in Marathi

Time: 35 to 40 minutes
Makes: 8 to 10 medium pieces

Ingredients:
1.5 cups soaked Chickpeas
2 tsp chickpea flour (besan) (tip 1)
3 big Garlic cloves
1 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 cup Parsley
2 green chilies or 1/2 tsp red chili powder
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
oil for deep frying
Pinch of baking soda

Method:
1) Put the soaked chickpeas in a blender. Add garlic cloves, parsley, green chili, salt and lemon juice. Grind to a coarse mixture. Take it out in a medium bowl. Add baking soda, coriander-cumin powder and besan and mix well. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings.
2) Heat oil into a kadai. Once oil is hot turn the heat down to medium.
3) Take 1.5 tbsp of mixture and make small ball. Gently, leave it in the oil. Deep fry until golden brown.
Serve hot with cucumber sauce (Tzatziki sauce)

Tips:
1) If the falafel is breaking after adding to oil, add a tbsp chickpea flour to the mixture. Mix well and then start making falafel.
2) It is important to fry falafel over medium heat. If you fry them on high heat, it will turn brown quickly. However they will remain uncooked from the inside. Also, flame shouldn't be very low. Falafel may break into small pieces if they stay in the oil for longer.