Falafel

Yield: 5 servings

Total Time:


GATHER THE GOODS


1 lb. dried chickpeas

1 small red onion, grated

2 cloves garlic, grated

1 medium lemon

1/4 cup Finley chopped parsley

2 teaspoons tahini paste

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon coriander

kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil


MAKE IT


  1. Add chickpeas to a large pot. Cover with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Turn of heat and soak chickpeas for 1 hour.

  2. Drain chickpeas and place back in same pot. Cover with 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium high heat. Cook for about 2 hours or until fork tender. The chickpeas will double in size and their outer layer will begin to fall off. Drain water.

  3. Place chick peas in a food processor and grind until a medium course paste forms.

  4. In a large bowl combine chickpea paste, onion, garlic, lemon juice, parsely, tahini, cumin, coriander, and salt to taste.

  5. Preheat oven to 400° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon measure scoop 2 heaping tablespoons into the palm of your hand. For the falafel mixture into a 1/2 to 3/4 inch disk. You should get about 15 falafel from the mixture.

  6. Brush the falafel with olive oil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown on the underside of the falafel. You could also flip them halfway through.

Baba Ganoush

Yield: 2- 3servings

Total Time: 2 hours


GATHER THE GOODS


1 medium Italian eggplant

1 tablespoon tahini paste

1 clove garlic, grated

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil


MAKE IT


  1. Preheat the oven to 400° and line a sheet tray with foil paper. Roast the eggplant for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove and char over an open flame for about 2 minutes.

  2. Peel the skin of the eggplant and place the flesh in a mesh sieve to drain any liquid. Place the eggplant in a food processor and add tahini, garlic, lemon, parsley, paprika, and salt to taste. Process until smooth.

  3. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil.

Tahini Sauce

Yield: 4 servings

Total Time: 5 minutes


GATHER THE GOODS


1/3 cup cold water

1/4 cup tahini paste

1 clove garlic, grated

1 teaspoon lemon juice

kosher salt


MAKE IT


  1. In the bowl of a food processor combine water, tahini, garlic, lemon, and salt to taste. Puree until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Hummus

Yield: 2-3 servings

Total Time: 5 minutes


GATHER THE GOODS


1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas

2 cloves garlic, grated

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4-1/3 cup olive oil plus more for drizzling

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika


MAKE IT


  1. In the bowl of a food processor combine chickpeas, garlic, lemon, olive oil, cumin, and salt to taste. Puree until a smooth mixture forms.

  2. Serve with olive oil and smoked paprika.