RFCJ RECIPE ARCHIVE
Posted by : Ruth Heiges Falafel #2 - pareve
Falafel - Ta’amia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Claudia Roden: "A Book of Middle Eastern Food" 1 lb dried white broad beans ("ful nabed") 2 red or Spanish onions, very finely chopped or grated, or 1 bunch spring onions [scallions], finely chopped 2 large cloves garlic, crushed 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped 1-2 teaspoons ground cumin 1-2 teaspoons ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon baking powder oil for deep-frying The dried white beans can be found in all Greek stores and in many delicatessens. Buy them already skinned if possible. Soak the beans in cold water for 24 hours. Remove the skins if this has not been done. Drain, and mince or pound them. Mix this with the onions, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, baking powder and salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Pound the ingredients together to a smooth paste. This will take a long time and much effort, so if a mincer [meat grinder] is available, put the mixture through the fine blade twice before pounding it. Let the paste rest for 1/2 hour at least. Take walnut-size lumps and make flat, round shapes 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Let them rest for 15 minutes longer, then fry them in deep hot oil until they are a dark, rich golden brown. NOTES: I have recently been told that the baking powder is sometimes replaced by 1/2 oz. fresh yeast, or 1/4 oz. dried yeast dissolved in a few tablespoons of lukewarm water ... Israelis have practically adopted "ta'amia" as a national dish ... prepared in the same way as the Egyptian ones, but chick peas are substituted for the beans, and I am told that yeast is often used instead of baking powder. After reading the above and deciding it's easier to use a packaged mix, she suggests adding "a little finely chopped parsley, finely chopped spring onion, crushed garlic and the other seasonings to taste."
