Two Days Full-a-Falafel

Ellie and I took on the challenging task of creating a full on Falafel Feast! The cooking spanned 2 full days, and was charged with lots of fun, discovery and tasting!

Day One:
After shopping for ingredients and the hunt for a food-processor, we had all we need to get started. Our first day of cooking was spent preparing the Hummus and Tahini.

Step one, soak the chickpeas for tomorrow's Falafel preparation. Here, Ellie is measuring to see if there is at least 2 inches of water above the chickpeas.



Making Tahini Sauce:


Ellie pours in the pure tahini, which is a paste made of 100% sesame seeds.


Then we add the juice of a lemon.



Parsley, garlic, salt, pepper...


Go crazy!


Then, process and add a bit of water.



Result: Our scrumptuous tahini!

Next, Hummus:

2 cans of chickpeas into the food-processor.


Add tahini


And lemon juice


Look at the sight


Take a break, check the recipe. Ok, blending time.


So, we start blending...


(pose for a picture)


Blending...


More blending....


Until..


...it looks...


... like HUMMUS!!



It tastes wonderful!


And looks it too!

Day Two:
It's Sunday and guests arrive at 5pm... Final cooking has begun and we are charging away. There is lots more to do!!!


But first, we need some wine.


Back in the kitchen, the falafel process takes center stage. After draining the chickpeas that had been soaking overnight, we place them in the processor, adding parsely, mint, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, umm and anything else I forgot, and, process!

We pulled out those parsley bones, don't worry!


And Maher approves.


We chopped up an astonishingly delicious salad! It had tomatoes, persian cucumbers, onion, parsley, orange mint, black olives, and dressed with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice.



In the mean time, Chris toiled away at the grill, preparing Maher's mom inspired recipe for marinated chicken skewers.



Marher and Ellie posing, before they run off to purchase a missing ingredient.


Here is Yumi's couscous. It was wonderful! It had rasins and currants and the carrots were chopped ever so finely.

And here returns the main element of our dinner:

Fresh Falafel! YAY, we did it!!!!



Maher, presenting the falafel balls before delicately placing them into the boiling oil (While making sure to dip his hands in the boiling oil as well. :-p)



More cute falafels.


Our grand finale, the eggplant! You can't have a falafel banquet without eggplant. Maher made these Syrian style; deep fried eggplant with chopped tomato, garlic and parsley.

And now... Drum roll... Time to EAT!


From left to right: Ellie, Yumi, Maher, Juliane, Ken, and Pita-face (Chris). I am taking the photo.


And here we have the guest of honor, Falafel Sandwich.



It was lushious, delicious and totally worth all the hard work!

Thank you all for making this fun dinner possible!
And may there be more to come!

A Fabulous Dinner at Ellie's

With guest cooks Maher and Ken, and assistants Chris, Ellie and Janel.