Falafels with broad beans, tahini yoghurt and mint

Name: Falafels with broad beans, tahini yoghurt and mint
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: about 20 falafels
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 150g dried chickpeas; 150g double-podded broad beans, plus a handful of tiny ones left whole to garnish; ½ red onion, finely grated; 1 large clove garlic, finely grated; 2 handfuls flat-leaf parsley, chopped; 2 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp ground cumin; 2 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp ground allspice; ½ tsp chilli powder; ½ tbsp salt flakes; Sunflower, rice-bran or similar oil for deep-frying; To serve; 150g plain yoghurt; 2 heaped tsp tahini; Salt flakes; Freshly ground black pepper; Extra-virgin olive oil; 1 handful mint leaves; 1 lemon

Karen Martini

October 1, 2013

Falafels with broad beans, tahini yoghurt and mint.Marcel Aucar

Time:2 hours +Makes:about 20 falafels

The fresh broad beans add a lightness to these classic chickpea fritters. This is a delicious dish as it is, or you can add any or all of the following: pita bread, tabouli, hummus, fattoush, pickles, radishes and cucumber.

Ingredients

Falafel

150g dried chickpeas
150g double-podded broad beans, plus a handful of tiny ones left whole to garnish
½ red onion, finely grated
1 large clove garlic, finely grated
2 handfuls flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground allspice
½ tsp chilli powder
½ tbsp salt flakes
Sunflower, rice-bran or similar oil for deep-frying
To serve
150g plain yoghurt
2 heaped tsp tahini
Salt flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 handful mint leaves
1 lemon

Method

1. Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and cover generously with boiling water. Leave to stand at room temperature overnight.
2. Drain the soaked chickpeas and blitz in a food processor. Add all the other falafel ingredients and blitz until you have a rough paste.
3. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or saucepan to 165C. If the oil is too hot, the falafels will brown too quickly and not cook through; if the oil is too cool, the falafels will become oil logged.
4. Shape the falafel mix into tablespoon-sized quenelles and fry for about four minutes in batches or until well browned. Drain on kitchen paper.
5. To serve, mix the yoghurt and tahini together, season with salt and pepper and spread on a serving plate. Dress the remaining broad beans in a little oil, season with salt and pepper and toss through the mint leaves.
6. Arrange the falafels on the yoghurt mix, scatter over the broad beans and mint and serve with lemon wedges.