Are you looking for a yummy appetizer for the Holidays…would you love a real easy entertaining recipe? Well if you answered yes…I want to share my Falafel Stick Easy Appetizer with you. You are going to love them…they look wonderful…taste great and …can be made ahead of time plus! Then there is yet another treat waiting for you…4 of my friends {Gina Ashley, Karianne & Laura} are sharing some wonderful Easy Entertaining Recipes and they have them ready and waiting for you!!!
I have to tell you …the power of the “chick pea” makes being a vegetarian so much easier! It is packed with protein…flavor and is so incredibly versatile. Out of all of the culinary delights that can be made by with these special beans…falafels always come out the winner! A really yummy falafel is a bit messy to eat…so I had to figure out how I could serve these special little bundles of flavor to family and friends with ease,,,and I did! So many Mediterranean treats are served on a stick…so why not a falafel! Am I right!
It’s a natural…but where to get mini mini pitas? No problem…create them yourself. You can use a really good pita bread or you can use naan (both available at just about every grocery store). I went with naan this time…all I did was get out my 2 inch round cookie cutter and out of each piece of naan…I got 8 perfectly round bases to my mini falafels. Quick…Easy…Inexpensive! I can hear you thinking…that little tip can be used in MANY recipes!!! Then it was time to layer…how to keep everything neat and in place?..sounds like the job for glue…edible glue that is …this was a job for tzatziki sauce…that wonderful blend of rich Greek yogurt…garlic…parsley…lemon juice and a touch of olive oil. Let the stacking begin…Nann base…a touch of sauce…piece of lettuce…touch of sauce……falafel…touch of sauce…a Greek olive and then top it off with a little piece of grape tomato and then the toothpick…
repeat…repeat…repeat…and plate them up with some fresh lemon slices and serve them up with some Sunshine Wine.
Oh yes…sugar your glass rims for an extra special touch!
Cheers!
Falafel Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup of dried chickpeas or
1 15 ounce can well rinsed
1/2 cup of finely sliced scallion greens and whites
3 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley
2-5 crushed and chopped garlic cloves (It’s all up to you how much you and your family enjoy)
1 teaspoon of salt
some freshly cracked pepper
you can also add a pinch of dried hot crushed pepper if you like things spicy
1/2 – 1 teaspoon of cumin (my family is not a huge fan of cumin so I just use a pinch but it is a flavor than many enjoy!)
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
5 tablespoons of all purpose flour
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1 batter makes approximately 25 quarter sized falafels
Directions
1. If you are using dried chickpeas…please place your dried beans in a glass bowl…cover with water… and let soak over night…
If you are using canned beans…open …rinse and drain
2. Take out that food processor and get ready to place the chickpeas and scallions in…then add all the ingredients except the flour and baking powder and pulse till everything is all mixed but not pureed.
3. Now add your flour and baking powder to the top of the mixture and just pulse until everything is combined. The mixture should not stick to your hands but be easy to form …so if you need to sprinkle with some extra flour have at it! Then place the mixture in a bowl…cover and place in the fridge for at least an hour and then it is time to make your patties or ball…the size being your choice.
4. After the mixture is formed it is time to fry in your canola oil until golden brown. You can choose to deep fry or just fry in a generous amount of oil in a frying pan. They take about 3 minutes per side…until golden brown. When they are done…drain on paper towel and get ready to dress them or their Falafel Stick Debut! They are hardy and yummy!
You can make these a day or two ahead of time and bake at 350 for about 5 minutes to warm. They also freeze fabulously…you can have them ready to use any time…they keep frozen for a month.
Tzatziki Sauce
I make it a little different…very healthy and extremely yummy!
1 16 ounce container of Greek Plain Yogurt (you choice of brands) You can use Sour Cream if you choose
1 large English Cucumber peeled and grated
2 cloves of finely crushed and chopped garlic (more or less according to your family taste)
1 tablespoon of finely sliced scallion greens
1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh dill or 1/4 teaspoon of crushed dried dill
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or 1 tablespoon of freshly squeeze lemon juice
A drizzle of olive oil.
1. This is a step that is not a MUST but I really love to do. I place the yogurt into a cheesecloth lined strainer…place covered over a bowl and let it sit on the counter draining for a few hours…you will be amazed how much whey comes out and make the thick yogurt even thicker but it still works straight from the container.
2. Peel the cucumber and shred. Place it in a bowl sprinkled with salt and allow to sit for an hour and then squeeze all the liquid out of the cucumber.
3. Combine all your ingredients and then add to the yogurt…place in the fridge covered till ready to serve…it keeps for a week tightly covered.
Sunshine Wine:
So simple…for each serving…
4 ounces of wine…red or white…your choice…a teaspoon of simple syrup and 1 ounce of Limoncello…served chilled in sugar rimmed glasses.
Looking for some more fabulous entertaining menu ideas??? Check out my friends culinary treats! These ladies are over the top awesome at everything they do but for some reason…I think you know that all ready! : )
Be sure to visit everyone…oh the treats that are in store for you!!!!
(((((HUGS)))))
