Falafel

I'd always assumed that falafel were tricky to make, but as long as you have a blender they are very easy.

Ingredients:

• 2 tins of pre-cooked chickpeas, drained
• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• a bunch (about 30g) of leaves of coriander
• a bunch (again about 30g) of parsley leaves
• 1 red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground corriander
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp gram (or plain) flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• Enough sunflower oil to fill a frying pan to about 1cm depth

Method:

1. Place all the ingredients apart from the oil into a blender and blend until combined. Don't over blend or the falafel will lose all their texture.
2. Heat the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat.
3. Use your hands and palms to shape the blended ingredients into small falafel shaped balls or into flat patties.
4. Place in the oil and cook for a couple of minutes on each side. If the oil doesn't sizzle when you first add the mixture then it isn't hot enough, so raise the heat under it a bit.
5. Serve hot or cold on a salad of fresh leaves.

Makes enough falafel for 3 or 4 people.