Falafel with Tahini Yogurt Sauce (Recipe #79)

        I have a very special relationship with falafel. I did not know that it existed for about the first 20 years of my life. While I was doing some traveling with a friend, they were stunned that I never heard of this food. She showed me what a falafel was and it immediately became one of my favorite comfort foods! I have not had falafel since this trip and it was coming time that I either went to buy falafel or made it myself. The Vegan for Everybody cookbook had a recipe! This falafel was delicious!

The night before I wanted to make the falafel I had to soak dried chickpeas in water. After the chickpeas had soaked for at least 8 hours, I knew they were good to go. I started the process by making homemade vegan pita bread! I prepared the falafel by processing chickpeas, scallions, parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and salt together. I had to do this in a few rounds because it did not all fit into my food processor at once! I combined everything in a bowl and began shaping the falafel. At this point, I started to run into an issue. Some of the falafel held together perfectly. Some of the falafel immediately fell apart after I had shaped them. Considering that I am going through each recipe to try it, I continued as the recipe was written. I made my yogurt sauce and set that to the side. I began frying the falafel on the stove a few at a time. I had to do about three rounds of frying. As soon as the falafel came out of the oil, I placed them on a paper towel lined plate and added a little bit of salt. Some of the falafel immediately fell apart. Eventually, I finished frying the falafel and making my pita bread.

I sliced tomatoes and cucumber. I cut my pita bread in half. I put together my beautiful falafel! I put a little bit of cucumber, tomato, sauce, and two falafels in my pita bread. I sat down with a plate full of my falafel and potato wedges! This dinner was one of the most delicious dinners that I have ever prepared. I will be making falafel again! I would like to improve upon this recipe!

Taste: 10/10!

Level of difficulty: 1/5

Notes for next time: Loved, will make again!! I would like to improve the falafel to hold together better.