Falafel (Lebanese style)

1 bag dried Chickpeas
1 large onion
3-4 cloves garlic
1- 2 tablespoons Falafel spice mix
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking  powder
oil to fry
falafel mold tool or 2 tablespoons

How2:
In a large bowl, soak the chickpeas for 48hours, everyday you may drain and re fill them with new water.
Once they have soaked strain them.
Place the chickpeas in a food processor and grind them slightly.( you may was them to allow the chickpea peels to float to the surface this way you can discard the covers and have a better falafel consistency. If you do this step be sure to strain them again.)
Place them back into the processor with the onions,garlic grind until its fine. Touch the chickpea mixture if it feels to wet you may strain it to remove any extra liquid.

At this point you may continue the steps ahead or place the mixture in bags to freeze if you feel its to much if not proceed to the next steps.

TIP: Spices, salt and baking powder  are added only b4 frying this gives it a much fresher flavor.

Add the falafel spices,salt and baking powder to the mixture mix it well.
preheat oil.
with the falail mold as you can see in the image it has 2 parts the mold and the spatula.
what you do is take some falafil mixture with the spatula, pushing the tab of the falafil mold down.
fill it will the mixture you may add about 2- 3 scoops. with its flat side of spatula apply slight pressure while patting the shape. if you don't have one you may use a few a tablespoons of filling and form a ball with your hand.
Place in oil( you may do the first one as a test piece see if you would like more spices or salt)and repeat until you have filled the pot.
keep the heat on about med-high heat
cook until golden brown. if you find they brown to quick you may lower the heat.
remove once they are cooked place them in a strainer to remove extra oil this also helps them to remain crunchy.
serve with any topping like tahini sauce,pickles,tomatoes fresh mint or parsley! enjoy as a sandwich or a dinner plate.

                                                        

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NOTE:Falafel is made many diffrent ways, it changed from region to region some add parsely or cilantro to the mixture some add fava beans. Use this as a basic recipe and play around to find what flavors you . I like to serve mines in a sofra(tables spread) like a do it your self station each person can create their own sandwich.