Hello, food lovers! Today, we’re taking a culinary journey to explore the delicious world of falafel. We’ll be diving into a fantastic video by Chef Billy Parisi, who has shared his secrets on how to make the perfect falafel at home. If you’re a fan of this Middle Eastern delicacy, you’re in for a treat! 🎉
The Art of Making Falafel 🎨👨‍🍳
In this video, Chef Billy Parisi takes us through the process of making falafel from scratch. He starts with the basics, using chickpeas as the primary ingredient. He soaks the chickpeas overnight, then processes them until they reach a medium-coarse texture.
Next, he adds onions, garlic, parsley, and cilantro to the food processor and pulses them until they are finely minced. He combines these ingredients with the processed chickpeas, adding sea salt, ground cumin, ground coriander, and black pepper. He pulses these ingredients together until they reach a slightly finer grind.
Chef Billy Parisi emphasizes the importance of tasting the mixture at this stage to check if it needs more seasoning. He also tests the texture by forming a small handful of the mixture into a ball to see if it holds its shape. Once he’s satisfied with the taste and texture, he adds baking powder to the mixture, which helps make the falafel light and fluffy.
Forming and Frying the Falafel 🍳
Once the falafel mixture is ready, it’s time to form the falafel balls. Chef Billy Parisi uses a falafel scooper to form the balls, but you can also use your hands or a regular scooper. The falafel balls are then fried in oil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius) for about 2-3 minutes per side until they become golden brown.
The Egyptian Twist 🇪🇬
Chef Billy Parisi also introduces us to an Egyptian version of falafel, which uses fava beans instead of chickpeas. The process is similar, but the fava beans give the falafel a slightly different flavor and texture.
The Perfect Combination 🤝
In a surprising twist, Chef Billy Parisi combines the chickpea and fava bean mixtures to create a unique falafel blend. This combination brings together the best of both worlds, resulting in a falafel that is light, fluffy, and packed with flavor.
Serving the Falafel 🍽️
Falafel can be served as an appetizer or as part of a main dish. Chef Billy Parisi recommends serving them with a side of tahini sauce or garlic sauce for dipping. You can also stuff them into pita bread for a delicious and filling meal.
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