Cooking Live Show #CL9047

Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

Discard any brown skin from each soaked bean if necessary and in a food processor fitted with a steel blade puree the beans until fine. Add the scallions, parsley, garlic, salt, cumin, coriander, baking powder, and cayenne and blend the mixture to as smooth a paste as possible. The mixture will remain grainy. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it stand, covered, for 30 minutes.

Form the fava bean mixture into eighteen 1 1/2-inch round patties and arrange them in one layer on waxed paper. In a deep fryer heat 2 1/2-inches vegetable shortening to 375 degrees and fry the falafel in batches for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is golden brown, transferring it with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Heat the pita pockets in foil in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Fill each pita with 3 of the falafel, top with a heaping spoonful of the chopped vegetable salad and the sesame dressing on the side.

Chopped Vegetable Salad:

Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

In glass bowl combine the tomatoes, green pepper, cucumber, radishes, scallions, parsley, and mint. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a slow stream, whisking, until the dressing is emulsified. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss the salad until combined well.

Sesame Dressing:

Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

Using a pestle, mash the garlic and salt to a paste and stir in the cumin. Add the tahini, combine the mixture well and add 1/2 cup of the lemon juice in a slow stream, whisking. Beat in 1 or 2 tablespoons of water, or enough to make a thick creamy sauce, and season if necessary with additional salt and lemon juice.

Jan 22, 98