R2R: Falafel Chickpea Patties

I didn't have all that much time to spare this month but by hook or by crook, I knew I just HAD to complete the Recipes To Rival Challenge this month. After all, it featured one of my all-time favourite beans - chickpeas a.k.a garbanzo beans a.k.a kacang kuda (side note: how is it that the literal malay translation is horse beans?)!

Lori (of Lipsmacking Goodness) picked two recipes for us to choose from - chickpea fries and Falafel Chickpea Patties. I went with the latter but couldn't take up the extra challenge of making my own pita bread (after reviewing the recipe, knew i didn't have all that waiting-to-rise time)... I did however sub it with making my own Chapati bread (recipe in another post) to go with the falafel patties.

First impression was that the patties reminded me of a vegetarian version of kofta meatballs. We ate it rolled up in a Chapati, the falafels snuggled between a yogurt-cream cheese-onion-chives spread and lettuce.

Falafel Chickpea Patties

(adapted from Madelein Farah, Lebanese Cuisine, Four Walls Eight Windows, 2001)

Ingredients:

1 pound dried chickpeas (I used one can of chickpeas)

1 small onion, coarsely chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes, optional

Salt and pepper, as needed

1/2 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

Method:

1. Process all the ingredients in a food processor (note: I kept aside half of the onion and folded it in later because I wanted some crunch).

2. Shape mixture into balls and fry till golden brown.

P/s: When I started frying them, they fell apart (update: could be because of using canned chickpeas vs dried chickpeas) so mom suggested to add a tablespoon of cornflour. This worked in holding its shape.