Falafel and Hummus Mezze Platter

Directions

1. Falafel
2. After combing through your chickpeas to make sure no rocks or broken chickpeas are included place your chickpeas In a medium sized bowl. Fill the bowl with enough water to cover + an additional 3-4 inches and let your chickpeas soak for at least 8 hours to overnight. Do not try to substitute canned chickpeas for this as they have been cooked and will not have enough structure for making falafel.
3. After your chickpeas have soaked drain out the water and transfer to your food processor.
4. Into your food processor add in the chopped parsley, garlic, onion, 1tsp of salt, and 2 tbsp of the whole wheat flour
5. Blitz your food processor until the mixture is ground into small pieces but is not pasty or mushy. Once the mix is a good pea-meal consistency (like a pie dough) transfer to another bowl
6. Measure out all your whole spices and toast them in a small pan.
7. Once the spices are toasted let them cool and grind them up in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder
8. Add in your fresh ground spice mixture, chili powder, dried cilantro, remaining 1bsp of whole wheat flour, salt to taste, and citric acid (you can use lemon juice instead for the slight acid kick but it adds extra wetness so you might need to add another tsp of flour)
9. Mix everything together and let rest in the refrigerator for about an hour
10. Prepare your frying vessel (I use a deep cast iron pan) with oil about 4 inches deep and heat to until it is hot
11. While the oil is heating up prepare your falafel balls. Set up a shallow bowl with 1/4 cup of the whole wheat flour and shape your falafel mix into ball shapes about the size of a walnut. Once shaped roll the falafel in the flour, this step will make sure your falafel has a nice brown crust and will help it keep it's shape
12. Once the oil is hot place few of your falafel in the pan leaving breathing room between them. I usually fry about 5 in my 12" pan at one time. Cook them for about 4 minutes this time ensures a nice crisp outside and a well cooked inside
13. Set on a cooling rack and fry up the rest of your falafel, serve when warm or cold with hummus, pita, and any other Mezze sides you wish!

1. Basic Hummus
2. Into your food processor combine your chickpeas, juice of one lemon, tahini, most of your cold water (reserve about 3tbsp to add while processing), and salt.
3. Turn your food processor on high and start adding your olive oil in a steady stream into the mix until it starts to come together and smooth out (about 3 tbsp)
4. Continue processing on high and add in the rest of the water if needed to make sure the hummus is nice and smooth.
5. Run the food processor for an additional minute on high to make sure it is very very smooth
6. Once your hummus is nice and smooth taste for salt levels and pour out into your serving vessel and serve.