Falafel

Ingredients

• 1 pound (about 2 cups) dry chickpeas/garbanzo beans
• 1 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3-5 cloves garlic (I prefer roasted)
• 1 1/2 tbsp flour
• 1 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Pinch of ground cardamom
• Vegetable oil for frying (grapeseed, canola, and peanut oil work well)

You will also need

• Food processor, skillet

• Pour the chickpeas into a large bowl and cover them by about 3 inches of cold water. Let them soak overnight. They will double in size as they soak – you will have between 4 and 5 cups of beans after soaking.
• Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans well. Pour them into your food processor along with the chopped onion, garlic cloves, parsley, flour, salt, cumin, ground coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom.
• Pulse all ingredients together until a rough, coarse meal forms. Scrape the sides of the processor periodically and push the mixture down the sides. Process till the mixture is somewhere between the texture of couscous and a paste. You want the mixture to hold together, and a more paste-like consistency will help with that... but don't overprocess, you don't want it turning into hummus!
• Once the mixture reaches the desired consistency, pour it out into a bowl and use a fork to stir; this will make the texture more even throughout. Remove any large chickpea chunks that the processor missed.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
• Note: Some people like to add baking soda to the mix to lighten up the texture inside of the falafel balls. I don’t usually add it, since the falafel is generally pretty fluffy on its own. If you would like to add it, dissolve 2 tsp of baking soda in 1 tbsp of water and mix it into the falafel mixture after it has been refrigerated.
• Fill a skillet with vegetable oil to a depth of 1 ½ inches. I prefer to use cooking oil with a high smoke point, like grapeseed. Heat the oil slowly over medium heat. Meanwhile, form falafel mixture into round balls or slider-shaped patties using wet hands or a falafel scoop. I usually use about 2 tbsp of mixture per falafel. You can make them smaller or larger depending on your personal preference. The balls will stick together loosely at first, but will bind nicely once they begin to fry.
• Note: if the balls won't hold together, place the mixture back in the processor again and continue processing to make it more paste-like. Keep in mind that the balls will be delicate at first; if you can get them into the hot oil, they will bind together and stick. If they still won't hold together, you can try adding 2-3 tbsp of flour to the mixture. If they still won't hold, add 1-2 eggs to the mix. This should fix any issues you are having.
• Before frying my first batch of falafel, I like to fry a test one in the center of the pan. If the oil is at the right temperature, it will take 2-3 minutes per side to brown (5-6 minutes total). If it browns faster than that, your oil is too hot and your falafels will not be fully cooked in the center. Cool the oil down slightly and try again. When the oil is at the right temperature, fry the falafels in batches of 5-6 at a time till golden brown on both sides.
• Once the falafels are fried, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon.
• Let them drain on paper towels. Serve the falafels fresh and hot; they go best with a plate of hummus and topped with creamy tahini sauce. You can also stuff them into a pita.
• Troubleshooting: If your falafel is too hard/too crunchy on the outside, there are two possible reasons-- 1) you didn't process the mixture enough-- return the chickpea mixture to the processor to make it more paste-like. 2) the chickpeas you used were old. Try buying a fresher batch of dried chickpeas next time.
• SESAME FALAFEL VARIATION: After forming the balls or patties, dip them in sesame seeds prior to frying. This will make the falafel coating crunchier and give it a slightly nutty flavor.
• HERB FALAFEL VARIATION (GREEN FALAFEL): Add ½ cup additional chopped green parsley, or cilantro, or a mixture of the two prior to blending.
• TURMERIC FALAFEL (YELLOW FALAFEL): Add ¾ tsp turmeric to the food processor prior to blending.
• EGYPTIAN FALAFEL: Use 1 lb. dried peeled fava beans instead of chickpeas; cover them with cold water, soak them for at least 24 hours, then drain and rinse. You can also use a mixture of fava beans and chickpeas if you wish; just make sure the weight of the dried beans adds up to 1 lb.
• After the beans are soaked and rinsed, add the Classic Falafel ingredients to the processor along with the following ingredients – 1 leek, cleaned, trimmed, and quartered; ¼ cup chopped dill; ¼ cup chopped cilantro; and an additional ¾ tsp cayenne pepper. When mixture is processed to a coarse meal, pour into a bowl. Stir 2 ½ tbsp sesame seeds into the mixture with a fork until it’s evenly dispersed throughout the mixture. Refrigerate and proceed with frying. If mixture seems too “wet” when making the falafel balls, add additional flour by the teaspoonful until the mixture sticks together better. Continue with frying.
• HOW TO MAKE A FALAFEL PITA: Making a falafel pita is actually really simple. The two main ingredients are pita bread and falafel.
• Cut the pita bread in half to form two “pockets.” Each pocket is a serving size. Stuff the pocket with falafel, as well as any add-ons you fancy.
• Here are some traditional add-ons that can be added to your pita; these are the ingredients most widely available at falafel stands throughout Israel:
• Tahini sauce
  Shredded lettuce
  Diced or sliced tomatoes
  Israeli salad
  Onions
  Dill pickles
  Hummus
  Tabouli
  French fries
  
• Here are some less traditional add-ons that are also tasty:
• Sprouts
  Cucumber slices
  Roasted peppers
  Roasted eggplant slices
  Sunflower seeds
  Feta cheese
  Yogurt
  Tzatziki

Mashed Chickpea Salad

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/4 - 1/3 cup scallions, sliced
1/4 cup or so hummus or tahini (any vegan mayo works too)*
1 - 2 tablespoons mustard (stoneground or dijon)
sea salt & cracked pepper, to taste
dash of garlic powder
juice of 1 lemon, optional
small handful pepitos, optional
paprika/smoked paprika, garnish


Drain and rinse your chickpeas, place in medium size bowl and roughly mash with a fork, potato masher or pastry blender. Add the remaining ingredients and combine. Add more hummus if you like it creamier and taste for seasoning. Serve however you like.

Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Zucchini-Scallion Cakes

Makes 10 small cakes
 
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini, grated ( about 1 1/2 cups)
2 scallions, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon butter (optional)

Combine the zucchini, scallions, flour, sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Toss to combine. Add the egg, lemon juice, and zest and stir until well incorporated.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter (you can use more olive oil if keeping this recipe dairy-free) in a large cast iron skillet. Once the butter is melted and the oil is fairly hot, drop in the zucchini mixture in tablespoonfuls, making sure not to crowd the pan (about 5 at a time). Cook for about 1 minute on each side until browned and semi-firm. Remove to a paper towel to drain and repeat with the remaining zucchini mixture, adding more oil as necessary.

NOTE: this can be done a day in advance. Simply reheat the cakes in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Fuss-Free Frittata

Ingredients:
4 whole eggs
1 cup red bell peppers, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 cup frozen peas

Directions:
In a small bowl, beat the eggs together. Add the mixture to a skillet pan, allowing eggs to set. Scatter the bell peppers, mushrooms and peas over the mixture. When eggs are cooked, use a spatula to slide frittata out of the pan and serve.

Spanish Rice

2 tablespoons olive oil (can use up to 1/4 cup)
1 onion, chopped fine
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups of medium or long-grain white rice
3 cups* chicken stock (or vegetable stock if vegetarian)
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste or 1 cup of diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained
Pinch of oregano
1 teaspoon salt

*Check the instructions on the rice package for the proportions of liquid to rice. They can range from 1:1 to 2:1. If your rice calls for 2 cups of water for every cup of rice, then for this recipe, use 4 cups of stock for 2 cups of rice.

1 In a large skillet brown rice in olive oil, medium/high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook onion rice mixture, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes, or until onions are softened.

2 In a separate sauce pan bring stock to a simmer. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt. Add rice to broth. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Lower heat and cook 15-25 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package. Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes.

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Time: 20 to 25 minutes

Butter or oil for greasing the pan
2 cups raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅓ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a rimmed baking sheet or a 9- by 13-inch pan. Put the pumpkin seeds, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl and toss to combine.

2. Put the maple syrup and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, and cook until the butter melts. Pour the maple mixture over the seeds and stir to coat the nuts evenly in the maple mixture. Spread the seeds on the baking sheet and bake, stirring frequently, until the seeds are golden brown and the coating is thick, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool until the coating hardens, and serve. (Store leftover nuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to several days.)

Tzatziki

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Time: 30 to 40 minutes, partially unattended

1 pound cucumbers, peeled if desired, seeded, and roughly chopped
Salt
2 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt
Juice of 3 lemons
½ cup chopped fresh dill
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
Black pepper

1. Put the chopped cucumbers in a large colander and toss with a large pinch of salt. Put the colander in the sink and let the cucumbers sit for 20 minutes, then gently pat dry with a paper towel.

2. Put the cucumbers, yogurt, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, and garlic in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Notes:
Unless you can find seedless cucumbers, you must remove the seeds.

Then, you must salt the cucumbers to draw out as much liquid as possible. If you skip this step, a puddle of near-flavorless liquid will form quickly at the bottom of your salad bowl, your dip or soup will separate like curdled mayonnaise. Salting cucumbers requires only 20 minutes or so and virtually no effort: You just put them in a colander or strainer, toss them with a big pinch of salt or two, and let osmosis do its thing.

Polenta

Yield: 4 servings
Time: 15 minutes

1½ cups coarse cornmeal
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons freeze-dried corn powder
Salt and black pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter

Put the cornmeal, milk, freeze-dried corn powder, and 2½ cups water in a small pot over medium heat; season with salt and pepper. Cook, whisking more or less constantly, until the polenta has absorbed all the liquid and thickened, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, and stir in the Parmesan and butter. Taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve warm. (Store leftover polenta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days.)

Peanut Butter Cookies

Yield: About 24 cookies
Time: About 3 hours, mostly unattended

1 cup brown sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup creamy natural peanut butter
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar, or more as needed for coating the cookies

1. Beat the brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer (or with a handheld mixer in a large bowl) until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat to combine. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and stir just until combined. Wrap the dough in foil or plastic wrap (or simply cover the bowl) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

2. Heat the oven to 350°F. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, coat each ball in sugar, and transfer to a baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Press the tines of a fork flat against each ball of dough to indent it, then make a second indentation perpendicular to the first one. Bake until the cookies are firm and their edges are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer the cookies to wire racks or paper towels to finish cooling. Repeat with the remaining dough. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few days.

Honey-Wheat Bread

Yield: One 9-inch loaf (about 12 servings)
Time: 3½ to 4 hours, mostly unattended

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon salt
2¼ teaspoons instant yeast or one ¼-ounce packet active dry yeast
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
Butter or oil for greasing the bowl and pan

1. Combine the flours, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Put the milk, 2 tablespoons of the butter, and the honey in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until the butter melts. Turn off the heat and add 1 cup lukewarm water to the milk mixture to cool it to 100°F—about the same temperature as the inside of your wrist. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.

2. Transfer the dough to surface lightly dusted with all-purpose flour. Knead until it feels smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding just enough flour to keep it from sticking to the surface. Grease a large bowl (it’s fine to use the same one you mixed the dough in), add the dough, and turn it over to coat it lightly with oil or butter. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, put it in a warm place, and let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan. Punch down the dough, then form it into a loaf shape and transfer it to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, put it in a warm place, and let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4. Heat the oven to 350°F. Uncover the pan and bake the loaf for 15 minutes. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan, then brush it all over the surface of the loaf. Continue baking until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when you tap it with the back of a spoon, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer the loaf to a wire rack to continue cooling. Slice and serve warm. (Store leftover bread wrapped in foil or plastic wrap at room temperature for up to a few days.)

Broccoli and Cheddar Frittata

Ingredients

8 large eggs
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small red onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
2 cups chopped cooked broccoli
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar (2 ounces)

Directions

Separate 4 of the eggs, putting the whites into a medium sized bowl and discarding the yolks. Add the 4 whole eggs and 2 tablespoons of water to the whites and whisk well.

In a medium ovenproof nonstick skillet heat the oil over a medium flame. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and a few turns of pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables in the skillet covering them evenly. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let cook until the egg mixture has set around the edges but is somewhat liquid in the middle, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese.

Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Place the skillet under the broiler about 2 inches from the heat until the surface is set and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook or the egg mixture will become tough.

Cut the frittata into 8 wedges and serve.

Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients

1 teaspoon unsalted butter
4 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 to 3 1/4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
8 ounces Swiss cheese, grated

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish with the butter and set aside.

Place the cream in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper, and stir well. Add the potatoes, adding more cream if necessary to completely cover the potatoes. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are barely fork tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat.

With a large spoon, transfer 1/3 of the potatoes with some of the cream to the prepared dish, forming an even layer on the bottom. Top with 1/3 of the cheese, and continue layering the potatoes and cheese, ending with cheese on top. Place on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Bento Teriyaki Sauce

Ingredients:

 

 1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
5 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 -2 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

Directions:

1. Mix all but cornstarch and 1/4c water in a sauce pan and begin heating.
2. Mix cornstarch and cold water in a cup and dissolve. Add to sauce in pan.
3. Heat until sauce thickens to desired thickness.
4. Add water to thin if you over-thicken it.