Simple Homemade Falafel

Ingredients
1.5 medium white onions
3 garlic cloves
2 cups cooked + drained chickpeas (or two cans)
2 cups parsley and/or cilantro leaves 
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
oil of choice, for sauteing  
Pita bread, for serving

The Process  Start by chopping onions and garlic cloves and place in food processor until finely minced. (as you can see I'm using a blender because I'm a newly-wife and don't have the privilege of a processor yet, but it's on the list) remove the onion/garlic mixture from processor and set aside.

Next, add chick peas, parsley/ cilantro, salt, chili powder, and cumin to the food processor until blended (not puréed!). Once blended, add the onion/garlic mixture, baking soda, and flour to the processor and blend. (Note: add 1/2c flour at a time, and add more if mixture is too wet) 

Transfer to large bowl and place in refrigerator for one hour. (This step can be skipped)

After chilled, place a large sauté pan over medium heat with a generous amount of oil (I use coconut oil for everything, but canola will work just fine!) 

After allowing pan to pre-heat for 3 minutes, use a large spoon to place balls of falafel on pan (2-3 tablespoons each) 

Cook both sides for 3-4 minutes, until mixture is cooked throughout and sides are light brown. Place on a paper towel and allow to cool before plating. 

We like to eat our Falafels with warm pita's, lettuce, and fried rice. Find the perfect fried rice recipe here:( http://summerlewis.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-secret-to-perfectly-fried-rice.html )

Enjoy!

The Secret to Perfect Fried Rice

After years of searching for the best way to make fried rice, I finally figured it out! This homemade recipe is sooo much better than takeout.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter (no oil)

2 eggs

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

3 cups of your favorite veggies 

3 cups cooked + chilled rice (the secret!)

4+ tablespoons soy sauce

The Process 

Begin by making the rice. I use 1 cup long-grained white rice to 1 3/4 cups water. After cooked to perfection,  place the rice in the refrigerator for an hour or until chilled. (This is the secret for the best fried rice!)

Next, heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter on a large skillet and cook eggs until scrambled. When cooked, transfer eggs to a separate plate.

Add another 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet on medium heat until melted. Add onion, garlic, and vegetables (I used carrots, corn, peas, and green beans) for  5-8 minutes (until onion is soft).



Once vegetables are cooked, turn the heat to high and add the remaining butter. Immediately follow with the chilled rice and soy sauce. Continue to stir rice for 3-5 minutes until rice is completely fried.

Turn off heat, add scrambled eggs, and serve.

Enjoy!