Chickpea, Oats and Cilantro Falafel with Beetroot Tahini

Relish these chickpea, Oats and Cilantro falafel, served very hot with creamy beetroot tahini.

How about a cutting chai with it?????

Preparation Time: 08 hours including soaking of Chickpeas overnight

Cooking Time: 15 to 20 minutes

Chilling Time in Refrigerator- 02 hours

Makes: 16 Balls

Ingredients and Quantity:

Chickpeas, dried- 3/4^th  cup

Oat meal / Quick cooking oats- 1/4^th cup

Fresh Cilantro, chopped- 1/4^th bunch

Onion roughly chopped- ½ cup

Parsley, finely chopped- 01 tbsp.

Garlic cloves- 03 nos.

Cumin, lightly roasted- ½ tsp.

Salt- to taste

Bengal gram / Refined flour- 02 tbsp.

Vegetable oil- as required for deep frying

Beetroot Tahini Sauce:

Tahini- 1/4^th cup

Garlic cloves-02 nos.

Cooked Beetroot puree- 01 tbsp.

Lemon juice- 01 tsp.

Salt- to taste

Pepper- to taste

Ground cumin- 1/4^th tsp.

Method:

Wash and put the Chickpeas in a glass bowl with enough water to cover it.

Soak Overnight.

In the morning drain off the water and wash the chickpeas thoroughly.

Let them dry for a little while.

Place the drained and uncooked chickpeas in a food processor. Blend it along with oats, cilantro, onion, parsley, garlic, cumin and salt to taste.

Add 02 tbsp. of Bengal gram / refined flour and pulse. Ensure that it blends properly but not pureed.

Place the mixture in a bowl, which is covered in the refrigerator for 02 hours.

Form the mixture into 12 equal balls and deep fry in hot oil on each side so that it is evenly cooked and coloured.

For preparing the Cilantro Tahini Sauce:

Pulse garlic, beetroot puree, cumin, salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth. Add tahini and lemon juice; process only for 30 seconds. Add water to adjust consistency and whisk well.

Serve the Chickpea , Oats and Cilantro falafel hot with Beetroot Tahini Sauce.

Chef Tips:

1. You may add herbs and freshly ground black peppercorns in the Chickpea mixture before it is refrigerated.
2. You may add more Bengal gram / refined flour to the chickpea mixture, if required.
3. You may skip deep-frying the falafel and bake it for a much healthier version.