THE BEAUTY JUNKEE IN THE KITCHEN: QUICK AND EASY FALAFELS

Falafels are famous appetizers originating from the Middle East. It is brought anywhere by Desert travellers because it almost tastes like meat, and it is easy to bring.

The Persian/Mediterranean cuisine is starting to make a name in the Philippine restaurant industry. For the spice loving Filipinos, the exotic flavors of Persian/Mediterranean cusine are perfect for the palate of the Filipinos.

Falafels are deep- fried vegetarian balls that taste almost like meat! It's made of garbanzos, chickpeas, couscous, sesame seeds, and a lot of spices.

I've encountered this food one night, and I fell in love with it from then on.

Falafels are quite hard to make. You need to crush garbanzos, cook couscous, spike it with the right ingredients and spices to create the authentic Falafel. Good thing, there's Casbah for people on the go like me.

So for this edition, let's cook FALAFELS!

I've purchased a Falafel mix from Healthy Options. A box costs 129php, and it can make 24 patties. I've used only half of the mix, which gave me 12 patties. And I'll be using the other mix in my next cooking session.

HOW TO COOK INSTANT FALAFELS

1. The choice is up to you whether you want to make 24 or 12 patties. So if you want to create a lot for the whole family, then use up the mix. If not, use only half of the mix and store the remaining in a cool, dry place.

2. If you've used half of the mix, pour half a cup of cold water. Make sure it's cold. If it's warm or hot, it will melt the mix, turning it into soup. Mix well, until the mix becomes thick and fluffy.

MAJOR PROBLEM: I'VE PUT TOO MUCH WATER! NOW IT'S TURNING INTO A SOUP!

I've used a big glass with half a cup of water. Though I've only put half a cup, the glass I've used might be too big. And, I've used a GLASS, not a CUP. So here's how to solve the problem.

SOLUTION: GET A SIFTER, BOWL AND FORK
- Pour the solution on the sifter. Make sure it's on top of a bowl so the excess water will be removed. After removing the excess water, fluff the batter with a fork and mix well. If the batter is becoming thick and sticky, it has already absorbed the right amount of water.


PROBLEM SOLVED! LEAVE THE MIX FOR 10 MINUTES SO THE FLAVORS WILL SETTLE. YOU CAN ADD GROUND BEEF OR PORK IN THE BATTER, MAKING IT A GOOD PARTNER FOR RICE. SPIKE IT WITH PAPRIKA OR CHILI POWDER, IF YOU'RE INTO SPICY FOODS.


NOW WE'RE READY TO COOK!

A closer look at the Falafel Batter. It has now been remedied and it's fluffy and thick, which makes it perfect for creating and molding balls.

Make balls out of the Falafel batter.

Heat a cooking pan and oil. Make sure the oil amount is quite big for a deep frying session. Each ball will take 2- 3 minutes to fry.

A closer look at the Falafels. Look at the herbs and spices, perfectly seasoned and cooked to a golden brown perfection.

Golden brown, mouthwatering Falafels. Perfect with salads, pita breads, or on it's own! Make sure you make a garlic dressing, yogurt dressing, or sesame tahini dip to make this a heartwarming snack or meal. I did not have the time to create the dip because I realized I was already running late after cooking this. But it still tasted good!

'TILL THE NEXT ISSUE! :)

THE BEAUTY JUNKEE IN THE KITCHEN: QUICK AND EASY FALAFELS

Falafels are famous appetizers originating from the Middle East. It is brought anywhere by Desert travellers because it almost tastes like meat, and it is easy to bring.

The Persian/Mediterranean cuisine is starting to make a name in the Philippine restaurant industry. For the spice loving Filipinos, the exotic flavors of Persian/Mediterranean cusine are perfect for the palate of the Filipinos.

Falafels are deep- fried vegetarian balls that taste almost like meat! It's made of garbanzos, chickpeas, couscous, sesame seeds, and a lot of spices.

I've encountered this food one night, and I fell in love with it from then on.

Falafels are quite hard to make. You need to crush garbanzos, cook couscous, spike it with the right ingredients and spices to create the authentic Falafel. Good thing, there's Casbah for people on the go like me.

So for this edition, let's cook FALAFELS!

I've purchased a Falafel mix from Healthy Options. A box costs 129php, and it can make 24 patties. I've used only half of the mix, which gave me 12 patties. And I'll be using the other mix in my next cooking session.

HOW TO COOK INSTANT FALAFELS

1. The choice is up to you whether you want to make 24 or 12 patties. So if you want to create a lot for the whole family, then use up the mix. If not, use only half of the mix and store the remaining in a cool, dry place.

2. If you've used half of the mix, pour half a cup of cold water. Make sure it's cold. If it's warm or hot, it will melt the mix, turning it into soup. Mix well, until the mix becomes thick and fluffy.

MAJOR PROBLEM: I'VE PUT TOO MUCH WATER! NOW IT'S TURNING INTO A SOUP!

I've used a big glass with half a cup of water. Though I've only put half a cup, the glass I've used might be too big. And, I've used a GLASS, not a CUP. So here's how to solve the problem.

SOLUTION: GET A SIFTER, BOWL AND FORK
- Pour the solution on the sifter. Make sure it's on top of a bowl so the excess water will be removed. After removing the excess water, fluff the batter with a fork and mix well. If the batter is becoming thick and sticky, it has already absorbed the right amount of water.


PROBLEM SOLVED! LEAVE THE MIX FOR 10 MINUTES SO THE FLAVORS WILL SETTLE. YOU CAN ADD GROUND BEEF OR PORK IN THE BATTER, MAKING IT A GOOD PARTNER FOR RICE. SPIKE IT WITH PAPRIKA OR CHILI POWDER, IF YOU'RE INTO SPICY FOODS.


NOW WE'RE READY TO COOK!

A closer look at the Falafel Batter. It has now been remedied and it's fluffy and thick, which makes it perfect for creating and molding balls.

Make balls out of the Falafel batter.

Heat a cooking pan and oil. Make sure the oil amount is quite big for a deep frying session. Each ball will take 2- 3 minutes to fry.

A closer look at the Falafels. Look at the herbs and spices, perfectly seasoned and cooked to a golden brown perfection.

Golden brown, mouthwatering Falafels. Perfect with salads, pita breads, or on it's own! Make sure you make a garlic dressing, yogurt dressing, or sesame tahini dip to make this a heartwarming snack or meal. I did not have the time to create the dip because I realized I was already running late after cooking this. But it still tasted good!

'TILL THE NEXT ISSUE! :)

THE BEAUTY JUNKEE IN THE KITCHEN: GARLIC AND ROSEMARY CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH ITALIAN SALSA

I've been watching a lot of cooking shows lately and I am more inspired to create my own meals now because there are some contestant chefs in the shows that I've been watching who made it to the top without even going through formal culinary lessons. It just goes to show that talent (cooking) can be innate, ergo, it should be cultivated. And it's also a matter of having a good taste and passion for food to be able to create lovely and sumptuous dishes.

I was in the mood to cook my own dinner last night so here's what I've come up with:

I'd like to call my recipe: GARLIC AND ROSEMARY CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH ITALIAN SALSA.

The Italian Salsa is made of tomatoes, olives, capers, onions and garlic sauteed to almost a semi- puree texture.

THE COOKING LIST:

CHICKEN FILLET (BREAST PART, THE LEANEST PART WITH LESSER FAT)

TOMATOES

OLIVES

CAPERS

ONIONS

CLOVE GARLIC (TO BE DICED AND SLICED)

GARLIC CHIPS (I USED THE MCCORMICK BRAND, THE MORSEL- LIKE GARLIC CHIPS IN THE BOTTLE)

CANOLA OIL OR OLIVE OIL (HEALTHIEST COOKING OILS WITH GOOD FAT)

ROSEMARY (FOR MARINATING)

POWDERED BLACK PEPPER

ROCK OR IODIZED SALT (TO TASTE. DON'T GO OVERBOARD!)

Marination process of the chicken

START COOKING!:

1. CUT CHICKEN FILLET PORTIONS ACCORDING TO YOUR PREFERENCE. RUB EACH SLICE WITH JUST A BIT OF ROCK SALT FOR A DASH OF TASTE (THAT'S WHAT IT'LL MAKE THIS RECIPE LOW IN SODIUM). RUB THE FILLET WITH POWDERED BLACK PEPPER, GARLIC CHIPS AND ROSEMARY. SET ASIDE IN THE FRIDGE SO THE INGREDIENTS WILL SOMEHOW SETTLE ON THE CHICKEN WHILE YOU'RE COOKING THE SALSA

2. CHOP THE TOMATOES, ONIONS, GARLIC AND OLIVES AND SET THEM ASIDE. MAKE SURE THE VEGGIES ARE IN SMALL- SIZED SQUARES SO THEY COULD BE COOKED EASILY.

3. HEAT A FRYING PAN THEN POUR CANOLA OR OLIVE OIL. HEAT THE OIL THEN SAUTE THE ONIONS AND GARLIC. NEXT, PUT THE OLIVES AND CAPERS AND LASTLY, THROW IN THE TOMATOES.

4. SAUTE THE TOMATOES, OLIVES, ONIONS, GARLICS AND CAPERS AT AROUND 10 MINS. IN THE PAN SO IT'LL SOMEHOW HAVE A SEMI- PUREE CONSISTENCY. TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS, MAKE SURE THE TOMATOES ARE TOO COOKED SO THEY'LL SOMEHOW MELT IN THE PAN, CREATING A SEMI- STICKY JUICE FOR THE SALSA.

5. AFTER 10 MINS., TAKE OUT THE SALSA AND SET IT ASIDE. MAKE SURE IT HAS THE CONSISTENCY OF THE STICKY SALSAS USED AS DIPS FOR NACHOS.

6. HEAT ANOTHER FRYING PAN. THEN POUR CANOLA OR OLIVE OIL. AFTER THE OIL IS HEATED, PUT THE CHICKEN SLICES. USE THONGS FOR EASIER TOSSING AND TURNING. THE DONENESS DEPENDS ON YOUR LIKING. IT'S BEST TASTING WHEN THE SIDES OF THE CHICKEN HAVE TURNED TO GOLDEN BROWN.

7. TAKE OUT THE CHICKEN AND DRAIN THE OIL BY PUTTING THEM ON TABLE NAPKINS ON TOP OF A PLATE. THIS WAY, YOU'LL TAKE IN LESS OIL IN THE BODY SO THAT MEANS LESSER FAT.

8. ARRANGE THE CHICKEN IN ANOTHER PLATE THEN PUT SOME OF THE SALSA ON TOP OF THE CHICKEN SLICES.

9. ENJOY! :D

COOKING AND PREPARATION TIME: AROUND 30 MINUTES

**IF YOU'D LIKE TO EAT THIS WITH RICE, THE BEST DIETER'S BET IS BROWN RICE OR IF YOU WANT TO EAT THIS RESTAURANT STYLE, COOK COUSCOUS AND PLACE THE SLICES ON TOP OF THE COUSCOUS.

Here is the finished recipe.

**This is good for dieters. I'm on the ABS POWER DIET  so I've been fond of cooking meals for myself. I assure everyone that this is low in fat and sodium, ergo, good for the belly and weight. It tastes like diet food, but it's still great!

So here is the closer look of the recipe. The chicken fillet served as the bed for the salsa. Both make lovely music together! :D

Yummy! I just had a good fill. The serving might be small but it does make you quite full. I wish I have couscous last night so I could've had a fabulous mediterranean fusion dish!

Look at my two babies, they are begging to have a taste of my dish!

MOM'S VERDICT:

"MASARAP."

**I'll be posting some of my food creations here in the next few posts! :D