View Full Version : Falafel and tahini sauce- on trail?
ShelterLeopard
10-22-2009, 13:21
So I really like Falafel- love it. I used to work in a Middle Eastern resaurant that made amazing falafel sandwiches.
My first experience with falafel however, was on the trail (with a camp group, hiking the last 150 miles of the AT in Maine for three weeks). We made falafel from a mix, and it immediately got the nickname raw-falawful, and of course we had to eat it, because who wants to pack out mushy falafel? It turned out really badly, and I can't remember why. Does anyone know how to cook falafel on trail? Should it be fried in oil? (And I'm making it from a mix)
And does anyone know where to get tahini sauce or how to keep it fresh on trail? Because a falafel sandwich is no sandwich without tahini. Help! (LaurieAnn, I'm sending help brainwaves in your direction...)
I'll on occasion have fried cauliflower with tahini sauce which is simple to make, tahini paste (sesame seed toasted and olive oil), garlic, lemon juice, parsley and salt. do a quick google I'm sure there is a recipe I got my from all recipes.
Tahini sauce is shelf stable! You can find cans of it in most big grocery stores, often very well hidden. You can carry it just like PB with you :)
As for the falafel dry mix, yes, you gotta pan fry it. Mix it up and drop it in a little hot oil in a non stick pan and fry till browned and crispy, flipping once. Add more oil as needed.
Pita pockets are easy to carry as well :)
LaurieAnn
10-22-2009, 14:06
I treat tahini like peanut butter and put it in a leakproof Nalgene... but be careful in hot weather as it can go off. It's a little too oily to dehydrate unforunately unless it is a minor ingredient in something like hummus.
I haven't made falafel on the trail but I think it might be doable. I imagine you'd have to fry it though. I'm so behind with things here at the office but once I get caught up I'll do some backyard experimentation to see what I can come up with.
PS We called them F---ing-awfuls (sorry for the bad word) when my neighbor botched a recipe for falafel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV9y24S_NF0
Yes falafel is fried made a burger out of it many years ago from the package I didn't really care for it
ShelterLeopard
10-22-2009, 14:09
Thanks Sarbar! And pitas ar what made me think of doing falafel sandwiches on trail, because I almost always have pitas on trail for PB and cheese.
Do you have any idea what section the tahini would be in? (I didn't know it was shelf stable, because at the restaurant we always kept it refridgerated- which might be because it's thicker when it's colder, and is easier to work with wehn you have to make orders, fast.
Maybe I'll go to Wegman's and look. International sectioon, perhaps?
ShelterLeopard
10-22-2009, 14:11
Thanks Laurie- and a lot of people seem to have bad experiences with making falafel themselves.
Totogem- don't dismiss falafel until you've had is made fresh in a middle eastern restaurant- i's soooo good when it's made right!
Laurie pretty well summed up my feelings about it.
you can find tahini (well at least I can) in thew Asian isle of the supermarket.
LaurieAnn
10-22-2009, 16:49
I buy an organic variety in... well... the organics section of our supermarket.
I usually find it in the "ethnic" aisle but due to Microsoft being nearby, we often have full blown Indian food aisles and I always can find it there. If not, it often gets crammed in the Asian section.
One reason it is kept cold? To stop separation, just like with natural nut butters. Less stirring!
mmmm... falafel .... Opening soon in a city near you... My new restaurant chain... wait for it... "I Falafel"
Seriously, I think falafel needs to be cooked in oil. At least that's how the Mrs. does it. But don't take my word for it. I'm happy if I can boil water and do some FBC for my dinner.
Jack Tarlin
10-22-2009, 19:31
Leopard:
Check out "Fantastic Foods". They have really good instant vegetarian/natural foods; the felafel is good, the instant hummus is better. Their stuff is available in better supermarkets, I know they stock it at the Outfitter in Hot Springs. I carry this stuff with me all the time.
ShelterLeopard
10-22-2009, 19:37
Will do- and I love hummus! (I carry emergency potable aqua with me in case my pump breaks, and if you use water that's been purified with potable aqua, when you mix it with the hummus, it'll turn blue for a couple seconds.)
LaurieAnn
10-22-2009, 20:30
Your own hummus will also dehydrate beautifully if you wait to add the oil in when you rehydrate it. I can post a link to one of my hummus recipes if anyone wants it.
bigcranky
10-22-2009, 21:52
I would fry it in a little oil. Make patties instead of little balls -- they cook faster and more evenly.
Also, I much prefer tzatziki sauce to tahini on my falafel, but that's just me. And raw onions, and some cucumbers and diced tomatoes.
We fry flafel here in oil in little patties. But it is Missouri.
On the trial, try water to moisten and oil to fry them. It may work. Let me suggest a tahini recipe that could be put in a deyhydrator for trail use. I got a recipe from a friend of mine that I love for a dip and I have eyed it for a trail meal: seems to me it could be dehydrated for the trial. it is a wonderful dip otherwise. Here it goes:
Tahini spread or dips for pitas or and veggies:
1 cup of tahini, plain
1/3 cup of apple juice
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar
2 medium cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teapsoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
beat tahinni five minutes with mixer. Drizzle apple juce and vinegar. Stir in rest of ingredients. Add more apple jucice if it is clumpy.
Serve with veggies or pitas.
Ths is a paste. Spread it on the dehydrator for the trail. I don't have time, but it is probably like doing refired beans. Six hours and check. Crumble it and add a little moisture on the trail and you have a nice adder, protein and for vegetarians a nice meal additive. I am not a vegetarian, but I love this dip and think it would dehydrate well for the trail.
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, not 14....sorry, I cannot type.
ShelterLeopard
10-23-2009, 11:42
Hmmm.... Don't have a dehydrator, and I don't think I'll buy one, but I'm gonna try and borrow one from someone around these here parts!
Leopard:
Check out "Fantastic Foods". They have really good instant vegetarian/natural foods; the felafel is good, the instant hummus is better. Their stuff is available in better supermarkets, I know they stock it at the Outfitter in Hot Springs. I carry this stuff with me all the time.
This company also makes great 5 minute instant couscous, an easy trail meal. They also make lots of other products and coucous if you are willing to wait longer to cook your food. I eat this stuff at home all the time,.
ShelterLeopard
10-26-2009, 01:51
Five minute couscous is really good for breakfast. Especially with brown sugar and michigan dried cherries.
And I just realized, I may have been eating the Fantastic Foods stuff all along- I have to dig out a box because the brand wasn't so memorable for me, but if fits the description.
LaurieAnn
10-26-2009, 10:25
Five minute couscous is really good for breakfast. Especially with brown sugar and michigan dried cherries.
Our store-brand couscous is a five-minute one. I don't think I've ever had couscous that didn't cook fast come to think of it. It's really good with some coconut powder, candied ginger, nuts and dried tropical fruits. Yum.
Snowleopard
10-26-2009, 11:09
I'll on occasion have fried cauliflower with tahini sauce which is simple to make, tahini paste (sesame seed toasted and olive oil), garlic, lemon juice, parsley and salt. do a quick google I'm sure there is a recipe I got my from all recipes.
Thanks for reminding me of this dish. I made it last night. It was pretty good, but not as good as the version in a now defunct Armenian restaurant in Worcester, MA. I'll keep trying till I get it perfect, then I'll try dehydrating.
ShelterLeopard
10-26-2009, 12:08
Our store-brand couscous is a five-minute one. I don't think I've ever had couscous that didn't cook fast come to think of it. It's really good with some coconut powder, candied ginger, nuts and dried tropical fruits. Yum.
Yeah- I think it all cooks pretty fast. I've never looked for a specific kind of couscous. I usually just put the couscous in my mug, pour boiling water in, cover it, and five minutes later, it's ready to eat. (I don't know how well this would work in winter- I may have to cook it on the stove)
The first fafafel I ever had was on a SWEAT Crew in the Smokies. now, I eat it every few weeks.
-I have taken it on the trail, the box with two packages works best. I use a .9l pot and pepsi can stove. make the mix in my coffee mug. wait 10 min for the mix to set. then put small amount of oil in pot, 1/2 oz fuel, as oil gets hot start adding balls of fafafel, I try to make the mix into 9-10 balls, all will fit in the pot at once. cook until fuel runs out, then remove pot work to turn all of the balls over.
-then add 1/2 oz fuel, light and cook till the fuel runs out.
Most of the oil will asorbe into the mix on the second cooking. It makes a great snack, (I add salt once cooked)
On the small instant couscous? You don't even need hot water. Give it 15 to 30 minutes and cool water will rehydrate it. It is precooked pasta after all ;)
ShelterLeopard
11-03-2009, 00:02
Yeah, but it rehydrates faster with hot water, and I'm ALWAYS bioling water at night and in the morning for drinks, so why not?
Good to know for summer though...