FALAFEL FOR BREAKFAST

A cookbook by Michael Rantissi & Kristy Frawley. Recipes from our restaurant Kepos Street Kitchen located at 96 Kepos St, Redfern NSW 2016, Australia.

6 RECIPES FROM FALAFEL FOR BREAKFAST

Falafel

Falafel

Makes 20

It takes time to make good falafel so you’ll need to start this recipe 24 hours in advance. To shape the falafel you can use a traditional falafel spoon, available at most Middle Eastern grocery stores. Alternatively, you can use two tablespoons, or do it the Egyptian way and make small patties with your hands. (If using either of the latter shaping methods, adding 2 egg whites when seasoning the mixture will make it firmer – although, because it is not traditional, I prefer not to add egg whites.)

200 g (7 oz/1 cup) dried chickpeas

100 g (3½ oz) dried split broad beans

1 large handful coriander (cilantro), leaves picked

2 large handfuls flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, leaves picked

1 small onion, coarsely chopped

2 long red chillies, seeds removed, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

rice bran oil, for deep-frying

1.  In a large bowl, soak the chickpeas and broad beans overnight in cold water, changing the water at least twice during this time.
2. Drain the chickpeas and broad beans and put them in a food processor with the coriander, parsley, onion, chilli and garlic. Whiz until grainy (not a smooth purée).
3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the baking powder, cumin
4. and sesame seeds. Mix together and, using a falafel spoon or two tablespoons, quenelle the mixture or roll it by hand into 20 patties.
5. Pour enough rice bran oil for deep-frying into a large deep saucepan and heat to 170°C (325°F). To test if the oil is hot enough, drop in a cube of bread and if it turns golden brown in 20 seconds you are good to start cooking. (If the oil is not hot enough, the falafel will break up.)
6. Working in batches, drop the falafel into the oil and deep-fry for 3 minutes, or until golden. Remove the falafel with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Serve with green tahini or hummus.

Green tahini

Makes 200 g (7 oz)

My green tahini is a take on the classic tahini – which is whiter in colour – and is used as a dressing, dip or a complement to hummus. The addition of more herbs in my version gives it a vibrant green colour, as well as a grassier flavour and fragrance that works well with many dishes.

2 cups coriander (cilantro), leaves coarsely chopped

125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, peeled

90 g (3¼ oz/1/3 cup) tahini

1 teaspoon sea salt flakes

1. In a food processor, blend the coriander with 100 ml (3½ fl oz) water until you have a smooth green paste; don’t over-blend as the coriander will go black. Add the lemon juice, garlic and tahini and blend until smooth. Stir through the sea salt flakes. 

Breakfast couscous trifle

Breakfast couscous trifle

Serves 4

An easy dish because each of the elements can be prepared in advance and assembled trifle-style when you’re ready for breakfast or brunch.

190 g (6¾ oz/1 cup) couscous

3 tablespoons light olive oil

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

375 ml (13 fl oz/1½ cups) boiling water

200 g (7 oz) mixed berries (fresh or frozen)

½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

1 cinnamon stick

½ teaspoon rosewater

80 g (2¾ oz) sugar

500 g (1 lb 2 oz) Greek-style yoghurt

3 tablespoons icing (confectioners’) sugar

100 g (3½ oz) Turkish delight, coarsely chopped

1 pinch of saffron threads

1. Put the couscous, olive oil and ground cinnamon in a stainless steel bowl and mix well. Pour over the boiling water and cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Set aside for 10–15 minutes.
2. Put the berries, vanilla bean paste, cinnamon stick, rosewater and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium–low heat and bring to
3. a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
4. When the water has been absorbed, remove the plastic wrap and fluff up the couscous with a fork.
5. Put the yoghurt, icing sugar, Turkish delight and saffron in a bowl and mix to combine. 
6. Keep the elements in their separate bowls in the fridge until ready to serve. To assemble, use glasses or jars so that you can see the layers. Put 2–3 tablespoonfuls of the couscous in each glass, then spoon in the yoghurt mixture and top with the berry mixture.

Chicken, noodle & leek soup

Chicken, noodle & leek soup

Serves 4–6

There is nothing that chicken soup can’t heal, it is said, and it’s one of those dishes you can eat at any time of the day.

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 leek, white part and half of the green part, rinsed and thinly sliced

100 g (3½ oz) kugel, egg or vermicelli noodles

sea salt and white pepper, to season

1 small handful flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, finely chopped

Stock

1 small (about 1.2 kg/2 lb 10 oz) chicken

1 brown onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 celery stalks

1 carrot

2 fresh or dried bay leaves

5 garlic cloves, extra

½ teaspoon white peppercorns

1. To make the stock, put all of the ingredients in a large saucepan with 5 litres (175 fl oz/20 cups) water. Cook over medium heat for 45 minutes.
2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer the chicken to a chopping board. When cool enough to handle, pull the chicken meat off the carcass and shred with your hands. Cover and set aside until you are ready to serve the soup. Discard the chicken carcass. Strain the stock and set aside. Discard the vegetables.
3. To make the soup, put the olive oil and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook for 1–2 minutes. Add the leek and cook for 3–4 minutes. Add 1 litre (35 fl oz/4 cups) of the reserved chicken stock. Turn the heat up to high and bring to the boil. Add the noodles and cook according to the packet instructions, or approximately 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.
4. Add the shredded chicken to the noodle stock and cook for 4–5 minutes, just to warm through and meld the flavours. Season with sea salt and white pepper. Stir through the parsley and serve.

Dukkah lamb cutlets with mint and pomegranate salad

Dukkah lamb cutlets with mint and pomegranate salad

Serves 4

It is so easy to put this dish together, and yet it makes such a big impact with its sharp, clean flavours.

3 tablespoons olive oil

6 tablespoons hazelnut dukkah

8 large lamb cutlets (or lamb chops or noisettes)

Mint and pomegranate salad

1 handful mint leaves

4 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

1 preserved lemon, skin only, julienned

juice of ½ a lemon

3 tablespoons olive oil

1. Put the olive oil and dukkah in a large bowl and mix together. Add the lamb and rub the dukkah mixture into the meat. Cover the bowl and transfer to the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes.  
2. To make the salad, put the mint, pomegranate seeds and preserved lemon in a bowl. Shake together the lemon juice and olive oil in a small jar. Pour over the salad, toss gently and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, taking care not to use too much salt as there is salt in the dukkah on the cutlets.
3. Heat the barbecue to high or heat a chargrill pan over high heat on your stovetop. Cook the lamb cutlets for 2–3 minutes on each side. Remove the pan from the heat and rest the lamb for 5 minutes before serving with the mint and pomegranate salad.

Hazelnut dukkah

Makes 520 g (1 lb 2 oz)

Dukkah can be kept for up to a year – but I am sure you will eat it all before then! It is best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

1¾ cups hazelnuts

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1¼ cups sesame seeds

2 teaspoons sea salt flakes

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F). 
2. Put the hazelnuts on one baking tray, and the coriander and cumin seeds on a separate tray, and bake until toasted, approximately 15 minutes.
3. After the hazelnuts and seeds have been in the oven for 10 minutes, add the sesame seeds on a separate tray and toast for the remaining 5 minutes, or until lightly coloured. Remove all the trays from the oven and allow the nuts and seeds to cool to room temperature.
4. Put the hazelnuts in a food processor and pulse to a coarse breadcrumb size. (You could also crush the hazelnuts the traditional way using a mortar and pestle – good exercise for the biceps!) Transfer the hazelnuts to a large mixing bowl. 
5. Put the cumin and coriander seeds in the food processor and process until almost a powder. (Use a mortar and pestle to do this if you prefer.)  
6. Add this powder to the bowl along with the toasted sesame seeds, salt and pepper. Mix well using a wooden spoon.

Grilled eggplant, yoghurt & rocket

Grilled eggplant, yoghurt & rocket

Serves 4 as a side dish

Eggplant is a staple in the Middle East and is used in many ways there. This is a lovely side dish to have at a barbecue or to serve with grilled fish. You can also prepare it as a delicious salad (see note below).

2 large eggplants (aubergines)

100 g (3½ oz) rocket (arugula) leaves, torn

200 g (7 oz/¾ cup) Greek-style yoghurt

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil

1. Halve the eggplants lengthways and put them, skin side down, on a hot barbecue until their skins blacken, then turn and cook the cut sides for 3–4 minutes. This will give the eggplant a lovely smoky flavour. (You could roast the eggplant at 200°C/400°F for 30 minutes, though you won’t get the same smoky flavour.)
2. Place the eggplant halves, cut side up, on serving plates. Scatter the rocket leaves over.
3. Combine the yoghurt, garlic and olive oil in a bowl and spoon the mixture over the eggplant and rocket leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

NOTE To make this as a salad in a bowl, leave the eggplants whole and roast on a hot barbecue until their skins blacken. Once the eggplants are cool enough to handle, peel the skins off and discard. Tear the flesh into chunks and put in a bowl with the rocket leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Combine the yoghurt, garlic and olive oil in a small bowl. Add to the salad, toss gently and serve.

Marzipan cake

Marzipan cake

Serves 8–10

Beautifully moist and with the real taste of almonds, this cake can be made in advance for a dinner party, or enjoyed for afternoon tea. It keeps refrigerated for up to a week, but I’m not sure it will last that long.

6 eggs

300 g (10½ oz) unsalted butter, melted

270 g (9½ oz/2 2/3 cups) almond meal

90 g (3¼ oz/1 cup) desiccated coconut

380 g (13½ oz) caster (superfine) sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 vanilla bean, split lengthways and seeds scraped or 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

50 g (1¾ oz/½ cup) almond flakes

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F). Grease a 24 cm (9½ inch) spring-form cake tin and line the base with baking paper.
2. Put the eggs in a large bowl and whisk with a fork. Add the butter and mix until combined.
3. Put the almond meal, coconut, sugar, salt and vanilla bean seeds in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Add the almond meal mixture to the egg mixture and mix well. Pour into the cake tin and scatter the almond flakes over the top. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the cake is firm and golden brown.
4. Cool the cake in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the spring-form ring and allow the cake to cool completely.

About the authors – Michael Rantissi & Kristy Frawley

Michael Rantissi & Kristy Frawley

Israeli-born chef Michael Rantissi and his partner and ‘balaboosta’ Aussie girl Kristy Frawley drill down to what we all love about the ingredients and flavours of the Middle East – grains and greens, generosity, pungency, sweetness, sharing. This is food that brings everyone to the table, and won’t let them leave.

Michael puts ingredients first and foremost, opening the door to our greater understanding and appreciation of the Middle East’s hidden treasures — tahini, baharat, halva, chickpeas, labneh, eggplant, honey, pomegranate, dates, broad beans, pistachios, wild greens, ancient grains.

The recipes go from basics like hummus, aioli and falafel, to Persian eggplant risotto, Cauliflower, cranberry and pearl barley salad; and Harissa-braised lamb with okra.

To finish are the pastries, breads and syrup-laden cakes that turn a meal into a feast – Chocolate and pistachio baklava, Date and dukkah brownies, Persian pavlova.

Living in multicultural Sydney, he says, has helped him lighten and brighten traditional recipes, without ever losing sight of their origins and traditions. ‘If my mother knew I was serving falafel for breakfast – and people were loving it – she would be amazed’.

A much-lauded home cook, Kristy adds those all-important pastries, breads and syrup-laden cakes that turn a meal into a feast, any time of the day or night.