Hunt for falafel a learning experience for parent and child
Falafel.
Falafa-what?
I heard the word on a Disney Channel commercial for a show called “Kickin’ It.” The commercial shows one of the actors eating falafel. Just the sound of the word ... falafel ... it sounds a little funny and it’s not a word you hear every day. I knew I had to find out what it was and try it for myself.
Falafel is a food made of chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, and sometimes fava beans and many spices. It’s a common food in Middle Eastern countries and is believed to have started in Egypt. It’s becoming more common here; my teacher said she saw falafel vendors on the sidewalks in New York City and then I saw it at the Subway sandwich shop by my house. It looked like a smaller, lighter chicken nugget.
I tried that Subway falafel and it was good. But then my mom took me to a real Middle Eastern restaurant the falafel there was a-ma-zing. It was crunchy on the outside and smooshy on the inside and mildly spicy. You can eat it wrapped in pita bread or just dunk it in a sauce.
I found out it’s really easy to make your own falafel and you can decide how spicy you want it. All you have to do is mix up the beans, some parsley and garlic and spices, like cumin and coriander or red pepper, if you want, in a food processor. Once it’s ground up, you mold it into a patty or a ball, whatever shape you like, and deep fry it, or bake it. I personally like it fried more. At the restaurant we went to they use a tool called an “aleb” to make the balls, but at home we just used our hands.
A word from Mom: Sometimes television can be a good thing, like when it introduces your children — and you — to new cultures and cuisines.
I was hesitant to take Jerome for falafel; I didn’t want him to be disappointed. The first time I tried falafel at a college friend’s house it tasted like camel spit in sand, or at least what I imagined camel spit and sand would taste like.
Some friends recommended we check out Pita Pita Mediterranean Grill in Palatine so we stopped in for an exploratory lunch. It was fun watching the cook make the falafel with that special tool and drop it into the hot oil. The falafel (and everything else there, by the way) did not disappoint. Neither camel nor sand came to mind that afternoon.
As parents we often push our children to try new foods, but we generally have better success when the idea comes from them. Take advantage of those times even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone; you might learn something new yourself.
Ÿ Jerome Gabriel, a sixth-grader, has been helping in the kitchen since he could hold a spoon. His mom, Deborah Pankey, is Daily Herald Food Editor.