I have enjoyed eating falafel gyros for many years.  So much that we started making them at home.  For years I could buy the mix in bulk at the health food store.  Now they only carry the box mix….talk about expensive.  A 10 oz box is about $3.  I asked the staff and they said the bulk wasn’t available anymore.  I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of money for the mix.  I went back to the dry goods aisle and found garbanzo bean flour with a recipe for falafels on the back.  I made it and found that the spices had been reduced to cater to “American pallets”.  Sorry, but not all of us want it watered down.  So….like  Tim Allen  “I rewired it”.  We made them tonight and…..well,.. to toot my own horn, we may never go back again!

If you like your gyro on the spicy side, then have I got a recipe for you.  Not to mention, it will save you lots of money.  A 22 oz package of garbanzo flour was just over $2 (twice the amount of food at 66% the price).  You can combine the dry ingredients in multiples of the following recipe and store it for your next use.  Just use 1 1/2 cups of the dry mix to the listed wet ingredients.

You’ll need:

1 cup garbanzo flour

1/2 cup stone ground corn meal

1 1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black peppercorns

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp sweet paprika

1 tsp dried oregano

3/4 tsp each guajillo and pasilla pepper flakes

1/2 tsp ground dried limon powder

1/2 tsp ground sumac powder

1 tsp roasted garlic powder

1 tsp dried onion

2 tsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp coriander chutney (available at Mediterranean groceries)

2/3 warm water (or more if needed)

In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix well.  Add lemon juice, coriander chutney and 2/3 cup water. If mixture still looks too stiff, add another 1-2 Tbs of addition water.  Mix well and let sit for 10 minutes.  Form into 1-1 1/2 inch balls. I use a cookie scoop.  Try not to deflate them.  They cook up lighter if you just scoop and drop in the oil.

In a large skillet heat  2-3 tbs of olive oil until hot.  Add Falafel balls and press ever so slightly.  Brown on each side and remove to paper towels to drain.  Use in your favorite pita bread with lettuce, cheese, onion, and yogurt sauce.  Don’t forget the cucumbers!