Seems the Republic is located in Needham, Massachusetts, and makes it possible for us to scarf down little, very nutritious, brown, meatball-looking parcels which don’t have a greasy fried look. They claim history, too. The recipe is 4,000 years old! And, don’t confuse this “Falafel” with “Farfalle,” which are those bow-tie, butterfly-looking cute little pieces of pasta.
What’s in these meatless meatballs? Basically it’s the protein from two kinds of beans — chickpeas and fava beans. Then it is flavored with onions, parsley, Mediterranean herbs and spices. The Falafel Republic claims, “Humble falafel – the secret of the pharaohs and the faithful food of the Middle East – is now shared with the whole world, an egalitarian feast for all humankind, everywhere. Fully cooked. Heat and serve.”
Are you always fighting to keep your weight down? Has your doctor said you are pre-diabetic? In either event, you know it gets dicey to get your hands on some good protein as you push others and drag yourself out the door every morning? After 25 seconds in the microwave, you and your falafel are out the door with finger food. And, it happens to be tasty, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, cholesterol-free, vegetarian as well as high in fiber and protein. Go ahead; envision your doctor smiling at you. YOU DESERVE IT!
Later in the day, falafel is traditionally paired with hummus, tabouli, and tahini or tzatziki sauce. However, you can enjoy it with almost any food and with your favorite sauce. Use it as a snack or a meal, even “ethnitize it:”
Middle East appetizer platter — falafel, hummus & tabouli
Falafel benedict — with eggs & hollandaise sauce
Asian falafel– stir fry with veggies & sesame seed oil
Mexican falafel — wrapped in a tortilla with salsa & cheese
Indian falafel — in a naan bread sandwich
Polynesian falafel — in sweet & sour pineapple sauce & rice
Texas falafel — smothered in barbeque sauce
Thai falafel — cut into pieces & added to pad Thai
Southwestern falafel — in a steaming hot bowl of chili.
The Republic’s on a roll. And. They have recipes