MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY

Category 12 => The Food Sooq ~~~~ => Topic started by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 07:17:40 pm



Title: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 07:17:40 pm
It's a question, so I'll put it here on the main board.  Want to know a bit of details on these 2 Middle-Eastern foods.   Heard a lot about them but never cooked them nor found out much.   I simply presume falafel is a Middle-Eastern veggie kebab and hummus a veggie soup.  But I could be wrong.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:16:10 pm
Falafel is a chickpea kebab and hummus is a chickpea dip.   'Hummus' is supposed to be the Arabic word for chickpea.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:17:31 pm
Aww!  I see.  I was way wrong.  Any more general info on hummus, please?


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:28:43 pm
Hummus is supposed to have originated from Egypt more than 7,000 years ago which makes it he oldest middle-eastern food.  Hummus varies in different restaurants and also in different homes.  Some like the lemon flavor while others prefer the garlic flavor while yet some opt for a real spicy hummus.  One simply needs to keep one's own tastebuds in mind.  A common ingredient put in hummus dip is tahini, which is sesame seed paste.  But if you don't like tahini, lessen the quantity or omit it altogether.  Children usually don't like tahini.  It can even have varying colors depending on the precise ingredients you've used.  If you use tahini, it will look a bit brownish, if you omit tahini it will look more whitish and if you use red pepper it will look quite orange and so on.   It's had as a dip with either pita bread or pita bread chips.   


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:31:34 pm
That sounds much more interesting than I imagined !!  I often hear of garbanzo beans being used in hummus.  Is it similar to chickpeas?


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:32:41 pm
It's exactly the same thing as chickpeas.  'Garbanzo' is the Spanish name for chickpeas.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:33:29 pm
Another Middle-Eastern delicacy is shawarma.  I guess you would know what that is.  Really popular in the ME with plenty of shawarma shops in Canada too owned by Middle eastern families.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:34:36 pm
Yeah, shawarma is another Middle-Eastern goodie I keep hearing about but never made it nor ate it.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:35:58 pm
O!  you've never eaten shawarma?  It's pretty nice.  I haven't ever made it either but we often buy it and bring it home from a few middle eastern fast food eateries close to our home.  The kids and my husband love it.  But we have to tell them not to add tahini sauce otherwise they usually do.  We add our own coriander or mint chutney at home. 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:37:47 pm
I've heard shawarma is made with lamb.  Can it also be made with chicken similarly.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:38:18 pm
I suppose yes, why not? 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:39:11 pm
and What does shawarma mean, by the way?


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:41:00 pm
Shawarma is  a Turkish word meaning "to turn."  It refers to the equipment used for cooking the spicy marinated lamb for the shawarma.  It's turned around on a rotisserie as it cooks, hence the turning phrase.  But this is the traditional style .. the method for preparing the shawarma meat in commercial eateries.  The home style shawarma doesn't need this fuss.  You can simply cook it your way in your kitchen cooker.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on May 21, 2012, 08:43:37 pm
I had some very nice shawarma in Turkey.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:44:41 pm
Really?   how exactly was it made?


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on May 21, 2012, 08:45:40 pm
It's actually a lamb+veggie pita sandwich.  Cooked spicy lamb slices with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh onion rings drizzled with beaten yogurt wrapped up in a large pita :)   Tastes fantastic.


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 21, 2012, 08:46:42 pm
Now u r making me hungry :)  Sis Heba, any idea how it's made  ;D


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on May 21, 2012, 08:47:39 pm
 ;D ;D   :D :D


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 22, 2012, 03:47:07 pm
ha ha ha!   Ok, you can use either lamb or chicken.   Like I said, I've never made it but a late aunt of mine of my father's side was quite an expert in shawarma.  Though her style was not too traditional yet delicious!  Spices she used for preparing the meat were garlic & ginger, paprika, cinnamon powder, cumin powder, mace, salt, lemon juice and a little beaten yogurt.  Marinate the meat with all of these spices for a couple of hours and then boil with just enough water so that it dries up completely by the time the meat gets tender.  Let the meat cool and then break it into small bits.   Season the cooked meat with black pepper and finely chopped fresh parsley or green coriander (my aunt preferred coriander and so do I).  I am told that in the middle east they add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to moisten it.  My aunt often put a little melted margarine .. just a little.  It tasted moist and great!   Once the meat is ready, you're almost done.   Now all you need to do is to slice a couple of fresh tomatoes,  an onion and few slices of cucumber.   Then get your pita flat bread and spread some meat and chopped veggies on each pita.  Wrap it and eat :)     In the middle east they put some tahini sauce over the meat & veggies.  But my aunt didn't because none of us liked tahini sauce.  Instead she used either a little hot sauce made with chilli powder & vinegar or simply drizzled a little beaten unsweetened yogurt over it as brother pt mentioned. 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 22, 2012, 03:49:02 pm
Wow a hundred times.  Sounds super !!  I like that.  Is the pita supposed to be rolled or wrapped? 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 22, 2012, 03:49:56 pm
Whatever you find more convenient .. depends on the kind of pita you're using.  If the pita is thin and big, it'll have to be wrapped.  If it's smaller, it can be rolled.   If it's those pitas with pockets, then put the filling inside the pockets. 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 22, 2012, 03:53:01 pm
okay, fine.  and thanks a lot sis.  This seems like a nice quick-fix meal.  Must make it. 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 22, 2012, 03:55:01 pm

Yeah it's definitely nice.  And here are the pics for more mouth-watering :)

(https://i.imgur.com/BJsj3ou.jpg)
Hummus from Simply Recipes. (https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/hummus/)


(https://i.imgur.com/FYb59yq.jpg)
Shawarma chicken & veggies from Tablespoon.com (https://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/chicken-shawarma/466d333e-40df-462c-8bc6-79c8b7510f23)


(https://i.imgur.com/JhUAd3z.jpg)
Falafel or Middle-Eastern croquettes from delongi.com (http://www.delonghi.com/en-int/products/kitchen/recipes/multifry-recipes/extra-chef-fh1394/falafel-arab-croquettes)



Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 22, 2012, 03:59:11 pm
Oouch !!!!  Superb !!!!!!   teethsmile  I mean the shawarma. 

After knowing what hummus and falafel mean, I'm not too crazy about it.  I prefer chickpeas without making a paste of it .. as in chickpea curry or salad.  But shawarma seems fabulous.
 


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 22, 2012, 04:04:01 pm


After knowing what hummus and falafel mean, I'm not too crazy about it.  I prefer chickpeas without making a paste of it .. as in chickpea curry or salad.  But shawarma seems fabulous.
 


Agree sis.  I've never been crazy about hummus either.  And since falafel looked nice, I was eager to taste it.  There was an Afghan bakery near our previous home which made falafel.  I tasted it there for the first time and didn't like it much either.  It's basically mashed chickpea cutlets.  I prefer my usual mashed potato cutlets instead.   But yeah, shawarma is great!


Title: Re: What exactly are hummus and falafel?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on May 22, 2012, 04:04:26 pm
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