Serves 6

2 cups chick peas, soaked overnight

1 onion, finely chopped

¼ cup fresh parsley, minced

¼ cup cilantro, minced

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon sesame oil

Salt and pepper to taste

5 cups peanut oil or combination vegetable and olive oil

• Drain chick peas. Place in a food processor with onion, parsley, cilantro, and garlic. Pulse a few times.

• Add baking powder, cumin, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Pulse until mixture forms a smooth paste.

• Roll paste into firm 1-inch balls.

• Heat oil into 1 or more fondue pots, taking care not to fill pots more than ⅓ full. Guests can use fondue forks to skewer firm falafel balls, or use wire strainers to dip falafel in hot oil.

• Cook until balls are brown and crisp. Dip in tahini before eating.

Quick Tahini Dip

Sesame tahini is a peanut butter-like paste that adds flavor to many Middle Eastern dishes. To make tahini sauce, season tahini with a clove of pressed garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth. For a thinner sauce, add more lemon juice or a little warm water.