Falafel with pea dip

The ultimate Israeli street food is now your ultimate street party food!! Prepare the dried chickpeas a day ahead or used canned.
Makes around 20 balls – easy to double

INGREDIENTS​:
Falafel:

• 1 cup dried chickpeas, or canned and drained
• 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2-1 teaspoon dried chili
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4-6 tablespoons flour
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Tomato and lemon wedges, sliced cucumber and lettuce leaves to serve.

Pea Dip:

• 3 ½ cups frozen peas, thawed and drained
• 300ml (1 ½ cups) sour cream
• 1/ cup roughly chopped mint, plus extra leaves to garnish

DIRECTIONS:
Falafel:

1. Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover them by at least 2 inches. Let soak overnight, then drain. Or use canned chickpeas, drained.
2. Place the drained, uncooked chickpeas and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, coriander/cilantro, salt, chili, garlic and cumin. Process until blended but not pureed.
3. Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for several hours.
4. Form the chickpea mixture into balls about the size of walnuts, or use a falafel scoop, available in Middle-Eastern markets.
5. Heat 8 centimetres/3 inches of oil to 375ºF in a deep pot or wok and fry 1 ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little flour. Then fry about 6 balls at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Pea Dip:

1. Process peas, sour cream and mint in a food processor to a rough paste.
2. Season and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with mint leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.

To serve:
Arrange falafel on a large serving plate with garnishes. Place Pea Dip adjacent with some toothpicks pita if desired.