Mealtime Magic - Falafel Bread

 Recipe from Pereg Gourmet

Ingredients:

Falafel Bread: ½ cup (1 stick) butter softened 1 ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour ¼ cup Pereg Chickpea Flour 2 tsp. Baking Powder 1 tsp. Baking Soda 2 tsp. Pereg Fine Red Sea Salt 1 Tbsp. & 2 tsp. Pereg Falafel Spice Mix 4 Large Eggs or vegan egg option: (½ cup + 2 Tbsp) water + 4 Tbsp flaxseed meal   2 Tbsp. Sugar ¾ cup Olive Oil 1 cup firmly packed chopped Curly Leaf Parsley from about 1 bunch Zest from 1 Lemon  Chickpea Za'atar Topping: ½ cup Cooked Chickpeas, drained 1 tsp. Olive Oil 2-3 tsp. Pereg Za’atar, divided ¼ tsp. Pereg Fine Red Sea Salt   Tahini Butter: ½ cup Unsalted Butter at room temperature (1 stick) ¼ cup Tahini ½ tsp. Pereg Fine Red Sea Salt

Directions: Ensure you have a rack in the middle of your oven, then preheat to 350°F. Line a 8.5 x 4 inch loaf pan with a piece of parchment paper with overhang on the longer sides to help lift the finished bread out of the pan. Sift the all-purpose flour, chickpea flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and falafel spice mix all together into a medium bowl. In a high speed blender, blend parsley and olive oil until mixture is completely smooth and the parsley is fully incorporated into the oil, about 30-50 seconds. Whisk eggs and sugar together in a medium bowl then whisk in parsley oil and lemon zest until combined. Using a rubber spatula, combine dry ingredients into the egg mixture stirring together until no dry parts remain and mixture is smooth. Batter will be thick. Make the Chickpea Za’atar Topping by using a paper towel to dry off any moisture from the cooked and drained chickpeas, then toss them in a small bowl with the olive oil, salt, and 1 tsp za’atar.  Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth to fill all corners. Sprinkle chickpeas onto loaf, gently pressing down to ensure they adhere to the batter. Sprinkle loaf with an additional 1-2 tsp. Za’atar and bake for 35-40 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the center of the loaf and the top of the loaf should feel firm when pressed. Make the tahini butter by whisking the tahini, butter, and salt together in a small bowl. Slice and serve warm or toasted with the tahini butter.