Alright all you chefs out there...

[HiWarp]

I'm looking for the perfect falafel recipe.  I have a recipe and I make them at home but they usually come out very dense.  Tasty, but very dense.  So today I went to a kosher deli for lunch and had these crispy, light, moist falafel balls that I have to positively recreate.  Is it the ingredients?  Is it the frying?  Come on, chime in with your suggestions.

[zachor_ve_kavod]

I can tell you, but it will cost you.   

Just kidding.

The secret ingredient is baking powder or baking soda (depending on the recipe).  You have to let your mixture sit long enough for the mixture to take effect.

You should also use a mixture of both chick peas and fava beans.

Go to epicurious.com to find a good recipe.

Hope this helps.

[Dr. Dan]

I think onions will make them fluffier also...just not sure whether falafel balls have onions cooked within them.

[Zelhar]

Use fresh Humus beans, not frozen or canned. Also mix more parsley it might reduce density. But anyway making the perfect Falafel is not an easy task at all.

[Dr. Dan]

cilantro might give it a very unique taste.

[zachor_ve_kavod]

cilantro might give it a very unique taste.

Fresh cilantro might be good.  I use it when I cook Thai food especially.  For fallafel, I would most likely use dried corriander, which is the seed that cilantro comes from.

[Dr. Dan]

Cumin seeds will give that indian flavor. Good stuff

[New Yorker]

There ya did it, now I'm hungry for falafel, anybody know a good pizza place in Queens that makes falafel? I haven't seen one since falafel pizza on 63rd drive in Rego Park closed 15 years ago.

[zachor_ve_kavod]

Cumin seeds will give that indian flavor. Good stuff

Cumin is one of my favorites.  To enhance the flavour of it, lightly toast it in a pan for a few minutes.

[New Yorker]

Alright, that's it, I gotta go find myself so falafel! With lots of that delicious white sauce and some of the hot red sauce. Sigh, all the falafel places are a long commute from here. 

[zachor_ve_kavod]

That's surprising.  If you throw a stick in any direction in my neighbourhood, you'll probably hit a fallafel/shwarma place.

[Daleksfearme]

I can dial up the best dish in town

[New Yorker]

I'm in Rego Park Queens, there's nothing close, one Italian pizzeria, and that's it. Gonna have to google the closest falafel place and get over there.

[Americanhero1]

FALAFEL   

1 c. raw chick peas or garbanzo beans
1 c. raw fava beans, shelled
1/2 c. onions, chopped
1/4 c. chopped parsley
3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 eggs
1 tbsp. fresh cilantro or 1 tbsp. coriander powder
2 tsp. cumin powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper
Oil for deep frying
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of cloves
Salt to taste
1 tsp. baking soda
Bread crumbs (optional)

Soak the beans in water for about 24 hours. Drain and rinse. Puree in a food processor or blender. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add all the ingredients.
Heat enough oil in a deep saucepan or Wok to reach a depth of about 2 inches. Shape the falafel mixture into flat rounds, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Drop them in hot oil. Do not crowd. If they are browning too quickly, reduce heat. Serve with Tahini Dip.
 

[HiWarp]

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I will try it again and let you know how it goes.