[Sca-cooks] Falafel

[Terry Decker]

We've kicked around whether "False Isfiriyya (made from chickpeas)" 
represents the earliest known variant of falafel, but we have not made any 
significant finds on the history oif falafel.

The problem with the statement below is that it is phrased as a fact rather 
than a speculation.  It is generally accepted that the falafel originates in 
Egypt, possibly as early as Pharonic Egypt, although there is a school of 
thought that points to India as the source.  There is a speculation that the 
Copts developed falafel as a replacement for meat during Lent.  I know of no 
solid evidence to support any of these opinions.  The reference to falafel I 
have encountered in English is mid-20th Century, suggesting that the dish 
may be of later origin than commonly thought.  The etymology of "falafel" is 
in dispute with several possible origins and no particular period for its 
adoption in its current usage.

Barring someone finding a reference or description in a period source, we 
don't know much about the evolution of the dish and we can not place it 
definitively in period.

Bear


> Found this at
> http://www.feastingathome.com/2013/06/falafels-with-home-made-pita-and-creamy.html#more:
>
> "Falafels are basically a bean fritter made from garbanzo beans or fava
> beans, originating from Egypt. They were created somewhere around 400AD by
> the Copts, the native christians of Egypt, as a replacement for meat,
> during Lent. Egyptians have a different name for falafels.... they call
> them *taamia. *My dad is a Coptic Egyptian and he remembers his mother
> making taamia for him with fava beans rather than garbanzos. Because
> falafels are primarily made from beans, they are good cheap source of
> protein, and their popularity spread throughout the Middle East. Today 
> they
> can be found around the world, in most cities, even Paris, often in the
> form of street food."
>
> Have we discussed falafel on this list? How true is the above?
>
> AEschwynne