Fast Food

1. Samosas

1 lb. Phyllo dough (thaw in box on counter 5 hours)
-lay them out on the counter, place a drying cloth on top, then place a damp drying cloth on top of the first one. Phyllo will dry out in about a minute so keep it covered.

1/2 lb. potatoes (6-8), boiled, 1/2 hr; mashed.

1 Tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
-stirfry these two until the seeds pop (watch they don't pop into your eye!)
3 cloves garlic, minced
-add to the stirfry

Mix:
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno, chopped
2 Teaspoons curry powder
2 Teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup frozen peas
-add to these the mustard seeds
-add the potatotes and mix.

To make the samosas:
-Brush one phyllo sheet with butter.
-Place a second sheet on top and brush it with butter.
-Cut the length of the sheets into 5 columns.
-Place a bit of the filling into the bottom corner of one column.
-To fold: take the corner of the column (the one with filling, and fold it diagonally to make a triangle. Continue to fold up making triangles (or, like folding a flag for the patriots among us). Brush with butter when finished.

To freeze: place in freezer (duh!), then cook for 20 min. at 375.
To cook from fresh: cook for 15 min. at 375.

* * *

2. Falafel:

1 1/4 cup dried chick peas, soak 24 hours with a splash of apple cider vinegar
-blend in a food processor that is more expensive than $30, otherwise, pass it all through a garlic press (think of it as an askesis!)

Then process or stir in:
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup packed chopped parsley
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coriander (seeds or ground)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Stir in:
2 Tablespoons flour

-form into 3" patties
-let stand 15 min.
-Pour 1/2 " oil into skillet (or just use a deep fryer)
-Fry patties 4 min. each side.

If you want to make tahini (which is subjectively delicious because it's ethnic, but objectively gross!), consider yourself warned, then, humbly, mix:
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup cold water
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
pinch salt

Put the falafel, tahini, chopped lettuce and sliced tomato into a pita.