The Big Mahmoud

Two falafel patties, middle eastern special sauce, lettuce, cheese, shoor pickles, sumac pickled onions on a sesame seed bun.

The Big Mac's arab cousin. This was an idea that I've had for a long time and I am so glad that I was able to bring it to life.

Read the recipe below, or..

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Ingredients:

Falafel:

2 cups dried chickpeas

1 cup fresh parsley

1 cup fresh cilantro

1 cup fresh dill

1 white onion, quartered

8 garlic cloves

1 tbsp each black pepper, dried cumin, dried coriander

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tbsp sesame seeds

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Frying oil of choice

Mahmoud Sauce:

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup labneh

2 tbsp tahini

2 tbsp shoor pickle relish

1 tsp each smoked and sweet paprika

1 tsp sumac

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp white vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Pickled Sumac Onions:

1 diced white onion

1 cup water

1 cup vinegar

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp sumac

Sandwich:

Toasted Sesame seed buns, extra bottom bun per sandwich

Shredded iceberg lettuce

American cheese

Sliced shoor pickles

1. Falafel Patties:

Cover dried chickpeas with cold water and 1 tsp of baking soda. Let soak overnight. The next day drain and dry very well. Add soaked chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, dill, dried spices, and salt to a food processor and pulse until combined and a sandy like texture has formed. Cover and let chill in the fridge for an hour. Remove and mix in baking powder and sesame seeds. Scoop a 1/4 cup of the mixture and form into patties with a ring mold or free hand. Freeze your patties for 20 minutes and then fry in oil of your choice at 350F for 3-5 minutes or until dark brown and crisp. Let cool on a wire rack.

2. Mahmoud Sauce

Mix all of your ingredients together and season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Pickled Sumac Onions

In a small saucepan, mix water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and sumac together and heat until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Pour over diced onion. Allow to cool to room temp and pickle for at least 30 minutes.

4. To Build.

Spread Mahmoud sauce on your bottom bun, top with lettuce, pickled onions, american cheese, and the first falafel patty. Top with middle bun, more sauce, letttuce, onion, shoor pickles, second falafel patty, and the top bun.