Middle Eastern Falafel Crisps with Spicy Red Lentil Dip

Step 1

To make the falafel crisps: In a food processor or a medium bowl, pulse or whisk together the chickpea flour, all-purpose flour, parsley, cumin, garlic powder, baking powder, coriander, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne.

Step 2

Add the olive oil to the flour mixture and pulse or stir with a fork until the mixture forms crumbs. In a small measuring cup, combine the water and corn syrup and stir until the syrup dissolves. Add the water mixture to the flour mixture and pulse or stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together in a slightly sticky dough (Mine was too wet so I kneaded in a bit of extra flour until it came together). Knead gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5 strokes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and allow the dough to relax for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper (I used 2 baking sheets and took turns baking them). Divide the dough into two balls and roll each ball out on a lightly floured surface until it is ⅛-inch thick, picking up the dough and rotating it a quarter turn frequently to make sure it is not sticking, if necessary.

Step 4

Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut the dough into rectangles measuring 2-by-1-inches and use a lightly floured spatula or bench scraper to transfer the crackers to the prepared baking sheets. Repeat the rolling and cutting with the scraps.

Step 5

Sprinkle the crackers with the sesame seeds and coarse salt, and tamp down the toppings with the bottom of a measuring cup to adhere them to the crackers. Bake until the crackers are golden brown and crisp to the touch, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the pan once from back to front while baking. If some of the crackers are done before others, transfer them to a cooling rack and return the undone crackers to the oven for a few more moments. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Makes about 50 crackers.

Step 6

To make the red lentil dip: Rinse the lentils with cold water and drain. Combine the lentils, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 4 inches and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the lentils are tender and falling apart, about 10 minutes. Drain the lentils in a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the bay leaf and let the lentils cool for 10 minutes in the sieve.

Step 7

Transfer the lentils to a food processor and add the lemon juice, tomato paste, garlic, cilantro, harissa, cumin, and olive oil. Blend until smooth, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Step 8

Season the dip with salt, if desired, and transfer it to a serving bowl. Allow the dip to stand for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to develop. The cooled dip can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Makes 2 ½ cups.