Book of Days Tales

Tu B’Av (15^th of Av) is a minor Israeli holiday that acts as a joyful complement to the sorrows of Tisha B’Av, 6 days earlier.  In modern times it has become a celebration of love, and, in many countries, has replaced Valentine’s Day among Jews. It is an auspicious day for weddings, and, in some regions, is an opportunity (like February 29^th ) for women to propose to men.  Chocolate is symbolic of love, and falafel is popular in Israel, so how about chocolate falafel?

Ingredients

¾ cup whipping cream
9 oz good quality dark chocolate, chopped
1 Tbsp whisky
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼  tsp salt
1 ½ – 2 cups of oil for frying
½ cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs
¼ cup milk
1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

Heat the whipping cream in a small pan over a medium heat. While waiting for the whipping cream to reach a soft boil, place the chocolate, whisky, salt, and vanilla extract in a small heat safe bowl. Once the cream is hot, pour it over the chocolate mix and set it aside for a few minutes. The stir the contents of the bowl until the ingredients are well mixed. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and leave it there for 2-3 hours.

Cover a metal baking sheet with wax paper and check on your chocolate mix. It should have an almost dough like consistency. Roll 1 inch size balls of the mix chocolate and place them on the baking sheet. Freeze the balls for at least an hour or until you are about to serve them and are ready to fry them.

Preheat the oil in a pot to 375º F/190º C.

Combine the eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. Put the flour and the panko breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Take out a few of your falafel balls from your freezer.  Don’t take them all out at once in order to prevent them from falling apart when you fry them. First dip the balls into the flour, and then coat them in the egg mixture, then into the breadcrumbs. Then back into the egg mixture and then the panko breadcrumbs.

Deep fry the balls in small batches, making sure they are golden brown on all sides.  Drain on wire racks.

Serve warm with fruit salad or whipped cream.