Moistening store-bought falafels

June 14, 2011 1:30 PM

Have you got any ideas for moistening store-bought, pre-cooked falafels?

I'm sure "falafels" is probably an incorrect plural, but I like it anyway. But yes! My sister has purchased some pre-made falafel from costco. She's bought it before and it was dry. Quite dry. The situation was somewhat exacerbated by the terribly thick, pungent, and unpleasant tzatziki that was also purchased at costco. This time around we'll be doing a homemade taztziki, but I fear it won't be enough. Any suggestions for the moistening of pre-made falafels? Should I cut them in half and dribble clarified butter on them? Cut them in quarters and toss them with the yoghurt sauce? Cut them in slices and serve them with a highly marinated meat to put in pitas? Something else?

Thanks in advance!

I wonder what else will be tagged with "moist".

posted by kavasa to Food & Drink (7 answers total)

You might try steaming them. Put the falafels in a metal colander, set the colander over a pot of boiling water, put on the lid and steam for maybe, five minutes?
posted by kitcat at 1:37 PM on June 14, 2011

I also suggest steaming. You could put them in the microwave covered with a damp paper for a few minutes. the outside might not be crisp though.
posted by fifilaru at 1:52 PM on June 14, 2011

Response by poster: I was also considering steaming but couldn't think of a really elegant way to do it - microwaving with a damp towel seems possible - but was also concerned with outside crispness.
posted by kavasa at 2:09 PM on June 14, 2011

You can't win. That's why freshly fried foods are so great - moist inside, crispy outside. Reheated, you get all dry or all moist.
posted by GuyZero at 2:50 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Wrap each in a wet paper towel and then microwave. Voila. You might have to re-crisp the outside again (drop in pan with a bit of preheated oil).
posted by whimsicalnymph at 3:18 PM on June 14, 2011

I can't help you with the premade falafel you already have. But I highly recommend dry falafel mix, which i've bought before at whole foods- its easy, just mix in water- and comes out amazing. (i chop up tomato and cucumber and mix with hummus and lemon juice. delicious.)
(now i'm going to see what else is tagged with "moist")
posted by GastrocNemesis at 3:38 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Gastro - yeah I mean I didn't buy them and wouldn't have. But my sis has a costco membership and she saw a big bin of falafels and we've got a lot of people in the household, so.

I think we'll try the wet towel microwave thing and see if it helps. A better sauce should also help quite a bit. And hey, I can always test out the microwave method on a single falafel.

Thanks, y'all!
posted by kavasa at 8:45 PM on June 14, 2011