Ep 36. Eggplant Falafel with Tahini Dressing with Monique Barbeau

In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs season 1 episode 36 features Monique Barbeau, executive chef of the Modern restaurant in San Francisco, creating an Eggplant Falafel with Tahini Dressing.

The episode begins with Monique explaining that she loves to play with traditional Middle Eastern flavors and ingredients, and her Eggplant Falafel with Tahini Dressing is an excellent example of that.

To start, Monique roasts whole eggplants until the skin is dark and charred and the flesh is buttery soft. She then scoops out the flesh and mixes it with chickpeas, cilantro, parsley, red onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, and other spices. She forms the mixture into small patties and bakes them until crispy and golden brown.

While the falafel bakes, Monique prepares the tahini dressing by whisking together tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and water until smooth and creamy.

When the falafel is finished baking, Monique serves it over a bed of mixed greens and drizzles the tahini dressing on top. She garnishes the dish with sliced radishes and crispy fried onions.

Throughout the episode, Monique discusses her love for cooking and how she got started in the culinary world. She also shares some tips and tricks for recreating her Eggplant Falafel with Tahini Dressing at home.

Overall, In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs season 1 episode 36 is a delicious and educational look at how to make a unique and flavorful Middle Eastern-inspired dish.