- Title: GAZA-FALAFEL/STEAM COOKER Gaza engineer offers healthier way to cook falafel
- Date: 24th November 2015
- Summary: GAZA, GAZA CITY (NOVEMBER 22, 2015) (REUTERS) "FRY- TEC" STEAM MACHINE INVENTOR, OMAR ASHOUR, FILLING SCOOP WITH FALAFEL MIXTURE / PLACING FALAFEL ON TRAY FALAFEL ON TRAY / ASHOUR FILLING FALAFEL SCOOP WITH MIXTURE ASHOUR PLACING FALAFEL TRAY ON STEAM MACHINE ASHOUR PLACING COVER ON STEAM MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) INVENTOR OF "FRY- TEC", OMAR ASHOUR, SAYING: "I thought
- Embargoed: 9th December 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7DI3BXMHT9WR02NX5DODWM5F7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The popular falafel has been enjoyed across the Middle East for centuries.
Now an engineer from Gaza has found a new way of cooking the snack, using a method he says is far healthier.
Omar Ashour has invented what he calls the 'Fry-Tec', a cooker that steams rather than fries the chickpea balls.
His method offers multiple benefits, he says.
"I thought of this idea because there are a lot of people who love it (falafel), but they face problems eating this popular food. They face both health and environmental problems. Health problems such as obesity, cholesterol and other chronic diseases. There are also environmental problems: it contaminates the walls of buildings - the falafel shops contaminate the walls of neighbouring buildings - as well as the fact that it's hard for the falafel shop owners to get rid of the used oil," said Ashour from his apartment in Gaza City.
With Gaza's electricity supply intermittent, following Israeli attacks on the territory, Ashour says he is not always able to use his cooker.
But when it does work, he says, it's been designed to produce the perfect falafel.
"In order for the falafel to become firm, the mixture should be firm from the inside and it should be roasted from the outside. The "Fry-Tec" machine does both jobs: it provides warm air to the steamed water, the steamed water helps the falafel mixture become firm from the inside, and the warm air roasts the falafel from the outside," said the 35-year-old.
Ashour's invention has attracted a lot of attention in Gaza, with local residents coming to his apartment specifically to see the new cooker.
"I loved (the idea), and really wanted to see this invention. So I visited him (Ashour) and saw that the product was very nice and it (falafel) tastes very good," said 23-year-old Farouk al-Jamal.
Falafel, made of deep-fried balls or patties of ground chickpeas or fava beans, is usually served in pita bread. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables and sauces.
Restaurant-owner Iyad al-Gharable, said he wouldn't be able to make use of Ashour's invention because in his business, speed was the essence.
"It's not useful for restaurant owners because it's not fast enough, it doesn't make it easy for the customers. Customers today are in an era of speed. They want everything quickly, they want sandwiches quickly. They want to eat and go within two or three minutes," he said.
Ashour said he was currently working on another version of the 'fry-tec', one that would be suitable for restaurant use. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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