My food history sense is getting better. I try to listen, read, and learn about everything edible as a way not only to learn where the food came from but how it has morphed through the years. But sometimes it is damn easy to learn something new, someone just tells you. A friend told me last night that the wonderfuly simple dish Falafel is made with Fava beans in other countries. Wow!! I didn't know that. The venerable chickpea fried food that I know and love doesn't even always have chickpeas in it. It makes sense really. The consitency is very close and they both fry up well. Recently at Otto I had Favetta Bruschetta - tasted a lot like hummus.
Using the wonderful google you find that the original Falafels were probely made in Eygpt and were called (and still are ) Ta'miyya. And these are made with - fava beans. I think I might need to get over my deep-fry-at-home phobia and try this recipe.