Falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern dish, has become a global sensation. It is a delectable fritter made from chickpeas or fava beans, meticulously seasoned with herbs and spices, then fried until golden brown. Served with a luscious tahini sauce, fresh vegetables, and fluffy pita bread, falafel transforms into a delightful sandwich or a satisfying platter. This article presents two recipes: the classic falafel recipe and a mouthwatering tahini sauce recipe. We will guide you through the process of creating these culinary gems, ensuring that you can savor the authentic flavors of falafel and tahini sauce right in your own kitchen.
Let's cook with our recipes!
TAHINI SAUCE
Tahini sauce is delicious drizzled onto meat, fish, falafel, or roasted vegetables. It can also be served as dip for fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.
Categories Vegetables & Sides
Time 20m
Yield About 1⅓ cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place the unpeeled garlic cloves in a blender or small food processor. Add the lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Blend on high until the garlic is coarsely puréed. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to let the garlic mellow.
- Pour the lemon and garlic mixture through a fine mesh strainer set over a medium mixing bowl, pressing the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. (This step helps to make the tahini sauce silky smooth and keeps it from tasting too strongly of garlic.) Add the tahini to the strained lemon juice in the bowl, along with the cumin and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Whisk the mixture together until smooth, adding ice cold water, a few tablespoons at a time to thin it out. The sauce will lighten in color as you whisk. When the tahini seizes up or tightens, keep adding the water, bit by bit (about ½ cup total), until the sauce is smooth, creamy, and thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and cumin, if necessary. If you're not using the sauce immediately, whisk in a few tablespoons of ice cold water to loosen it up before refrigerating (it thickens up quite a bit in the fridge). The tahini sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week, or frozen for up to a month.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 tablespoons, Calories 93, Fat 8 g, Carbohydrate 4 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sugar 0 g, Fiber 1 g, Sodium 50 mg, Cholesterol 0 mg
BAKED FALAFEL AND TZATZIKI SAUCE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: dried chickpea, water, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, fresh mint, garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, toasted sesame seed, salt, pepper, olive oil, cucumber, greek yogurt, fresh mint, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice
Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec
Categories Snacks
Yield 16 falafels
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Soak the chickpeas in the water for at least one night, ensuring that the chickpeas are fully submerged.
- Drain the chickpeas in a colander. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and add the chickpeas. Cover with more paper towels and let dry for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180 °C).
- Add the dried chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, coriander, mint, 5 cloves of garlic, onion, paprika, 2 teaspoons of cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, toasted sesame seeds, salt and pepper, in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Use your hands to form falafel the size of a ping pong ball.
- Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Brush the falafel with olive oil.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
- To prepare the tzatziki, cut a cucumber in fourths and remove the seeds.
- Use a box grater to grate the cucumber into a bowl.
- Salt the grated cucumber and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Place the salted cucumber into a sieve and press down with a spatula to remove excess liquid.
- Mix the grated cucumber with Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons of mint, the minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Serve the falafel with the tzatziki.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 153 calories, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 4 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 7 grams, Sugar 5 grams
CLASSIC FALAFEL AND TAHINI SAUCE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: dried chickpea, water, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, fresh mint, garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, sesame seed, salt, pepper, oil, sesame seed, sesame oil, olive oil, lemon juice
Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec
Categories Appetizers
Yield 16 falafels
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Soak the chickpeas in the water for at least one night, ensuring that the chickpeas are fully submerged.
- Drain the chickpeas in a colander. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and add the chickpeas. Cover with more paper towels and let dry for at least 2 hours.
- Add the dried chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, coriander, mint, 5 cloves of garlic, onion, paprika, 2 teaspoons of cumin, ground coriander, baking soda, toasted sesame seeds, salt, and pepper, in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Use your hands to form falafel the size of a ping pong ball.
- Heat oil to 320°F (160°C) in a large pot.
- Add the falafel in batches, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- To make tahini sauce, heat the sesame seeds in a frying pan over medium heat until the seeds brown slightly.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes and pour into a small blender or coffee grinder.
- Add the sesame oil and half of the olive oil and blend. Add the rest of the olive oil and blend again until you get a smooth mixture.
- Add ¼ teaspoon of cumin, 2 garlic cloves and lemon juice and blend.
- Serve the tahini sauce with falafel.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 156 calories, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 6 grams, Sugar 3 grams
Tips and Conclusion for Classic Falafel and Tahini Sauce Recipe
Tips:
- Soak the chickpeas overnight or for at least 8 hours to soften them.
- Use a food processor to grind the chickpeas until they are finely chopped but not pureed.
- Add plenty of fresh herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, and mint, to the falafel mixture for extra flavor.
- Season the falafel mixture generously with spices, including cumin, coriander, and paprika.
- To prevent the falafel from sticking to the pan, make sure the oil is hot enough before adding them.
- Serve the falafel hot or warm with tahini sauce, hummus, and pita bread.
Conclusion:
This classic falafel and tahini sauce recipe is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy this popular Middle Eastern dish. Falafel is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or snack. It is also a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. The tahini sauce is a creamy and flavorful condiment that perfectly complements the falafel. This recipe is easy to follow and can be made in about an hour. So next time you are looking for a delicious and healthy meal, give this classic falafel and tahini sauce recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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