Falafel is a delicious Middle Eastern dish made from chickpeas or fava beans that are soaked, ground, and then deep-fried. It is a popular street food and can also be served as an appetizer or main course. This article provides three different recipes for making falafel: a traditional recipe, a baked recipe, and a gluten-free recipe. The traditional recipe uses chickpeas and is deep-fried, while the baked recipe uses fava beans and is baked in the oven. The gluten-free recipe uses a combination of chickpeas and quinoa and is also baked in the oven. All three recipes are easy to follow and can be made with ingredients that are readily available. Whether you are looking for a traditional falafel recipe or a healthier baked or gluten-free option, this article has you covered.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
FALAFEL
Steps:
- For the Falafel: Drain the chickpeas through a colander then place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. Chickpeas should be totally dry.
- Heat 4-inches peanut or vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 330 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
- While the oil is heating, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and serrano chiles and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the chickpeas to a food processor, add the garlic mixture, green onions, parsley, mint, cilantro, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, baking powder, salt and pepper and process until the mixture is finely ground, stopping to scrape the bowl every 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Form the mixture into balls the size of ping pong balls and place on a plate. Fry in batches at 330 degrees F until a pale blonde color, about 45 seconds, spooning oil over the falafel constantly. Remove with a slotted spoon to the baking sheet. Increase the heat of the oil to 350 degrees F. Return the falafel to the oil, in batches, cover the pan with a lid for 30 seconds and fry until a deep brown color, spooning the oil over the falafel constantly. Remove with a slotted spoon to baking sheet lined with paper towels, and immediately season with salt.
- For the yogurt sauce: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth; season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, covered, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Variation: Substitute 2 cups feta cheese for the yogurt, and add 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley.
- For the hummus: Place beans, garlic, harissa, lemon juice, and tahini in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- For the relish: Whisk the oil, vinegar, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss. The tomatoes should be lightly dressed.
- Serve falafel with yogurt sauce, hummus and relish on the side.
FALAFEL
You shouldn't reject deep-frying at home; I do it about once a month. It can be fast and easy, and you can deep-fry plants. (And anything else.) Frying is thought of as messy, but this can be mitigated by the simplest of measures: using a pot that is heavy, broad and deep, like a well-made stockpot. Choose this, add a fair amount of oil, and the process is simplified and neat. Add your food in batches and don't crowd; you do not want the temperature to plummet, nor do you want the pieces of food nestling against one another. (Though it's fine if they bump.) You may or may not have to turn the pieces, but that's easy, because they'll be floating and they won't stick. Remove them with a slotted spoon, tongs or spider; you'll know when they're done because the color will be evenly gorgeous.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, appetizer, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Put beans in a large bowl and cover with water by 3 to 4 inches - they will triple in volume as they soak. Soak for 24 hours, checking once or twice to see if you need to add water to keep the beans covered.
- Drain beans well and transfer to a food processor with all the remaining ingredients except the oil; pulse until minced but not puréed; add water tablespoon by tablespoon if necessary to allow the machine to do its work, but keep the mixture as dry as possible. (Too much water and your falafel will fall apart. If that happens, add more ground beans.) Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, cayenne or a little more lemon juice as needed.
- Put at least 2 to 3 inches of oil (more is better) in a large deep saucepan (the narrower the pan, the less oil you need; but the more oil you use, the more you can cook at one time). Turn heat to medium high and heat oil to about 350 (a pinch of batter will sizzle immediately; a piece of falafel will sink halfway to the bottom, then rise).
- Scoop out heaping tablespoons of the mixture and shape it into balls or small patties. Fry in batches, without crowding, until nicely browned, turning as necessary; total cooking time per batch will be less than 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 243, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 39 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 179 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
HOW TO MAKE PERFECTLY CRISPY FALAFEL
How to make delicious and crispy falafel at home rivaling your favorite restaurants. After lots of kitchen tests, this falafel recipe has become our favorite way to make falafel. The recipe is straightforward, 100% plant-based (vegan), and the falafel tastes incredible. In addition to the active prep and cook time, you will need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. This can be done a couple days in advance, simply drain and pat dry the soaked beans, and then store, covered in the fridge until ready to make the falafel mix. Note on using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas: Canned chickpeas are cooked chickpeas. After testing, we have determined that canned or cooked chickpeas do not work as a direct substitute for soaked dried beans in this recipe. The falafel will fall apart in the oil. Recipe adaptations for using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas are shared in the article above.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Appetizer, Main Dish
Time 8h30m
Yield Makes approximately 18 falafel, 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Rinse the dried chickpeas then place into a large bowl and cover with cool water by about 4 inches. Cover and soak overnight or until the beans triple in size. Drain the soaked chickpeas, rinse, and then pat dry or add to a salad spinner to spin dry.
- Add chickpeas, scallions, garlic, herbs, salt, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cayenne, black pepper, and the baking powder to a bowl of a food processor. Pulse the mixture until very finely minced, but not pureed, scraping the bowl down as necessary. You should be able to press a handful together and have it hold it's shape (it will be loose and a little crumbly). See our video and photos above for reference.
- Transfer the falafel mix to a bowl and cover. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to help the balls hold together when cooking. If making ahead, you can refrigerate the mixture for a few days.
- Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of the falafel mix then gently shape it into a ball and place onto a clean plate. Repeat with as many falafel as you plan to cook. The mix will not act like dough, but will hold its shape. Watch the video to see how we do this. Optional step: As an extra fail-safe for preventing the balls from falling apart when they hit the oil, rest the falafel balls in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before cooking.
- Add at least 3/4 inch of oil to a deep saucepan, cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. The smaller the pan, the less oil you will need. The wider the pan, the more falafel you can cook at one time).
- Turn the heat to medium-high and heat the oil to between 350 degrees and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fry the falafel in batches, placing them gently into the oil and without crowding in the pan, until they are browned on the bottom sides. Using two forks, carefully flip the falafel to brown the other side, 3 1/2 minutes to 4 minutes total.
- Transfer the cooked falafel to a plate lined with paper towel, sprinkle with a little salt, and then repeat with the remaining falafel balls. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 3 falafel, Calories 151, Fat 2.4g, SaturatedFat 0.3g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 408.3mg, Carbohydrate 25.8g, Fiber 7.4g, Sugar 4.5g, Protein 8.3g
HOMEMADE FALAFELS
Cheap and dead easy to make - stuff our simple falafels into warm pittas with salad, or serve with couscous and hummus
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Side dish, Snack
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan, then fry the onion and garlic over a low heat for 5 mins until softened. Tip into a large mixing bowl with the chickpeas and spices, then mash together with a fork or potato masher until the chickpeas are totally broken down. Stir in the parsley or dried herbs, with seasoning to taste. Add the egg, then squish the mixture together with your hands.
- Mould the mix into 6 balls, then flatten into patties. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, then fry the falafels on a medium heat for 3 mins on each side, until golden brown and firm. Serve hot or cold with couscous, pitta bread or salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105 calories, Fat 6 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 8 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 1 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 5 grams protein, Sodium 0.27 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use dried chickpeas: Dried chickpeas are more flavorful than canned chickpeas. If you use canned chickpeas, be sure to rinse and drain them well before using.
- Soak the chickpeas overnight: This will help them to soften and cook more evenly. If you don't have time to soak the chickpeas overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then turning off the heat and letting them sit for 1 hour.
- Use a food processor to grind the chickpeas: This will help to create a smooth and consistent batter. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender, but you may need to stop and stir the mixture several times to make sure it is evenly ground.
- Season the batter well: The falafel batter should be well-seasoned with spices such as cumin, coriander, and paprika. You can also add fresh herbs, such as parsley or cilantro, to the batter.
- Fry the falafel in hot oil: The oil should be hot enough to sizzle when you drop the falafel batter in. This will help to create a crispy crust on the outside of the falafel.
- Serve the falafel hot: Falafel is best served hot, with your favorite dipping sauce. Some popular dipping sauces for falafel include tahini sauce, hummus, and tzatziki sauce.
Conclusion:
Falafel is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or snack. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. Falafel can be made with a variety of different ingredients, so there is sure to be a recipe that everyone will enjoy. Whether you are looking for a healthy and satisfying meal or a tasty treat, falafel is a great option.
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