Falafel

Falafel

Falafel

Veg Vegan

Deep-fried balls of spiced ground chickpeas and herbs with a crisp crust and fluffy interior — served in pita with tahini, salad, and pickled turnip.

Cuisines

Levantine

Best for

Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snacks

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Total: 35 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1 cup dried chickpeas
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  1. 1 Rinse the dried chickpeas and soak them in water for at least 12 hours or overnight.
  2. 2 Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas thoroughly.
  3. 3 In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, and cilantro. Pulse until the mixture is coarse and grainy.
  4. 4 Add cumin, coriander, baking powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and flour to the mixture. Pulse until well combined.
  5. 5 Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
  6. 6 Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to about 350°F (175°C).
  7. 7 Shape the falafel mixture into small balls or patties using your hands or a falafel scoop.
  8. 8 Carefully drop the falafel into the hot oil, frying in batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
  9. 9 Remove the falafel with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  10. 10 Serve hot with pita bread, tahini sauce, and fresh vegetables.

Tips

For best results, do not use canned chickpeas as they are too moist and will not hold together well.