Falafel is a traditional middle eastern food which is served along with Pita bread, hummus, and pickled vegetables.
Falafel is usually served with Pita bread. Pita bread has pockets. Inside the pockets, falafel, hummus, and vegetables are stuffed like a wrap.
It is from white garbanzo beans or chickpeas. These days there comes various flavors and types of falafel. But today I'm sharing the traditional recipe.
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What is Falafel
Falafel is a traditional middle eastern food. It is either shaped as balls and deep fried or made as a patty and pan-fried and baked. Today I am sharing the traditional deep-fried method.
Soaked chickpeas is ground along with Onion, Cilantro, and few other spices and deep-fried. We may serve the falafel stuffed in a Pita bread along with pickled veggies or any sauce or salad dressing.
Vegan Falafel
Falafel typically does not contain any meat or animal products or dairy. So it is a typical vegan food.
Ingredients for Falafel:
Chickpeas
White Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans is the base of falafel. We usually soak the chickpeas for about 18 to 24 hours. The longer you soak the softer the beans and it will help in the texture of the dish. You may also add ⅛ tsp of cooking soda if you need a softer falafel.
Spices
Chili powder or Paprika powder, Coriander powder, Cumin powder are the spices I am using to flavor the dish. You may adjust the spices as per your taste and preference.
Rice Flour
The flour used in falafel is the binding agent. It is very important for the falafel to hold its shape. I am making a gluten-free version and hence I went with Rice Flour. You may also use Corn starch or corn four as a binding agent.
Falafel, FAQ
If the mixture has too much moisture the balls may not hold shape. In this case when you try to fry them the balls get disintegrated when you try to fry. so as a best practice remove the excess moisture from the soaked channa and then blend them. Also after shipping the balls put them in the fridge for 30 mins.
It will be best if you soak the chicken peas for 18 to 24 hours. You may also add a pinch of baking soda to the chickpeas as they soak. It will help them soften even more.
Absolutely it is 100 % Vegan. We prepare it only from plant-based products.
Prep Work
- The most important step is to soak your legumes before 18 to 24 hours of cooking.
- Chop Onion, garlic and keep them ready.
How to Prepare Falafel
We can divide the entire process into 4 steps
1) Soak the Legumes, As we know that soaking is the most important step in preparing a falafel. Also, it is best not to use canned chickpeas. Soak the dry chickpeas for 18 to 24 hours as per your convenience.
2) Prepare Falafel balls - Next step is to prepare the balls. Remove the moisture completely from the soaked chickpeas. Along with onion, garlic and other spices blend the chickpeas and the batter is ready. Shape them to balls.
3) Refrigerate the falafel balls - The balls may be slightly soft. To firm it up put it in the fridge for 30 mins or in the freezer for 15 mins. You may also freeze them at this stage as needed.
4) Cook the falafel - Now the heat oil in a pan and fry the balls to perfection.
How to Prepare Falafel in Traditional way, Pictorial
1) Soak chickpeas for about 18 to 24 hours. After soaking drain the excess water and transfer it to a blender.
2) To this add chopped onions, Chopped coriander leaves, Whole pepper, sliced garlic. Also add in the coriander powder, cumin powder, Red Chilli Powder, and Salt
3) Pulse the blender in intervals. Open the blander and scrape the edges and pulse again until a grainy consistency.
4) Drizzle in the lemon Juice
5) Now add in Rice flour or any gluten-free flour. Chickpea flour will be another option. If you are not worried about gluten you can use Maida or wheat flour too.
6) Combine everything and shape them into equal-sized balls. refrigerate for 1 hour.
7) Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Once it's hot drop the balls in hot oil and fry in a medium flame.
8) Flip and fry on both sides equally. When the color turns golden and the falafels are cooked drain them from oil. Keep them in paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serving Suggestions:
It goes well with Pita bread and Tahini Sauce. Makes a yummy snack or a filling dinner when served along with a salad or bread.
How to Freeze Falafel Balls
Falafel balls can be very well frozen. Put it in a ziplock bag and freeze it for as long as 6 months . Before frying thaw them and fry them as needed.
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📖 Recipe
Authentic and Traditional Falafel
Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml
Ingredients
- 2 cups Garbanzo beans or Chickpeas
- 1 Onion
- ¼ cup Corriander Leaves finely chopped
- 5 Garlic
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 2 tbsp Rice Flour as needed
- 1 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Red Chilli powder
- 1 tsp Cumin Powder
- Salt as needed
- Oil as needed for deep frying
- ½ tsp Lemon juice
Instructions
- Soak chickpeas for about 18 to 24 hours. After soaking drain the excess water and transfer it to a blender.
- To this add chopped onions, Chopped coriander leaves, Whole pepper, sliced garlic. Also add in the coriander powder, cumin powder, Red Chilli Powder, and Salt
- Pulse the blender in intervals. Open the blender and scrape the edges and pulse again until a grainy consistency.
- Drizzle in the lemon Juice
- Now add in Rice flour or any gluten-free flour. Chickpea flour will be another option. If you are not worried about gluten you can use Maida or wheat flour too.
- Combine everything and shape them into equal-sized balls. refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Once it's hot drop the balls in hot oil and fry in a medium flame.
- Flip and fry on both sides equally. When the color turns golden and the falafels are cooked drain them from oil. Keep them in paper towels to remove excess oil.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist , the nutrition value provided here is an estimate.It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.
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