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    Home » Recipes » appetizer » Falafel | Traditional Falafel

    Falafel | Traditional Falafel

    Posted on Mar 9, 2021 · Last Updated on Jan 24, 2022 by sharmila kingsly

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    Falafel is a traditional middle eastern food which is served along with Pita bread, hummus, and pickled vegetables.

    Traditional Falafel

    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.

    Jump to:
    • What is Falafel
    • Vegan Falafel
    • Ingredients for Falafel:
    • Falafel, FAQ
    • Prep Work
    • How to Prepare Falafel
    • How to Prepare Falafel in Traditional way, Pictorial
    • Serving Suggestions:
    • How to Freeze Falafel Balls
    • Similar Recipes:
    • 📖 Recipe

    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:

    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

    Why do my falafel balls fall apart

    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.

    How long should I soak the chickpeas for Falafel

    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.

    Is Falafel vegan

    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.

    Add the soaked Chickpeas in 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

    Add in all the ingredinet required for th falafel

    3) Pulse the blender in intervals. Open the blander and scrape the edges and pulse again until a grainy consistency.

    Blend to a coarse paste

    4) Drizzle in the lemon Juice

    Squueze in 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.

    Add in Rice flour for binding and holding the shape of the falafel

    6) Combine everything and shape them into equal-sized balls. refrigerate for 1 hour.

    Add shaped and ready to fry falafel

    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.

    Homemade falafels are ready.

    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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    • Cauliflower Paneer Tikki | Gobi Paneer Cutlet | Keto Recipes
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    • Green Peas Cutlet Recipe | Pachai Patani Cutlet | Matar Cutlet
    • Grilled Aloo Tikki Recipe | Aloo ki Tikki Recipe | Potato Patties Recipe

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    📖 Recipe

    Traditional Falafel
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Authentic and Traditional Falafel

    Falafel is a traditional middle eastern food which is served along with Pita bread, hummus, and pickled vegetables. It is deepfried or baked.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Soaking Time18 hrs
    Total Time18 hrs 25 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Servings: 20 Falafel
    Calories: 198kcal
    Author: sharmila kingsly
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.
      Soak the chickpeas
    • 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
      Blend the Legumes along with the spices
    • Pulse the blender in intervals. Open the blender and scrape the edges and pulse again until a grainy consistency.
      Pulse everything together
    • Drizzle in the lemon Juice
      Drizzle in 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.
      Add in rice flour for the balls to hold shape
    • Combine everything and shape them into equal-sized balls. refrigerate for 1 hour.
      Refrigerate the falafel balls till use
    • Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Once it's hot drop the balls in hot oil and fry in a medium flame.
      Fry the falafel balls
    • 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.
      Traditional Falafel is now ready

    Video

    Notes

    Serve with Tahini Sauce and Pita bread.
    Makes a good snack or can be used in a meal.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 3.6g | Sugar: 2.3g | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword Falafel, Traditional Falafel
    Tried this recipe?Mention @happietrio or tag #happietrio
    Subscribe to my Channelclick for more videos

    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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