Why buy a package mix when this fresh homemade falafel is so easy and sooo much better.
What is falafel?
Falafel is basically a bean fritter with seasonings and herbs that is usually eaten as a wrapped sandwich in a flatbread with garnishes. They are usually made with chickpeas but in Egypt fava beans are used. Either way they are delicious and healthy.
Falafel has been a popular street food in the Middle East for a long time. The exact origin is not known, It may have originated in Egypt with the Copts (Christians) as a meat replacement during lent.
In The USA
Before the 1970’s falafel was mostly in Middle Eastern and Jewish communities. It started surfacing in the vegetarian communities in the 1970’s. Now it is a common street food in many cities.
How to Make Homemade Falafel
Soak 2 cups of dried chickpeas. No canned chickpeas!!! You can soak them overnight or do a quick soak by covering them with water, bring to a boil, then let them sit for an hour. Drain them and put them in a food processor.
Add
- 1/2 cup parsley
- 1/4 cup dill
- 1 small onion chopped
- 5 clove garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1.5 tsp coriander
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
Grind in the processor until everything is blended into small pieces like photo below 👇
The Two Step Finish
Add 1.5 teaspoons of salt and taste. Adjust to your liking.
At this point add two tablespoons of flour to the mix to help the falafel balls hold together better
. Let sit for a minimum of 1/2 hour and up to 2 days
Ready to fry? Here’s the tip!
Tip– Right before frying add the baking soda and sesame seeds. The baking soda will help it puff up and become lighter. Best to add right before frying or freezing.
Shape into balls
.Fry in 350 degree oil until crisp and brown.
How to freeze. TIP!
Shape the balls and put them on a cookie sheet. Put in freezer until hard then transfer to a freezer bag.
How to serve
I like to serve it as a sandwich. The traditional way is in a pocket pita but I like it wrapped in a Greek style pocket less pita (flatbread.. You can also serve it on a salad or on a platter with hummus, tabouli, and other salads and dips.
Accompaniments
Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad, add jalapeno and make a Mediterranean pico de gallo. I also like a tahini sauce, Greek yogurt sauce (Tzatziki), Hummus, Baba Ganoush. Make a combo of the hummus and Baba ganoush and call it smoky eggplant hummus. Recipe list below.
Check Out The Recipes (will be posted 12/12)
- Easy Pita
- Spicy Cucumber Tomato Salad for Falafel or Shawarma
- Yogurt Sauce
- Smoky Eggplant Hummus
- Super Easy Tahini Sauce
Homemade Falafel
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried chickpeas
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped dill
- 1 small chopped onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper fresh ground (optional but best)
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin fresh ground (optional but best)
- 1 1/2 tsp coriander fresh ground (optional but best)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp potato flake or flour use potato flake or corn starch for gluten free
Right before frying
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- drain chickpeas and quickly put in food processor. keep them a little wet so they bind better after processing.
- add the rest of the ingredients accept the baking soda and sesame seeds
- grind until you can form a ball and it will stick together
Ready to fry
- heat oil to 350
- add the baking soda and sesame seeds.
- form one ball and fry, if it falls apart add some flour to bind
- fry the rest of the balls and serve
How to serve
- serve with your choice of pita or flatbread, lettuce tomato, onion, cucumber, peppers, feta, yogurt sauce, tahini sauce, pickles, salsas, etc…