Description
Middle Eastern chefs have perfected this homemade falafel recipe through generations of culinary expertise. Crisp exterior and herbed interior showcase chickpea magic with authentic spices that connect diners directly to regional street cuisine and cultural traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups (360 mL) dried chickpeas
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
- 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 tbsps all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Pita bread
- Fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce)
- Tahini sauce or hummus
Instructions
- Preparation: Soak dried chickpeas in cold water overnight, ensuring complete hydration and softness.
- Blend Base: Drain chickpeas and combine with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, onion, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper in a food processor, creating a coarse, textured mixture.
- Binding: Fold in baking powder, flour, and select spices, mixing thoroughly to enhance structural stability and achieve a light, cohesive consistency.
- Chill Mixture: Refrigerate the falafel blend for 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and mixture to firm up.
- Shaping: Mold uniform spheres or compact discs using moistened hands, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Frying Technique: Heat vegetable oil to 375°F in a deep skillet, carefully lowering falafel and rotating to achieve golden-brown exteriors with crisp, sealed surfaces.
- Finishing: Drain fried falafel on paper towels to remove excess oil, then serve nestled in warm pita bread with tahini sauce, fresh cucumber, tomatoes, and optional pickled vegetables.
Notes
- Soak Strategically: Use dried chickpeas exclusively, as canned varieties lead to mushy, dense falafel that won’t hold shape during frying.
- Drain Decisively: Remove every trace of moisture after soaking to prevent soggy, falling-apart falafel that absorbs too much oil.
- Chill Carefully: Refrigerating the mixture allows spices to develop depth and helps bind ingredients, creating firmer, more cohesive patties.
- Fry Perfectly: Maintain oil temperature between 350-375°F for crispy exteriors and fully cooked interiors without greasy absorption.
- Prep Time: 15min
- Cook Time: 30min
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg