Falafel Recipe
The perfect Middle Eastern flavor: crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, and packed with fresh herbs and spices
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Chickpeas soaked overnight
- 1 cup Onion chopped
- 2 tbspn Cilantro fresh and finely diced
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tspn Salt
- .5 tspn Dried hot red pepper
- 1 tspn Cumin
- 1 tspn Baking powder
- 5 tbspn All-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Soaking
- Soak the chickpeas the day before: Cover the dried chickpeas in a bowl with cold water. Allow them to soak overnight. I prefer 24 hours to get a better texture. The chickpeas will double in size, so use a large enough bowl. You can use canned chickpeas, but the result will not be as good. I recommend you stick to the 24-hour soaking.
Mixture
- Prepare the Mixture: Drain the chickpeas well and transfer them to a food processor. Add the chopped onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper, cumin, and baking powder. Process the mixture until well combined, but do not let it become a puree.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle in the flour, starting with four tablespoons. Pulse the mixture. The goal is for the mixture to hold together without being too wet. If needed, add more flour. If there is excess water, you will have issues shaping the falafel later.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, allowing it to firm up. This step makes shaping the falafel easier.
Shaping and Frying
- Shape the Falafel: With wet hands, shape the mixture into balls or patties about 1.5 inches in diameter. There is a saying that only wet hands make good falafel.
- Heat Oil: Heat oil to 375°F (190°C) in a deep pan. If possible, use a deep-fry thermometer to monitor the temperature.
- Fry the Falafel: Carefully drop it into the hot oil, frying until they are deep golden brown and cooked through about 3-5 minutes. Fry in batches, ensuring the pan is not overcrowded. Thus, we ensure an optimal frying temperature.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the falafel and place it on a plate with paper towels to drain the excess oil. If you do not want to fry it, you can bake it.
Nutrition
Calories: 159kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 55mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 551IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
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