Authentic Falafel Recipe
Introduction
Falafel is a Middle Eastern dish that has become popular all over the world. It is a vegetarian dish made from ground chickpeas, spices, and herbs. Falafel is usually served in a pita bread with tahini sauce, salad, and pickles. In this article, we will share an authentic falafel recipe that you can easily make at home.Ingredients
To make authentic falafel, you will need the following ingredients:- 1 cup dried chickpeas
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Soak the chickpeas in water for at least 12 hours. Drain and rinse well.
- In a food processor, pulse the chickpeas, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper until coarsely ground.
- Add the parsley and cilantro and pulse again until the mixture is finely chopped but not pureed.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Form the chickpea mixture into small balls or patties and fry in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Drain the falafel on paper towels and serve hot.
Nutrition
One serving of falafel (3-4 pieces) contains approximately:- Calories: 200
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
Additional Tips
- If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender or a mortar and pestle to grind the chickpeas.
- Make sure to drain and rinse the chickpeas well after soaking to remove any excess starch.
- If the mixture is too wet, add a little flour or breadcrumbs to help bind it together.
- You can also bake the falafel in the oven instead of frying, but they won't be as crispy.
- Try serving the falafel with hummus or baba ganoush for added flavor.