mangos

Zeabug

☰

Falafel

Main Image

Description

This middle eastern dish is a well known and much loved street food right across the Arab world. These deep fried balls or patties are made from beans and/or chickpeas that are mixed with fresh herbs and spices. They can be eaten by themselves and are also commonly wrapped in a flat bread with a combination of salads and sauces to make into a more satisfying meal. A Falafel sandwich is a great choice if your looking for a flavoursome lunch on a hot summers day.

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Chickpeas (must be dried)
  • 1/2 Onion (chopped)
  • 1 tsp Garlic
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh Parsley Leaves (chopped)
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh Coriander Leaves (chopped)
  • 2 tsp Cumin Powder
  • 2 tsp Coriander Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 2 tbsp Chickpea Flour (or standard flour, optional)
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 6 Flat Breads (pita breads)
  • 2 Cups Lettuce (chopped)
  • 2 Tomatoes (chopped)
  • 1 Red Onion (sliced)
  • Tahini Sauce (tzatziki or hummus as alternatives)
    • Instructions
    1. Soak the chickpeas overnight in a large bowl of water. Make sure the chickpeas are completely covered in water with extra water on top as they will absorb a good quantity.
    2. Drain the chickpeas and add to a blender with the onion, garlic, fresh parsley, fresh coriander, cumin and coriander powder, baking powder, cayenne pepper (if using), black pepper and salt. Blende until until the chickpeas are broken down into a rough course texture you can form into balls. Cover and allow to sit for 30-60 minutes.
    3. Add the mixture to a bowl an add the bakings soda and flour. The flour is optional and helps keep the Falafel balls to stick together, once you have made them a few times you probably wont need to use flour any more.
    4. Heat iol to 350F in a deep pan and form the falafel mixture into small balls roughly 5cm-6cm across. Cook one ball first and do a taste test, adjust salt and spices to your and then cook the remaining balls in batches. Cook 6-8 balls at a time for approximately 5-6 minutes. Making sure to turn them as they cook. Remove from oil and allow excess oil to drain
    5. Serve the Falafel with the flat breads, lettuce, tomato, onion and your choice of sauce and enjoy!