Authentic Falafel Recipe

My Perfect Recipe for Crispy Falafel. Learn tips on how to Make Best Authentic Falafel, made with chickpeas, herbs, spices! And I’m sharing my complete step-by-step pictures for making perfect falafel with crispy exterior and fluffy interior. You’ll want to watch the video tutorial as well. Don’t miss to enjoy hot crispy falafels with Pita Bread & tahini sauce!

Authentic Falafel Recipe

Falafel, a world famous Lebanese dish, It’s popular throughout middle eastern and now been getting popular all around the world. These crispy fried chickpea patties makes the perfect falafel sandwich ever. They’re so flavourful, crunchy outside and moist in the center. These turned to be my favorite Lebanese dish together with Chicken Shawarma and Lime Coriander Chicken Kebabs.

I even have been trying so a few years for making the perfect falafel and was always updating this blog post with the ideas and techniques which I even have learned over time. With over 10 years of culinary experience I can let you know that this falafel is the perfect. It uses the precise ingredients, modest amount of herbs and spices which is sensible to create probably the most crispy exterior. I even have shared all my suggestions and troubleshooting so that you can make the best falafel ever!

What’s Falafel?

Falafel is a preferred middle eastern fast food snack made with chickpeas or fava beans, plenty of fresh herbs, spices. The ingredients are ground right into a coarse paste, formed into patties and fried in hot oil till golden and crispy.

Falafel is popular with the road vendors in Egypt. Falafels are frequently served as a snack by itself with tahini sauce. But probably the most popular strategy to enjoy a falafel is in a pita sandwich with cucumber and tomato salad. It’s a preferred vegan snack throughout Egypt and Middle east.

You will not consider how easy it to make this world famous dish. All you wish is easy ingredients and a few techniques which I even have shared on this post.

Watch Falafel Recipe Video

Falafel Ingredients

Dried Chickpeas – no cooked chickpeas or canned chickpeas. Dried chickpeas (chana) is washed and soaked in water for at the least 8 hours. It’s probably the most essential ingredient in making falafel.

Onion – use one small size onion. An excessive amount of onion will make the falafel mixture watery.

Garlic – use fresh garlic for best flavour.

Herbs – tons of fresh herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, dill is used. You may also add some mint leaves.

Spices – freshly roasted and ground cumin adds a lot depth to the dish. Traditionally baharat spice mix is added, but you may skip for those who haven’t got it.

Baking Powder – makes the falafel crispy and light-weight.

Optional – sesame seeds adds crunch to the falafel, it provides the nutty taste to the dish.

Canned vs Dried Chickpeas for Falafel

There may be an enormous debate over the Web. Whether to make use of canned or dried? The Big Answer is “No”, Never use canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas when making falafels. All the time use dried chickpeas.

Canned chickpeas are cooked which has a lot moisture in them. So whenever you grind and deep fry the patties, It won’t hold together. The patties might disintegrate within the oil. Also the feel of falafels made with canned chickpeas will probably be soggy with no crispy exterior.

Dried chickpeas are washed and soaked in water(normally with a tsp of baking soda, to melt the chickpeas) for at the least 8 hours. The chickpeas will double in size as they soak. Ensure that you drain them thoroughly using a colander before grinding.

Expert Suggestions & Troubleshooting

I even have curated all the ideas and techniques I even have learned over time of constructing falafel. Read this whole section rigorously and troubleshoot for those who find any issues when making falafels.

Dried Chickpeas

Wash and Soak Dried chickpeas in water(with a tsp of baking soda, to melt the chickpeas) for at the least 8 hours. The chickpeas will double in size as they soak. Ensure that you drain them thoroughly using a colander before grinding. Now take your drained chickpeas in a food processor.

You’ll be able to store the soaked chickpeas in fridge for upto 2 days, within the freezer upto a month. Defrost before using.

Grinding

If you could have a food processor, then your job is simple here. You’ll be able to add all of the ingredients together right into a food processor and grind till it’s well mix. The mixture will look coarse but totally crushed.

In the event you don’t own a food processor, you should utilize a blender jar to make the mixture. Add chickpeas into the blender jar and pulse few times to grind it right into a coarse mixture. The add the remaining ingredients and pulse few times to get the specified consistency.

Falafel Mix Consistency (too wet or too dry)

Falafel mixture ought to be thick and you need to give you the option to form patties easily. The patties should hold pretty good whenever you shape them. In case your mixture is just too wet, you may add some gram flour or besan for binding. alternatively, you may add breadcrumbs to the mixture for binding.

In the event you find your mixture too dry and coarse, mix within the food processor some more time till it resembles breadcrumbs like texture.

Shaping Falafels

Use an ice cream scoop for shaping. It makes your job easy and provides even portion size. I scoop the falafel mixture in the inside track and press it firmly right in the inside track, before un moulding it in my hands. This manner I find it easy to shape the falafel in my hands. You’ll be able to follow whichever method suits you.

As an alternative of shaping it into patties, you may form balls as well.

Refrigeration

Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at the least 1 hour or overnight. The chilled mixture will hold together higher, making it easier to form the falafel patties.

Alternatively, you may form the patties and refrigerate for half-hour before frying.

Frying

Traditionally falafels are deep fried in oil. Ensure that your oil shouldn’t be too hot when frying, else the patties will get dark exterior without fully cooked in the inside.

Oil ought to be around 375 degrees F for frying. Drop falafels gently in hot oil using a slotted spoon. All the time fry in batches, don’t over crowd the pan. Ensure that you do a test fry before frying the whole thing.

Tips on how to Make Falafel (Step-by-Step Pictures)

1. Wash and Soak Dried chickpeas in water(with a tsp of baking soda, to melt the chickpeas) for at the least 8 hours. The chickpeas will double in size as they soak. Ensure that you drain them thoroughly using a colander before grinding. Now take your drained chickpeas in a food processor.

2) Add in your chosen herbs of alternative. I used coriander leaves. You’ll be able to add parsley, dill or mint leaves. Add in roughly chopped onion, peeled garlic cloves, cumin powder, green chillies and salt.

3)Mix this whole thing till it’s ground. Ensure that you scrape the edges of food processor in between the grinding process. Don’t add any water when grinding. The mixture will look coarsely ground with a little bit of texture.

4)Transfer this mixture right into a bowl. Add in baking powder and sesame seeds.

5)mix this very well. now falafel mixture is able to fry. Once the mixture is prepared, you may either shape and fry immediately or place the mixture in fridge for at the least 1 hour for the mixture to firm up just a little. This makes the frying process easier.

6)I prefer to make use of an ice cream scoop for scooping even portions of falafel mixture.

7)Shape the mixture right into a patties. It’ll hold together. You’ll be able to pop the formed patties in fridge for half-hour before frying. In the event you find it difficult to shape the patties or your mixture is just too wet. You’ll be able to add some gram flour into the mixture for binding.

8)Drop the shaped patties in hot oil. when you drop the patties in hot oil, don’t mix it immediately. In the event you are likely to mix immediately after you drop the patties, it might break and disintegrate within the oil. Let the patties fry for few seconds before you combine them gently. Ensure that you fry the patties in low medium heat.

9)Deep fry the patties till golden brown on all sides. It’ll take around 8 to 10 minutes.

10)Serve the falafel with pita bread, tahini sauce or side salad.

Tips on how to Make Baked Falafel

Falafels may be baked in oven for a healthier option. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degree C). Flippantly oil a baking sheet. Brush each patties with oil. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, ensure that you flip the falafel patties over halfway through baking.

Tips on how to Cook Falafel in Air fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F (180 degree C). Flippantly grease the underside of your air fryer with oil. Place the patties contained in the air fryer. Brush each patties with oil. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, ensure that you flip the falafel patties over halfway through baking.

Tips on how to Serve Falafels

As a Sandwich – To make a falafel sandwich. Grab a pita bread and spread a generous amount of garlic sauce (toum), fill the pita pockets with the patties. Add lettuce, onions, tomatoes and more garlic sauce.

Middle Eastern Spread – Serve together with your other middle eastern meals, tabouli salad, balela salad, fresh veggies with tahini sauce.

As a snack – serve straight out of the oil, hot and fresh!

with Dips – serve with array of dips, enjoy hot crispy falafels with Creamy Hummus, and Babaganoush.

More Middle Eastern Recipes to Try

📖 Recipe

If you could have any questions not covered on this post and for those who need assistance, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.

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