Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel Recipe

Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel Recipe | Perfect Crispy Falafel | Make Falafel  With Chickpeas from Scratch | How to make Falafel at Home with step by step instructions and video

Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel Recipe | Perfect Crispy Falafel is a popular street food and a great appetizer across all Arab countries.

With the rise of vegetarianism and veganism, falafel has gained mainstream popularity worldwide.  

Having lived in a Gulf country for over three decades, I have had this adorable snack multiple times. There are undoubtedly variations; certain places make falafel relatively flat, while others make them spherical. Depending on the greens and lentils used, falafel can be either green or yellow. All falafel share an obvious characteristic in common, they’re tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Something like Dal ki pakodi with its uniqueness.

Being able to prepare a dish from the local cuisine to me is allegiance to the country where I reside in. So here goes the recipe for Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel!

Why should you make Falafel

• Popular middle eastern snack
• Delicious
• Crispy exterior, soft from inside
• Burst of flavors
• Easy to make
• Makes a great party appetizer
• Versatile – can be enjoyed as a snack, or used in a wrap or be a part of mezze
• Vegan

More links for snacks and appetizers.

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Beetroot Cutlet

Quinoa with Oats and Nuts Patties

Crispy Potato Pakora

What is Falafel

Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter from Middle Eastern cuisine. These fritters are made from fava broad beans, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), green lentils or any combination of these alongwith  spices, onions, and herbs. A good falafel needs to puff up when fried. It has a crispy exterior and is soft on the inside.

Mostly falafel is made with chickpeas, however in Egypt and other areas of the Middle East, fava beans are used. It is often served alongside other popular regional Mediterranean dishes like hummous, as well as shawarma made from lamb or chicken.

Ingredients

For Measurements refer to the RECIPE CARD further below.

• Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans)– Soak chickpeas overnight or at least 7 to 8 hours. Do not use canned chickpeas as it will make a mushy mixture. You could use a 50-50 combination of chickpeas and fava beans or chickpeas and green lentils.
• Fresh Herbs – Fresh parsley and coriander leaves for authentic flavor and distinctive green color. Could use equal quantities of both. Adjust the quantities as you prefer.
• Onion – adds flavor and softness. You may use red, white or yellow variety.
• Green chili – Add for a spicy kick.
• Garlic – a few cloves of garlic for flavor
• Flour for binding – I used all purpose flour. Some use chickpea flour as a vegan option. You could make without flour. It is not mandatory to add flour, but then the falafel maybe quite dense. Add all purpose flour or chickpea flour helps to bind and maintain the shape while frying.
• Baking soda – I only used baking soda for a crispy and fluffy falafel. Some also add baking powder to impart a fluffy , light soft texture. Add just before frying.
• Lime/lemon juice –
• Dry spices – Basic spices used are cumin powder, coriander powder, roasted sesame seeds, cardamom powder, black pepper powder, red chili powder, salt
• Water – Minimum use
• Cooking oil – Any neutral flavor cooking oil for frying

How To Make Falafel at Home with step by step instructions

How to make Falafel Mixture

1. Drain and rinse chickpeas. Coarsely blend in a food processor, chopper or blender.

2. Transfer the coarsely blend chickpeas into a bowl.

3. Now blend, garlic, parsley, onion, green chilies and coriander leaves till you get a granular texture.

4. To this paste in the jar, add coarsely ground chickpeas. I have blend in stages to ensure a grainy texture. We do not want a soft mushy paste.

5.To this add cardamom powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, lime juice, a tbsp of water and red chili powder.

6. Blend till coarse and grainy paste is formed. (The mixture should look like grainy, coarse sand)

7. Refrigerate this mixture for an hour.

How to Shape and Fry Crispy Falafel

8. Just before frying add baking soda, sesame seeds, salt and all purpose flour. Mix well.

9. Now heat oil in a pan. Meanwhile make lemon sized balls of the falafel mixture and flatten them slightly. You need to be quick at this stage. The salt lets out moisture content from the mixture. Hence the falafel mixture tends to become loose with time. If shaping becomes difficult, add some more flour at this stage.

10. You may use any scoop for apportioning and shaping the falafel. I used an icecream scoop. You may use a falafel scoop. Make either round balls or slightly flatten on the top.

11. Once oil is hot, deep fry the balls over medium heat. While frying handle the falafel balls delicately. Gently flip to cook on the other side.

12. When fried, drain them on an absorbent paper. Serve falafel while hot.

What to serve with

Enjoy warm and crispy falafel with Easy Garlic Hummus , Spiced Labneh Dip or Tahini sauce. Wrap some falafel in a pita bread bread layered with some Toom sauce and salad.

You could serve with Fattoush Salad, Tabbouleh Salad, Zaatar Cheese Manakeesh , Roasted Potatoes with Herbs & Feta Cheese, or Roasted Potatoes with Herbs & Feta Cheese.

Falafel can be served with non-veg treats for meat lovers such as Tandoori Chicken or Chicken Kabab.

Tips for Perfect Crispy Falafel

• Fry the falafel in moderately hot oil to cook the falafel well from inside and render a crispy exterior.
• Falafel are best enjoyed when eaten hot and crisp. They tend to soften if fried and kept out for sometime.
• You may add chopped fresh mint or scallions.

FAQ

Why do Falafel split in oil

Reason could be falafel mixture is too dry. Add some all purpose flour or chickpea flour. Add some bread crumbs may also help. The oil must be hot enough when frying falafel. Best check is to just drop one falafel in the oil to check if the oil is hot enough.

Can I bake falafel

Yes, you can bake, though it is not the authentic way. The texture and taste too will vary.

Can I reheat falafel

You can reheat them in an oven till hot and crisp.

Recipe Card

Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel Recipe

Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel Recipe is a popular street food and a great appetizer across all Arab countries. It may be served as a snack, side dish or as a part of mezze.

5 from 16 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Chilling time 2 hours hrs

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Middle Eastern

Servings 20 falafel

Equipment

• mixing bowl
• pan

Ingredients

  

1 cup = 250ml

• ½ cup chickpeas 120 gm soaked overnight
• ¼ cup parsley chopped
• ¼ cup coriander leaves chopped
• 2 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1 small onion. chopped
• 5-6 cloves garlic chopped
• 2 green chilies finely chopped.
• ½ tbsp lemon/lime juice

Dry spices

• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• ½ tsp black pepper powder
• ¼ tsp red chili powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1-2 tbsp water adjust
• Oil for frying.

Instructions

 

• Drain and rinse chickpeas. Coarsely blend in a food processor, chopper or blender.
• Transfer the coarsely blend chickpeas into a bowl.
• Now coarsely blend, garlic, parsley, onion, green chilies and coriander leaves.
• To this paste in the blending jar, add coarsely ground chickpeas. Add cardamom powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, lime juice, a tbsp of water.
• Blend till coarse and grainy paste is formed.
• Refrigerate this mixture for an hour.
• Just before frying add baking soda, sesame seeds, salt and all-purpose flour. Mix well.
• Now heat oil in a pan.
• Meanwhile make lemon sized balls of the falafel mixture and flatten them slightly from top.
• You can use a falafel scoop to apportion and make the falafel.
• Once oil is hot, deep fry the balls over medium heat.
• While frying, handle the falafel balls delicately.
• When fried drain them an absorbent paper.

How to serve

• Enjoy warm and crispy falafel with Easy Garlic Hummus , Spiced Labneh Dip or Tahini sauce. Wrap some falafel in a pita bread bread layered with some Toom sauce and salad.

  You could serve with Fattoush Salad, Tabbouleh Salad, Zaatar Cheese Manakeesh , Roasted Potatoes with Herbs & Feta Cheese, or Roasted Potatoes with Herbs & Feta Cheese.

  Falafel can be served with non-veg treats for meat lover such as Tandoori Chicken or Chicken Kabab.

Video

Middle Eastern Crispy Falafel | Easy Falafel Recipe | How to make Perfect Crispy Falafel with tips

Notes

• Fry the falafel in moderately hot oil to cook the falafel well from inside and to render a crispy exterior.
• Falafel are best enjoyed with eaten hot and crisp. They tend to soften if fried and kept out for sometime.
• You may add chopped fresh mint or scallions.

Keyword Crispy Falafel Recipe, Falafel with Chickpeas, homemade falafel, how to make crispy falafel at home, How to make Falafel at Home, lebanese Falafel recipe

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