Vegetarian

Falafel

Crisp outside, green and fluffy inside. Made with soaked dried chickpeas and lots of herbs, served with tahini sauce.

  • 40 min25 prep · 15 cook
  • MediumDifficulty
  • 600 kcalper serving

Ingredients

4 servings
  • Dried chickpeas, soaked overnight250 g
  • Onion1
  • garlic3 cloves
  • Fresh parsley30 g
  • Fresh coriander30 g
  • Ground cumin2 tsp
  • Ground coriander1 tsp
  • Baking soda1 tsp
  • Tahini4 tbsp
  • Lemon1
  • Sunflower oil, for frying1 l
  • Pitta bread, to serveto taste
  • Saltto taste

Missing something? Ingredients with × can be left out.

Steps

  1. 1

    Drain the soaked chickpeas well and dry them. Never use canned chickpeas: the falafel would fall apart.

  2. 2

    Blitz the chickpeas with the onion, garlic, herbs, spices and salt until finely chopped but not a paste.

  3. 3

    Chill the mix, then stir in the baking soda.

  4. 4

    Shape into small balls or patties, pressing them firmly.

  5. 5

    Fry in batches in hot oil until deep golden, then drain on kitchen paper.

  6. 6

    Whisk the tahini with the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and cold water until smooth. Serve the falafel in pitta with the sauce.

Tips and questions
Can I use canned chickpeas?
No, this is the classic mistake: cooked chickpeas are too wet and the falafel fall apart in the oil. Use dried chickpeas soaked overnight.
Can I bake them instead of frying?
Yes: brush with oil and bake at 200 °C for about 25 minutes, turning halfway. They will be less crisp but still good.
Can I freeze them?
Freeze the raw shaped balls on a tray, then bag them; fry from frozen for a minute or two longer.

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