Falafel
Crisp fried fritters of soaked chickpeas, herbs, and spice.
Ingredients
- 300 g Dried chickpeas
- 1 bunch Parsley
- 1 bunch Cilantro
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Coriander seeds
- 500 ml Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Ahead of time: soak the dried chickpeas in plenty of cold water overnight, 8 to 12 hours.
- Drain the soaked chickpeas well, then grind them in a food processor with the parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, coriander seeds, and salt to a coarse, sandy paste.
- Rest the mixture so it firms up, then shape into small balls or patties.
- Fry the falafel in hot oil, turning, until deep brown and crisp all over, then drain on paper towels.
- Serve the falafel hot, with warm pita and a drizzle of tahini sauce alongside if you like.
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About Falafel
Falafel is the deep-fried chickpea fritter at the heart of Middle Eastern and Levantine street food, sold from stands across the region and famous well beyond it as a cornerstone of vegan and vegetarian eating. What defines this version, and marks it as authentic, is that it starts from dried chickpeas soaked overnight rather than canned ones, ground raw with a generous fistful of fresh herbs and warm spice. The forty-minute time reflects the shaping and frying; the essential soak happens hands-off the night before.
The reward for using soaked raw chickpeas is texture: a shatteringly crisp, deep-brown crust giving way to a light, green-flecked, almost fluffy interior, fragrant with parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, and coriander. Resting the ground mixture before frying helps the fritters hold together and firm up, so they don't fall apart in the oil. Falafel is traditionally tucked into warm pita with tahini sauce, pickles, and salad, or served as part of a mezze spread, and it is best eaten hot from the fryer while the crust still crackles.
Falafel: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Falafel?
A serving has about 440 calories — 17.8g protein, 50g carbs, 19.8g fat, 1.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Falafel gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Falafel has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Falafel take to make?
About 40 minutes start to finish, but only around 18 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Falafel make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.