Description
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these homemade falafels are a delightful and healthy treat. Paired with a creamy tahini sauce, they make a perfect appetizer, snack, or addition to salads and wraps. This Middle Eastern classic is not only delicious but also vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
Scale
Falafel
- 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight)
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
Tahini Sauce
- 1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup water (more as needed)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Falafel
- Soak the chickpeas overnight in plenty of water. Drain well.
- In a food processor, combine the soaked chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, baking powder, flour, salt, and pepper. Pulse until you get a coarse mixture. Do not over-process; the mixture should still have some texture.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Shape the mixture into small balls or patties using your hands or a falafel scoop.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Fry the falafel in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Tahini Sauce
- In a bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt.
- Slowly add water, whisking constantly until you reach a smooth and creamy consistency. Adjust the thickness by adding more water if necessary.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Serve falafel warm with tahini sauce, pita bread, and fresh vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce.
- You can also bake the falafel in a preheated oven at 375Β°F (190Β°C) for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus soaking and chilling time)
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Frying, Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 falafel balls with sauce
- Calories: 350g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Falafel, Tahini Sauce, Vegan Falafel, Gluten-Free Falafel, Middle Eastern Recipe, Homemade Falafel, Crispy Falafel