Falafels were originated in Egypt. It is a popular fast food in the middle east. These can be served by itself or stuffed in the pita bread. My recipe is adapted from here and here.
Ingredients for Falafel:
Garbanzo beans - 1 cup
Onion - 1 medium and chopped
Parsley leaves - 2.5 tbsp
Cilantro leaves [coriander] - 2.5tbsp
Garlic - 4 cloves [minced]
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Ground cumin powder- 1 tsp [optional]
All purpose flour [maida] - 4-6 Tbsp
Ingredients for Tahini-Yogurt sauce:
Tahini - 1/2 cup [I bought at Trader Joes]
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Lemon juice - 2 Tbsp
Garlic - 1 [finely minced]
Salt to taste
Ingredients for sandwich:
Pita - 1 packet store bought
Tomatoes - sliced in rings
Lettuce leaves
Cucumber - sliced
Method for Falafel:
Soak garbanzo beans over night or 8 hrs in a bowl of water [keep in mind that the beans swell when soaked in water, therefore use enough water]
Drain the beans and keep them aside
Transfer drained beans and coarsely chopped onions, garlic, cilantro and parsley leaves into a food processor and grind it until the mix blends well [you don't want to puree it]
DO NOT ADD EXCESS WATER WHILE GRINDING . This is very very important, else you will have hard time making balls from the batter and frying [use water sparingly]
x
Transfer the above mix into a different bowl, sprinkle baking powder and 4-6 Tbsp all purpose flour and form a dough [this will not have a consistency of a regular dough. It will appear crumbly. At this point you will think something is wrong with the recipe...but trust me just keep going....your falafels will come out just fine :))]
After you have mixed the dough properly, cover it and keep it in the refrigerator for couple of hours [this is optional, but it helps to set the dough and it makes easier to form balls]
Scoop 2 tbsp of the dough and form a 3 cm long elongated roll or shape them into balls. Make several rolls/ball and keep it aside
Heat oil in a deep pan or a wok. When the oil is hot, deep fry the balls in batches on medium heat until they are golden brown in color. Drain it on a paper towel.
Method for Tahini-Yogurt Sauce:
Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Adjust seasoning. The sauce has a consistency of a ketchup
Method for Sandwich:
Slightly toast the pita bread on a griddle [tawa] and cut them into half
Stuff each half of the pita pocket with lettuce, cucumber, falafels and tomatoes. Give a generous drizzle of tahini sauce and serve immediately!
Note:
Ingredients for Falafel:
Garbanzo beans - 1 cup
Onion - 1 medium and chopped
Parsley leaves - 2.5 tbsp
Cilantro leaves [coriander] - 2.5tbsp
Garlic - 4 cloves [minced]
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Ground cumin powder- 1 tsp [optional]
All purpose flour [maida] - 4-6 Tbsp
Ingredients for Tahini-Yogurt sauce:
Tahini - 1/2 cup [I bought at Trader Joes]
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Lemon juice - 2 Tbsp
Garlic - 1 [finely minced]
Salt to taste
Ingredients for sandwich:
Pita - 1 packet store bought
Tomatoes - sliced in rings
Lettuce leaves
Cucumber - sliced
Method for Falafel:
Soak garbanzo beans over night or 8 hrs in a bowl of water [keep in mind that the beans swell when soaked in water, therefore use enough water]
Drain the beans and keep them aside
Transfer drained beans and coarsely chopped onions, garlic, cilantro and parsley leaves into a food processor and grind it until the mix blends well [you don't want to puree it]
DO NOT ADD EXCESS WATER WHILE GRINDING . This is very very important, else you will have hard time making balls from the batter and frying [use water sparingly]
x
Transfer the above mix into a different bowl, sprinkle baking powder and 4-6 Tbsp all purpose flour and form a dough [this will not have a consistency of a regular dough. It will appear crumbly. At this point you will think something is wrong with the recipe...but trust me just keep going....your falafels will come out just fine :))]
After you have mixed the dough properly, cover it and keep it in the refrigerator for couple of hours [this is optional, but it helps to set the dough and it makes easier to form balls]
Scoop 2 tbsp of the dough and form a 3 cm long elongated roll or shape them into balls. Make several rolls/ball and keep it aside
Heat oil in a deep pan or a wok. When the oil is hot, deep fry the balls in batches on medium heat until they are golden brown in color. Drain it on a paper towel.
Method for Tahini-Yogurt Sauce:
Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Adjust seasoning. The sauce has a consistency of a ketchup
Method for Sandwich:
Slightly toast the pita bread on a griddle [tawa] and cut them into half
Stuff each half of the pita pocket with lettuce, cucumber, falafels and tomatoes. Give a generous drizzle of tahini sauce and serve immediately!
Note:
- Instead of deep frying falafels, you can pan fry them by drizzling small amount of oil. It tastes just great.
Comments
nice and bright picture! those falafel stuffed pita looks really filling and yummm.
tc
Love falafel, yours look very nice. With really tempting and bright pictures. Nice recipe from scratch.
I used the cornflakes we have for cereal(sugar less).You can get them from walmart or any store.
Sorry, didnt have yr email Id so replied here..
The falafel's look great:)