Falafel is a delicious Middle Eastern dish that is typically made from chickpeas or fava beans. It is a popular street food and can be served as an appetizer, main course, or snack. Traditionally, falafel is deep-fried, but it is also possible to make it in a healthier way by pan-frying or baking it. This article will provide you with some tips and tricks for making the best fried falafel without deep frying. We will explore different recipes that use various ingredients and techniques to create a crispy and flavorful falafel that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, or simply looking for a healthier alternative, this article will provide you with all the information you need to make the perfect fried falafel, without the guilt.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
HOW TO MAKE PERFECTLY CRISPY FALAFEL
How to make delicious and crispy falafel at home rivaling your favorite restaurants. After lots of kitchen tests, this falafel recipe has become our favorite way to make falafel. The recipe is straightforward, 100% plant-based (vegan), and the falafel tastes incredible. In addition to the active prep and cook time, you will need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. This can be done a couple days in advance, simply drain and pat dry the soaked beans, and then store, covered in the fridge until ready to make the falafel mix. Note on using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas: Canned chickpeas are cooked chickpeas. After testing, we have determined that canned or cooked chickpeas do not work as a direct substitute for soaked dried beans in this recipe. The falafel will fall apart in the oil. Recipe adaptations for using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas are shared in the article above.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Appetizer, Main Dish
Time 8h30m
Yield Makes approximately 18 falafel, 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Rinse the dried chickpeas then place into a large bowl and cover with cool water by about 4 inches. Cover and soak overnight or until the beans triple in size. Drain the soaked chickpeas, rinse, and then pat dry or add to a salad spinner to spin dry.
- Add chickpeas, scallions, garlic, herbs, salt, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cayenne, black pepper, and the baking powder to a bowl of a food processor. Pulse the mixture until very finely minced, but not pureed, scraping the bowl down as necessary. You should be able to press a handful together and have it hold it's shape (it will be loose and a little crumbly). See our video and photos above for reference.
- Transfer the falafel mix to a bowl and cover. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to help the balls hold together when cooking. If making ahead, you can refrigerate the mixture for a few days.
- Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of the falafel mix then gently shape it into a ball and place onto a clean plate. Repeat with as many falafel as you plan to cook. The mix will not act like dough, but will hold its shape. Watch the video to see how we do this. Optional step: As an extra fail-safe for preventing the balls from falling apart when they hit the oil, rest the falafel balls in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before cooking.
- Add at least 3/4 inch of oil to a deep saucepan, cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. The smaller the pan, the less oil you will need. The wider the pan, the more falafel you can cook at one time).
- Turn the heat to medium-high and heat the oil to between 350 degrees and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fry the falafel in batches, placing them gently into the oil and without crowding in the pan, until they are browned on the bottom sides. Using two forks, carefully flip the falafel to brown the other side, 3 1/2 minutes to 4 minutes total.
- Transfer the cooked falafel to a plate lined with paper towel, sprinkle with a little salt, and then repeat with the remaining falafel balls. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 3 falafel, Calories 151, Fat 2.4g, SaturatedFat 0.3g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 408.3mg, Carbohydrate 25.8g, Fiber 7.4g, Sugar 4.5g, Protein 8.3g
FALAFEL
You shouldn't reject deep-frying at home; I do it about once a month. It can be fast and easy, and you can deep-fry plants. (And anything else.) Frying is thought of as messy, but this can be mitigated by the simplest of measures: using a pot that is heavy, broad and deep, like a well-made stockpot. Choose this, add a fair amount of oil, and the process is simplified and neat. Add your food in batches and don't crowd; you do not want the temperature to plummet, nor do you want the pieces of food nestling against one another. (Though it's fine if they bump.) You may or may not have to turn the pieces, but that's easy, because they'll be floating and they won't stick. Remove them with a slotted spoon, tongs or spider; you'll know when they're done because the color will be evenly gorgeous.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, appetizer, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Put beans in a large bowl and cover with water by 3 to 4 inches - they will triple in volume as they soak. Soak for 24 hours, checking once or twice to see if you need to add water to keep the beans covered.
- Drain beans well and transfer to a food processor with all the remaining ingredients except the oil; pulse until minced but not puréed; add water tablespoon by tablespoon if necessary to allow the machine to do its work, but keep the mixture as dry as possible. (Too much water and your falafel will fall apart. If that happens, add more ground beans.) Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, cayenne or a little more lemon juice as needed.
- Put at least 2 to 3 inches of oil (more is better) in a large deep saucepan (the narrower the pan, the less oil you need; but the more oil you use, the more you can cook at one time). Turn heat to medium high and heat oil to about 350 (a pinch of batter will sizzle immediately; a piece of falafel will sink halfway to the bottom, then rise).
- Scoop out heaping tablespoons of the mixture and shape it into balls or small patties. Fry in batches, without crowding, until nicely browned, turning as necessary; total cooking time per batch will be less than 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 243, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 39 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 179 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
FRIED FALAFEL (NOT DEEP-FRIED)
Steps:
- Place ingredients in a blender. Stop to scrape sides. It may take a few times. Continue until a coarse mixture forms, add more bread crumbs if needed (the mixture will be moist). Form into 4 patties. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties and cook until golden and beginning to crisp, 4-5 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until golden brown, 2-4 minutes more.
AIR FRIED FALAFEL
This vegetarian air fried falafel is super easy to prepare and full of flavor thanks to fresh herbs.
Provided by Glenn6870
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian Main Dishes Beans and Peas Falafel Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Dry chickpeas on paper towels. Place onions and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add parsley, scallions, cilantro, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes. Process until blended, 30 to 60 seconds, then add the chickpeas and pulse 2 to 3 times until just blended, but not pureed. Sprinkle in flour and baking powder, scrape the sides of the bowl down with a spatula, and pulse 2 to 3 times.
- Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, covered, 2 to 3 hours.
- Form the falafel mixture into 12 balls; if mixture is too sticky add some flour to your hands and your work surface.
- Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions. Spray falafel with cooking spray.
- Cook in the preheated air fryer until golden brown, about 14 minutes, turning halfway through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 118.7 calories, Carbohydrate 23.3 g, Fat 1 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 466 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
CRISPY PAN SEARED FALAFEL
Traditional falafel is deep-fried, but this pan-seared version is much lower in fat.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Lunch Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Combine half the chickpeas, the onion, lemon juice, 4 teaspoons water, zucchini, cayenne, cumin, coriander, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add remaining chickpeas to processor, and pulse just until lumpy (should still have some texture), six to eight pulses. Stir into chickpea mixture. Stir in the herbs.
- Use your hands to pat the mixture into twelve 2-inch patties, each weighing about 1 1/2 ounces. Place each on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place skillet over medium heat, and cook 3 to 4 patties at a time, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer cooked patties to a heatproof plate to keep warm in a 200-degree oven, if necessary.
- To serve, toast pitas, and split them open. Arrange lettuce, tomato, and red-onion slices on each. Place two of the cooked patties on each pita. Sprinkle each with mint leaves. Serve with tzatziki.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 g, Fat 4 g, Fiber 9 g, Protein 13 g, Sodium 667 g
CRISPY FRIED FALAFEL
Falafel is a patty made from beans and chickpeas. It's a popular fast food item in Middle East countries and is recognised here in Australia. This recipe comes from a cookbook called Middle Eastern Cookbook by Maria Khalife' the author advises it's an Egyptian recipe. Authors suggest is to serve the falafel with pickles, pita bread and tahini dip. We like eating it with a yoghurt garlic mint sauce or a chilli sauce. I had trouble finding dried broad beans in my region so I used lima beans feel free to do this at your discretion however flavour will slightly change. Resting time is included but not soaking beans
Provided by Chef floWer
Categories Lemon
Time 1h50m
Yield 45 Patties
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a bowl add broad beans and chick peas then pour water into the bowl to cover the beans. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and all them to soak overnight.
- Drain the broad beans and chick peas then remove and discard shells.
- Place beans in a large food processor, add parsley, mint, coriander, onion, garlic, dried coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne and salt. Process until it's all chopped up and mixed.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add bicarbonate of soda. Knead the combine thoroughly, cover with cling wrap and leave to rest in fridge for about one hour.
- After one hour make patties. To do this mould the mixture into walnut size ball and then flatten it slightly, place it on a tray. Repeat step until mixture is complete.
- Heat the vegetables oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Once heated gently lower the patties into the hot oil in batches, (patties will be delicate and may not hold its shape). Deep fry for about five to six minutes, once cooked place them on clean paper towels to drain oil. Repeat step until all patties have been cooked.
- Serve the falafel either hot or cold and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 29.5, Fat 0.3, Sodium 55.9, Carbohydrate 5, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 0.8, Protein 1.8
PAN-FRIED FALAFEL BITES
Easy and super quick pan-fried falafel recipe. I had everything in my pantry already. I love this as a snack with a tzatziki cucumber sauce, or try with a spicy sriracha sauce.
Provided by Sahara B
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Beans and Peas
Time 30m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, onion, egg, parsley, curry powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Puree until coarse, adding bread crumbs if needed as you don't want mixture too moist.
- Take 1 tablespoon of mixture, roll into a ball, and coat with panko bread crumbs. Place on a plate. Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Heat remaining olive oil (about 1 inch) in a deep skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry bites until crispy golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary. Remove and drain on paper towels.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 136.5 calories, Carbohydrate 7.9 g, Cholesterol 8.2 mg, Fat 11.4 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 1.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 85.4 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
Tips:
- To make sure your falafel are crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, use a combination of dried and fresh chickpeas. Dried chickpeas provide a nice crunch, while fresh chickpeas add moisture and tenderness.
- Soak the chickpeas overnight or for at least 8 hours before cooking. This will help them to soften and make them easier to blend.
- When blending the chickpeas, use a food processor or a high-powered blender. This will help to create a smooth and consistent mixture.
- Add plenty of herbs and spices to the falafel mixture. This will give them a delicious flavor.
- Form the falafel mixture into balls that are about 1 inch in diameter. If the mixture is too wet, add more flour. If it's too dry, add more water.
- Shallow fry the falafel in a pan with hot oil. Cook them for about 3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve the falafel hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as tahini sauce, tzatziki sauce, or hummus.
Conclusion:
Falafel is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or snack. It is a great source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. By following these tips, you can make perfect falafel at home without deep frying them.
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