Some people travel far to eat food they really like, in a good place, and falafel is a great example! It’s traditionally served in a pita pocket, which is ingenious in itself.
There is nothing more satisfying than filling a pita with falafel balls, tahini, salad and sauerkraut.
Of course the most delicious and healthy food is made at home. This falafel recipe is so simple to make at home, so you don’t need to travel far at all.
WHAT YOU NEED
- ½ kg garbanzo beans (4 cups) soaked in water with ½ tsp baking soda overnight
- 2 onions cut to thick slices
- 7 garlic cloves
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 seedless jalapeno
- ¼ cauliflower
- ½ cup garbanzo bean flour
- ¼ cup water
Spices:
- 1 ½ tbsp cumin
- 1 ¼ tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp ground coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp paprika
To add right before frying:
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- Sunflower oil for deep fry
Optional - 1 cup panko (or bread crumbs)
HOW TO MAKE
Soak the chickpeas in water for at least 5 hours with ½ tsp of baking soda.
Drain out the water and grind the soaked chickpeas in a food processor to a solid mixture.
Uncover to mix with a spoon and grind again on pulse setting.
Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Put the parsley, coriander, garlic, hot pepper and onion in the food processor and mix until finely chopped. but not too pulpy, add to the ground chickpeas, grate with a quarter of a cauliflower, add all the spices, water and chickpea flour and start mixing by hand.
Wrap the bowl in cling film and refrigerate for a minimum of 40 minutes.
Remove from the refrigerator and add the baking soda and sesame seeds before frying. Mix again and start dripping.
There are two options for the falafel shape:
- Balls -
Prepare a plate with bread crumbs, fill a medium pot with oil at least halfway through, and bring to a boil.
Roll a medium-sized ball, wrap each ball in pampered crumbs on all sides and put in the boiling oil.
Repeat the process. It is important not to put too many balls in, otherwise they will fall apart, each ball should be wrapped in oil.
Baking soda should be added just before frying, so that it does not fall apart.
- Patties -
The second shape I fry is like round, flat patties.
In an omelet pan, put a cup of oil. Make a round shape and mash with both palms, dip in bread crumbs and fry like patties.
The winning combination next to the falafel balls: tehini, Israeli salad, sauerkraut, all in a pita!
