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Classic Falafel

Recipe from dinnerthendessert.com I wanted to make this before our trip to Israel and then try several there to compare.

Servings 20

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry chickpeas
  • 1 bunch green onions white and green parts
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, cilantro or mint leaves, chopped or combination of all three
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. chickpea flour more if needed
  • 2 tsp. Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 pinch cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Add the garbanzo beans into a large bowl and soak in water overnight (the water should be a couple inches higher than the beans, so the beans plump up).
  2. Rinse the beans and add them to a food processor with chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, flour, salt, cumin, ground coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom.
  3. Process the ingredients together until it looks like a coarse paste, like a super chunky peanut butter.

  4. Be sparing with how long your process it, the chickpeas should still be visible in small chunks. Try to form a tablespoon of mixture into a ball. If it doesn't form well, put back in processor for a few more spins.

  5. Put the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for about 30 minutes

  6. Make the paste into small balls about one heaping tablespoon, rolling them in your hand. (In Israel they used a small gadget kind of like a ice cream scoop and scooped directly into the hot oil.)

  7. If your falafel batter is too loose to stay in a ball you can add a few more tablespoons of flour.

  8. Heat the oil on medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towel-lined plate and season to tase with salt. 

  9. Serve  immediately with pita, hummus and tomatoes for a great falafel sandwich.

Recipe Notes

To make a little chickpea flour put a few tablespoons of the dried chickpeas (before you soak them) in a food processor and process until you have a fine flour. This will be much cheaper than buying a bag of chickpea flour.