Homemade Falafel

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas (or fava beans), fresh herbs, and spices that are formed into a small patties or balls.  It’s thought that falafel originated in Egypt as Coptic Christians looked for a hearty replacement for meat during long seasons of fasting or lent. It has also become a popular vegan food in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. Falafel continues to be the people’s daily grub in Egypt and you can find it from street vendors in almost every neighborhood.

Instructions

Soak dry chickpeas for a minimum of 8hrs or overnight in water, make sure your bowl has enough room as chickpeas will expand double in size

Drain and pulse the soaked chickpeas in a food processor a few times until they are chopped

Roughly chop all herbs and add into the food processor along with all other ingredients

Blitz together until all ingredients are combined and finely diced, make sure to not over blitz as you want to keep some texture

Using your hands and with a tablespoon, roll mixture into balls and place on a tray lined with baking paper

Refrigerate for one hour

To make the tahini sauce, add all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until a creamy consistency is achieved. If it’s too thick, add more water to thin it out

Follow your preferred cooking method below then serve with tahini dip and a side of pickles is always a great combo.  To serve as a main, serve with rice and salad or works well in a wrap.

Deep fry falafels into heated oil for a few minutes until golden on each side. Fry in batches and don’t overcrowd the pot so falafels aren’t touching

Remove and place on paper towels to remove excess oil. Serve and enjoy!

Thank you for trying this recipe. Please let me know how you liked it. 

If you enjoyed this recipe, please take a look at other recipes on my Fast, simple and good sandwich page.