Falafels (chickpea ball fritters)

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine is gaining lots of popularity worldwide due to it's healthy and tasty food which includes chickpeas, sesame seeds, couscous, parsley, olives, feta cheese, eggplants, poultry, bulgar, kibbeh etc. I have always loved kabob platters and falafel. The combination of parsley, lemon juice, garlic and those yogurt dips is just too yummm. When I go to any food court, I first look for the kabob center :)  I make falafels and tabbouleh very often at home. I won't lie, deep-fried falafels is the best way to make it. But since I make it often I try making it in ableskiver pan, comes out just fine. It makes a fun meal for everyone and a welcome change from everyday routine.

Let's check the recipe:

FALAFEL PLATE

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans)*
• 1 onion med size finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
• 4 pods garlic minced
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp chilli powder ( or 3 green chillies chopped or 1 tsp cayenne powder)
• 1/4th tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp of chickpea flour (besan)
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs ( for shallow fry)
• salt to taste
• oil to fry

FALAFEL

Preparation:

• Take cooked chickpeas and see to it that it has not much water content in it.* It helps to make better falafel patties. 
• Now quickly use a food processor or a masher to coarsely mash the garbanzo beans. Don't use a blender, because the consistency has to be coarse. 
• Take it out in a mixing bowl, add onions, parsley, garlic, powders, besan and salt. Mix everything together. Now roll out small balls (any size that you like). Roll the balls lightly in bread crumbs. Deep fry* it in oil on med flame till all sides turn brown. 
• Else, cook it in ableskiver pan like I do, heat the pan, add little oil in each slot and place the falafel in it cook on sim-med flame for 3-4 minutes, turn the falafels with a spoon and let it cook on all the sides, till it's nice, brown and crispy. Remove and place it on a plate.
• Serve it in pita pockets along with tabbouleh, yogurt dip, any flavored rice or lettuce salad.

Falafel / Tabbouleh

Notes:* Use 14 oz of store bought garbanzo beans or soak 1 cup of chickpeas overnight and pressure cook for 12-14 minutes in a pressure cooker by adding a little salt. Also, if you feel that the garbanzo beans falafel mixture is little soggy, add another 1 tbsp besan(gram flour), make balls and refrigerate it for some time before frying it. If you are deep frying, be double sure that the falafel mixture doesn't have moisture, else it will just disintegrate in the oil.

njoY!! happY cookinG!!


Health Benefits: Falafel consists of chickpeas as the main ingredient which is high in fiber, low in calories, loaded with proteins and rich in healthy fats. It is rich in iron and contains manganese. Overall a happy healthy food:) loved by everyone!





Cook in ableskiver pan: