Falafel

Feeling Hungry?

Falafel… One of my families favourite staples.

Much like many of you, my day to day consists of being a mum, a wife, a student, a cook, a cleaner & aspiring entrepreneur… lol! When it comes to cooking I often find myself looking for yummy dishes that are not only quick to prepare but versatile with potential adaptation into a variety of meals. Equally as important they must keep, freeze & thaw well, ready for use when ‘Boss Mum’ needs something simple & tasty.

And… Falafels are the answer!

So easy to make, you can even get the kiddies in on the production line 😉 … Made from broad beans & chickpeas, they’re full of protein & nutritional goodness that many beans have to offer. I also add a variety of spices along with super foods such as flax & hemp seeds. Freshly cooked they have a light crispy crust & soft aromatic, beautifully seasoned centres… Simply delicious!

Because they are ‘freezer friendly’, I always have a batch readily available. Whether your craving a tasty no fuss meal or find yourself with unexpected dinner guests, they’re sure to impress.

They’re a perfect addition to many meals including Buddha bowls, wraps, burgers & even pasta dishes needing a bit more body. Or alternatively just eaten as a snack straight out of the pan with freshly made coconut tzatziki or hummus.

I’ve also got a delicious zesty coriander and lime dressing that goes beautifully with these guys, so stay tuned!

Di x

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Falafel

Falafel are easy to make and you can freeze them too. Just pop them in oil when you’re ready to eat. 

Course Side Dish

Keyword Falafel

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 24 falafel

Calories 56 kcal

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried broad beans soaked
• 1/2 cup dried chickpeas soaked
• 6 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 brown onion chopped
• 3 tbsp chickpea flour (besan)
• 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 3 tbsp hemp seed
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp all spice
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 bunch fresh coriander roughly chopped
• 1/2 bunch continental parsley roughly chopped
• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast

Instructions

1. Soak raw broad beans and chickpeas over night

2. Drain broad beans and chickpeas and put in food processor and pulse till course texture

3. Then add remainder of ingredients and blitz till combined. Texture should be fluffy and crumbly

4. Season with a little salt and pepper as desired

5. With wet hands, get a handful of mixture and shape into desired size balls and sit on a lined tray

   Remembering the larger the ball the longer the cooking time

6. If mixture is too dry and won’t stick, add a tbsp of water. If mixture is too wet and sloppy, add a tbsp of chickpea flour

7. To cook, in a shallow pan deep enough to cover the falafels, heat some oil. 

   Tip - to see if oil is ready, put a wooded chopstick or spoon in hot oil and if it starts bubbling, its ready 😉

8. Put falafels in hot oil and cook till golden brown. Be sure to rotate them to insure cooked evenly

9. Remove cooked falafels from oil and let it rest on paper towel to absorb any excess oil

10. Serve as is or with some hommus

Recipe Notes

Falafels can be baked in the oven at 200C for 10 - 15 min for a healthier option

For easy storage, let falafels set in freezer before transferring them to a freezer bag or container.

Best to let falafels thaw completely before cooking to insure even cooking. Otherwise your falafes may end up burnt on the outside and icy cold on the inside.

Falafels can be easily defrosted in the microwave

*Nutrition information is approximate and is meant as a guide only*

Nutrition Facts

Falafel

Amount Per Serving (100 g)

Calories 56 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Sodium 4mg0%

Potassium 130mg4%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 130IU3%

Vitamin C 2.8mg3%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1.2mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.