What is Falafel and How to Make It
How to Make Falafel
Falafel is an indispensable dish of Lebanese street food. Eating falafel and tahini sauce inside pita bread is a very common way of consumption in the Eastern Mediterranean. Falafel Ingredients (Serves 4):
- Chickpeas: 1 cup
- Dry fava beans: 1 cup
- Onion: 1 medium
- Parsley: 1/2 bunch
- Fresh cilantro: 1/2 bunch
- Red pepper flakes: 1 teaspoon
- Garlic: 4 cloves
- Cumin: 1 teaspoon
- Turmeric: 1 teaspoon
- Ground red pepper: 1 teaspoon
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
- Olive oil: 1.5 cups
- Tahini: 1 tea cup
- Lemon juice: 3 pieces
- Salt
What is Falafel
Soak the chickpeas and dry fava beans the day before. Boil the soaked chickpeas and dry fava beans. Add the onion, chopped parsley and fresh cilantro, crushed garlic, a teaspoon of salt, and all the spices. Mash them until they remain slightly lumpy. Place the puree you made in a bowl, cover it, and let it sit for an hour. Add baking soda to it and mix again. Heat the olive oil in a pot. Take walnut-sized pieces from the mixture, roll them, and flatten them slightly. Fry a few falafels at a time in the frying pot, without letting them touch each other, for 5-6 minutes. Place the falafels on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Mix tahini and lemon juice with two cups of water. Season with salt. Serve hot in a small bowl with the sauce on the side. After explaining how to make falafel, let's give some information about falafel for those who are curious. Falafel, which is widely consumed in Arab countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt, is a type of dish formed by mashing chickpeas and fava beans into patties. It is especially preferred in vegan cuisines. This dish, which has an important place in Arab culture, has spread its fame to Europe. It can be consumed as a main course, and in some restaurants, it is also served as an appetizer. It is derived from the word 'filfil', which means pepper in Arabic. Its other name is Ta'ameya. It is a great choice, especially for vegetarians.
