Best My Favorite Falafel Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

Falafel image

Provided by Jeremy A. Safron

Yield Makes four 8-inch crusts or eight 4-inch crusts

Number Of Ingredients 8

6 cups sprouted garbanzo beans
1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 cup raw tahini
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 onion, minced
2 tablespoons ground cumin
6 tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos, or 2 tablespoons sun-dried sea salt
1 cup sesame seeds

Steps:

Using a homogenizing juicer with the blank plate in place, homogenize the garbanzo beans and parsley and place in a large bowl. Place the tahini, lemon juice, onion, cumin, and Braggs in a blender and blend. Stir the tahini mixture into the garbanzo paste. In a spice grinder, grind the sesame seeds into a fine powder. Mix into the garbanzo paste. Press into 1/4-inch-thick crusts, each 4 or 8 inches in diameter. Dehydrate for 12 to 14 hours, flipping at least once during the drying time.

Fresh Herb Falafel image

Provided by Sarit Packer

Yield 8 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

8 ounces dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, drained
1/2 onion, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeño, coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons chickpea flour
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Vegetable oil (for frying; about 8 cups)
Shredded Cabbage Salad and Spiced Green Tahini Sauce and warm thick pita with pockets (for serving)
Special equipment:
A deep-fry thermometer

Steps:

Pulse chickpeas in a food processor, scraping down sides as needed, until they resemble finely chopped nuts (the texture should be uneven, with some slightly larger pieces visible), about 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl.
Pulse onion, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, and parsley in food processor, scraping down sides as needed, until coarsely chopped, about 1 minute. Mix into chickpeas, then mix in chickpea flour, salt, baking powder, cardamom, and cumin. Form into ping-pong-size balls.
Pour oil into a large heavy pot to a depth of 3". Fit pot with thermometer and heat oil over medium-high until thermometer registers 330°F. Working in batches, cook falafel, turning occasionally, until deep brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; let sit 5 minutes. Serve falafel with salad, tahini sauce, and pita.

Israeli Falafel image

Provided by Michael Skibitcky

Yield Makes about 20 balls or disks

Number Of Ingredients 27

For tahini sauce
1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
4 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 small onion, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
For falafel
1 cup dried chickpeas, refrigerated overnight in water to cover by 2 inches, then drained, or 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained
1 small onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
About 6 cups vegetable oil for frying
To serve
5 to 6 pita breads, top 1/3 cut off each
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 small onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
Pickled turnip*
Mango amba (pickle)*
Harissa hot sauce
*Available from ethnicgrocer.com

Steps:

Make tahini sauce
In food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and 1/4 cup water. Process into smooth paste. (DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.)
Make falafel
In food processor, combine chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, salt, red pepper flakes, and baking soda. Pulse just until finely chopped and crumbly (mixture will resemble wet bread crumbs; do not overprocess into paste, or balls will be heavy). (DO AHEAD: Mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.)
In large shallow skillet over moderately high heat, heat 3 inches oil until thermometer registers 350°F.
Using 2 teaspoons or falafel scoop, form mixture into approximately 1-inch-diameter balls or disks. Working in batches of 5, lower carefully into hot oil and fry, turning occasionally, until deep golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat to fry remaining falafel, returning oil to 350°F between each batch.

Falafel image

Yield Makes 6 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 1/4 cups dried chickpeas (7 oz)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped onion (1 medium)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
About 6 cups vegetable oil (48 fl oz)
Accompaniment: tahini sauce
Special Equipment
a deep-fat thermometer

Steps:

Soak chickpeas in cold water to cover by 2 inches in a bowl at room temperature at least 12 hours. Drain well in a colander.
Purée chickpeas with all remaining ingredients except oil in a food processor until as smooth as possible, about 2 minutes. Spread purée in a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan and let dry, uncovered, 1 hour.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of purée onto a long sheet of wax paper, then press and pat with your fingers into a 2-inch-wide patty. (Pressing the purée will help the patty hold together when frying.) Make a small hole in center of patty with tip of your pinkie finger (to help cook evenly). Make more patties in same manner, arranging them in 1 layer on wax paper.
Heat about 1 inch oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (preferably cast-iron) until thermometer registers 340°F. Working in batches of 4, gently drop patties into hot oil, then fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, and transfer to paper towels to drain. Return oil to 340°F between batches. Serve falafel warm or at room temperature.