Homemade Lebanese Falafel Recipe with Tahini Yogurt (2024)

FAQs

What is the main ingredient of Middle Eastern falafel? ›

Falafel is made from fava beans or chickpeas, or a combination of both. Falafel is usually made with fava beans in Egyptian cuisine, where it most likely originated, with chickpeas in Palestinian cuisine, or just chickpeas or a combination of both in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the wider Middle East.

Falafel is a Middle Eastern recipe that is basically mashed chickpeas with herbs and seasonings formed into patties and fried. It's a traditional food in Lebanon that's made with only a few ingredients and served plain with tahini sauce, hummus, or garlic sauce for dipping, or as a falafel sandwich or falafel wrap.

They have to have enough fresh herbs and onion. Too much onion and your falafel will have a bad after taste. Too little and they won't be as moist and fluffy as they should be. It's all about balance.

Baking soda and powder: Baking soda breaks down and softens the chickpeas as they soak. Baking powder, mixed in just before baking, makes the falafel light and airy.

There are three types of falafel--Traditional falafel, baked falafel and lemon falafel. “Where the traditional falafel is the basic fried falafel comprising a mix of chickpeas, onions, garlic, herbs and spices, baked falafels are made using fresh herbs in the chickpea mixture,” says Chef Sati from Ophelia.

A binding ingredient can help keep it together, especially if you are using canned beans instead of dried. And the perfect binding ingredient for falafel is flour. Nothing fancy, just plain all-purpose flour. Add a few tablespoons at a time to your mixture, until you can press it easily into balls or patties.

Egyptian Falafel is made with Fava beans, and Syrian Falafel, just like Israeli and Lebanese falafel is made with chick-peas. Jordanian/Palestinian Falafel is made the same way.

Falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, sometimes both, plus fresh herbs and spices.

Testing showed the E. coli in the falafel was closely related to the bacteria found in case-patients meaning that after months of persistence, Michigan investigators had found the likely source of this multi-state outbreak, and a recall was issued.

If the mixture is too wet, the falafel has a tendency to fall apart when being fried so please pat dry the ingredients before using them. If you find the mixture is too wet, simply add little more breadcrumbs. The falafel mixture after prepared can be shaped by hand or with a tool called an alb falafel (falafel mold).

What makes falafel taste good? ›

For the best authentic falafel, dried chickpeas are your friend (note: this does not mean the recipe is difficult, I promise ?). Onion and garlic — We like falafel to pack a punch in the flavor department so we use a generous amount of onion and garlic. We've used scallions, yellow onion, and shallots to make falafel.

Poor seasoning: Falafel relies on a combination of herbs and spices for its flavor. If the falafel lacks proper seasoning or if the seasoning is imbalanced, it can result in a bland or off-putting taste. Stale ingredients: The freshness of the ingredients used in making falafel can significant.

Achieving the right oil temperature is crucial for a successful falafel fry. If the oil is too hot, the exterior may cook too quickly, leaving the inside undercooked and prone to falling apart. Conversely, if the oil is not hot enough, the falafel might absorb excess oil, leading to a mushy texture.

I personally love to bake with it because it keeps desserts super moist without adding too much of a nut butter flavor. Because tahini is made from sesame seeds it's perfect for keeping recipes nut-free and allergy friendly.

If the chickpeas or other ingredients are stale or past their prime, the falafel may taste dull or have an unpleasant aftertaste.

Falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, sometimes both, plus fresh herbs and spices.

Rice is a fundamental ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, used in dishes like pilafs, biryanis and stuffed vegetables. It is commonly cooked with aromatic spices and served as a side dish or used as a base for meat or vegetable preparations.

Falafel is a kind of Arabic food. It is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. Spices are added to these. Falafel is either made into a ball, or a disc, which is then fried.