Falafel are fried balls of crushed beans that can be served on their own, with a side dish, or used as a filling in shawarma and rolls. We have collected 20 simple and delicious recipes for you!
1. Chickpea Falafel
Classic falafel, which is especially popular in Israel as a fast food.
You will need: 200 g chickpeas, 1 onion, 1 garlic clove, 0.5 tsp. baking powder, 0.5 tsp each zira, coriander, salt and turmeric, 4 sprigs of cilantro, breadcrumbs.
Cooking: Pour chickpeas overnight with cold water and chop in a blender with onions, garlic and herbs. Add baking powder and spices, shape into balls, coat in breadcrumbs and deep-fry the falafel.
2. Bean falafel
This falafel is especially good with your favorite tomato sauce.
You will need: 150 g of boiled beans, 25 g of greens, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 4 tbsp. flour, 100 ml of water, spices.
Cooking: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Leave the mass for half an hour in the refrigerator, form balls and deep-fry.
3. Pea falafel
It is better to take crushed peas, because it softens faster.
You will need: 250 g crushed peas, 20 g ginger, 1/2 chili pepper, 4 sprigs of cilantro, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp. turmeric and cumin, 1 onion, 0.5 tsp. baking powder, 3 tbsp. flour, 3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, spices.
Cooking: Soak the peas overnight and then grind in a blender with a little water. Add all other ingredients, grind again, form into balls and fry in a pan.
4. Canned chickpea falafel
The advantage is that such falafel cooks many times faster.
You will need: 250 g canned chickpeas, 1 garlic clove, 100 g onion, 1 tsp. salt and soda, spices, flour.
Cooking: Pass chickpeas, garlic and onions through a meat grinder, add salt, soda and spices, and knead the mass. Form balls, roll in flour and fry them in a large amount of oil.
5. Lentil Falafel
Suitable red or green lentils to your taste.
You will need: 200 g lentils, 1 onion, 1 garlic clove, 3 parsley sprigs, 0.5 tsp. baking powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika and other spices, breadcrumbs.
Cooking: Soak the lentils overnight and run them through a meat grinder several times along with the onions. Grind parsley and garlic there, add baking powder with spices and knead the mass. Shape into balls, roll in breadcrumbs and deep-fry the falafel.
6. Chickpea flour and cream cheese falafel
A very interesting recipe with a completely different texture of the finished dish.
You will need: 250 g chickpea flour, 4 tbsp. wheat flour, 100 g cream cheese, 3 garlic cloves, 1 onion, 1 tsp. soda, 0.5 tsp each zira, coriander, ground red pepper, cardamom and other spices, 4 sprigs of herbs.
Cooking: Rub the onion on a fine grater, chop the garlic and herbs there, and add soda with all the spices. Mix with cream cheese and gradually add the sifted chickpea flour. Leave the mass for 20 minutes, add wheat flour and leave for another 10. Form balls with wet hands and bake the falafel on parchment in the oven for 35-45 minutes at 180 degrees.
7. Falafel with carrots
Carrots give not only new facets to taste, but also a beautiful orange color.
You will need: 2 cups boiled chickpeas, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 4 garlic cloves, 4 tbsp. tahini, juice of 1 lemon, 2 tbsp. flour, 2 tbsp. chopped herbs, coriander, salt, hot pepper.
Cooking: Grate the carrots, send all the ingredients to a blender and beat until smooth. Form balls from the mass and fry them in a large amount of oil.
8. Falafel with pumpkin
Experiment with spices – coriander, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, red pepper.
You will need: 250 g canned chickpeas, 120 g pumpkin puree, 1/3 cup oatmeal, 1.5 tbsp. olive oil, 5 sprigs of parsley, 2 cloves of garlic, spices.
Cooking: Place all ingredients, except pumpkin puree, in a blender and blend until smooth. Mix with pumpkin, form small balls and bake the falafel on parchment paper in the oven for about 25 minutes at 190 degrees.
9. Falafel with vegetables
The most convenient solution is to add a couple of handfuls of your favorite frozen mix.
You will need: 200 g chickpeas, 1 onion, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 clove nok, 1 tsp baking powder, 2-3 tbsp. vegetable mixture, spices, 4 sprigs of cilantro, breadcrumbs.
Cooking: Soak chickpeas overnight and grind in a blender with olive oil, onion, garlic, spices, baking powder and herbs. Chop large vegetables and leave small ones as they are. Mix them in. Shape into balls, roll in breadcrumbs and deep-fry until golden brown.
10. Falafel with herbs
Such falafel turns out to be ruddy and crispy even without deep-frying.
You will need: 2 cups boiled chickpeas, 1 onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 30 g each of cilantro, parsley and green onions, 1 tsp. coriander, cumin, mixtures of peppers and other spices.
Cooking: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Form small balls, put on parchment and bake in the oven for about half an hour at 190 degrees.
11. Walnut Falafel
The original falafel recipe is completely without legumes, but according to the same principle.
You will need: 300 g of almonds, 300 g of walnuts, 100 g of raisins, 100 g of sesame seeds, 30 g of chopped cilantro and parsley, 20 g of garlic, 50 ml of lemon juice and olive oil, spices and herbs.
Cooking: Soak nuts for 12 hours and rinse. Soak the raisins for an hour. Pass everything through a meat grinder and add sesame seeds. Add the rest of the ingredients to the nuts and mix thoroughly or beat with a blender. Form small balls and send them for 20 minutes in the oven at 190 degrees.
12. Lentil and Quinoa Falafel
Another great option for lovers of gastronomic experiments.
You will need: 400 g lentils, 85 g quinoa, 1 carrot, 1 bunch green onions, 2 tbsp. flour, spices.
Cooking: Boil lentils and quinoa until done according to instructions. Add grated carrots and spices to them, and grind everything with a blender. Add chopped green onions and flour, mix, form into balls and deep-fry the falafel.
13. Falafel with beets and tahini
Beets add brightness and novelty to a familiar snack.
You will need: 800 g canned chickpeas, 500 g beets, 2 onions, 1 egg, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. cumin, 100 g breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp. tahini, spices.
Cooking: Finely chop the onion and fry in olive oil until soft. Add cumin, grated beetroot, breadcrumbs, tahini and egg and blend everything in a blender. Grind chickpeas separately, mix both masses and form falafel balls. Send them for 10 minutes in the refrigerator, and then bake in the oven on parchment for 25 minutes at 200 degrees.
14. Falafel with cashews and spinach
In addition to spinach, add a handful of cashews for a taste variety.
You will need: 120 g chickpeas, 50 cashew nuts, 4 garlic cloves, 50 g spinach, 1 onion, 1 bunch parsley, 1 bunch dill, 50 ml lemon juice, 30 g breadcrumbs, spices.
Cooking: Soak chickpeas overnight, boil for 30 minutes and send to a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients there and grind everything until smooth. Shape into balls and roll in breadcrumbs if desired. Send the falafel to the oven for 25-30 minutes at 180 degrees.
15. Falafel with sweet potato
Delicious falafel in a hurry!
You will need: 1 sweet potato, 250 g canned chickpeas, 1 tbsp. tahini, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, 1 chili pepper, spices.
Cooking: Grate the sweet potato. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Form balls and bake them in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees.
16. Falafel with zucchini
Zucchini makes bean patties tender and juicier.
You will need: 300 g chickpeas, 1 zucchini, 1 onion, 1 egg, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 bunch of herbs, 1 tsp. curry, 3 tbsp. flour, spices.
Cooking: Soak chickpeas overnight and boil until tender. Grate the zucchini and squeeze lightly. Send all the ingredients to a blender, grind until smooth, form balls and fry in a pan until golden brown.
17. Falafel with mushrooms
You can add some more dried wild mushrooms for flavor.
You will need: 250 g mushrooms, 150 g canned chickpeas, 100 g hard cheese, 1 egg, 1 bunch of herbs, spices, flour, breadcrumbs.
Cooking: Saute mushrooms until tender. Grind them in a blender with chickpeas, herbs, cheese and spices. Form into balls and roll each in flour. Then – in an egg, and then – in breadcrumbs. Deep fry the falafel.
18. Falafel with cheese
Experiment with different types of cheese to your taste.
You will need: 200 g chickpeas, 80 g cheese, half a bunch of herbs, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, spices, breadcrumbs.
Cooking: Soak chickpeas overnight and grind them in a blender with onion, garlic, herbs and spices. Add finely gratedth cheese, form balls, roll in breadcrumbs and deep-fry.
19. Falafel with eggplant
From spices, curry or smoked paprika is perfect here.
You will need: 1 cup chickpeas, 1 carrot, 1/2 eggplant, 1/2 onion, spices.
Cooking: Soak chickpeas overnight and grind in a blender with onions and spices. Peel and finely grate the carrots and eggplant, lightly fry until soft and stir in the chickpeas. Leave the minced meat for an hour in the refrigerator, form falafel balls with wet hands and cook in the oven for 35 minutes at 190 degrees.
20. Falafel with broccoli
You don’t even need to boil the broccoli for this recipe.
You will need: 200 g canned chickpeas, 150 g broccoli, half a bunch of greens, 1 tbsp. olive oil and lemon juice, 1 tbsp. tahini, 2 cloves of garlic, flour, spices.
Cooking: Grind all ingredients, except flour, in a blender. Form balls, roll in flour and fry the falafel evenly in a pan.