Falafel
If you ask someone from the Middle East what their favorite food is, there's a good chance they'll say falafel. This delicious fried treat is made from ground chickpeas or fava beans and is typically served in a pita with fresh veggies and tahini sauce. But where did falafel come from?
There are a few theories about the origins of falafel. Some say it originated in Egypt, while others claim it was invented in Palestine. The most popular theory, however, is that falafel was first created in Yemen.
The earliest recorded mention of falafel comes from an Egyptian text from the 13th century. This text describes a dish made from fava beans that was fried and served with vinegar.
Advice
When making falafel, it is important to use very finely ground chickpeas. This helps to create a consistent texture throughout the falafel. Additionally, it is important to use enough oil in the mixture so that it binds together and holds its shape. Additionally, to ensure the falafel is cooked through, it is important to fry it in hot oil and cook it for a few minutes on each side. Finally, make sure to season the falafel generously with salt, pepper, and other spices to give it a flavor boost.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Falafel
- oil
- cayenne pepper
- lemon juice
- cumin
- coriander
- salt
- parsley
- baking soda
- black pepper
- onion
- chickpea
- garlic
Classic Homemade Falafel
- chickpea
- onion
- coriander
- cumin seed
- salt
- garlic
- parsley
- all purpose flour
- oil
- pepper
Falafel
- cilantro
- parsley
- cumin
- salt
- baking powder
- coriander
- salt
- lemon juice
- garlic
- chick pea
- tahini
- water
- all purpose flour
- vegetable oil
- scallions shallot
- hummus
- pita bread
- onion
- tabbouleh
Easy, Herb-Packed Falafel Recipe
- tahini sauce
- cumin
- chickpea
- coriander seed
- cilantro
- salt
- garlic
- vegetable oil
- green onion
Fresh Herb Falafel
- deep fry thermometer
- cabbage salad
- spiced green tahini sauce
- vegetable oil
- pita
- baking powder
- cardamom
- garlic
- jalapeño
- parsley
- cumin
- onion
- salt
- chickpea flour
- cilantro
- chickpea
Low-Fat Baked Falafel Recipe
- chickpea
- onion
- parsley
- coriander
- cumin
- baking powder
- garlic
- all purpose flour
- olive oil
- black pepper
- salt
Falafel
- cilantro
- parsley
- chickpea
- olive oil
- coriander
- cumin
- lemon zest
- onion
- baking powder
- cayenne pepper
- garlic
- salt
- veggy
- herb
- hummus
- pickled red onion
- pita bread
- tahini sauce
Sweet Potato Falafel
- cumin
- chickpea
- onion
- coriander
- salt
- sesame seed
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- lemon juice
- parsley
- sweet potato
Sesame Falafel with Ginger Tahini and Jalapeño Sauce
- chickpea
- carrot
- cumin
- ginger
- lemon
- all purpose flour
- cilantro
- dill
- sesame seed
- tahini
- olive oil
- garlic
- jalapeño
- naan
- lemon juice
- salt
- salt
- lettuce
- tzatziki
Falafel With Fava Beans Recipe
- fava bean
- onion
- baking powder
- salt
- chickpea
- red pepper
- parsley
- cumin
- oil
Falafel
- aglio spicchio
- ceci secchi
- cipolle
- cumino
- olio
- pepe
- prezzemolo ciuffo
- sale fino
Air Fryer Falafel Recipe
- cumin
- coriander
- salt
- chickpea
- onion
- black pepper
- cilantro
- parsley
- wheat flour
- garlic
Falafel al forno
- aglio un
- ceci secchi
- coriandolo un cucchiaino
- cumino un cucchiaino
- olio 'oliva
- prezzemolo
- sale fino
- scalogno uno cipolla
Baked Falafel with Greek Yogurt Cucumber Raita
- salt
- salt
- nonstick spray
- zest
- mint
- nonfat greek yogurt
- chili powder
- coriander
- cumin
- egg
- chickpea flour
- cilantro
- parsley
- tahini
- chickpea
- sesame seed
- garlic
- cucumber
- garlic
Black Bean and Quinoa Falafel
- salt
- arugula
- quinoa
- cilantro
- parsley
- tomato
- coriander
- cumin
- black bean
- onion
- olive oil
- garlic
Falafel
- canola
- onion
- baking powder
- cumin
- salt
- cayenne pepper
- chickpea
- cilantro
- parsley
- garlic
- all purpose flour
Ellen's Falafel With Pickled Vegetables and Minted Lemon Yogurt
- falafel
- apple cider vinegar
- yogurt
- jalapeño
- coriander seed
- fennel seed
- onion
- star anise
- sugar
- lemon juice
- lemon zest
- peppercorn
- honey
- garlic
- green cabbage
- thyme
- water
- mint
- pita bread
- black pepper
- salt
- canola oil
- marmalade
Falafel With Black Olives and Harissa Recipe
- tahini sauce
- herb falafel
- black olife
- harissa paste
Bacon Falafel Bites With Hummus
- aleppo pepper
- canola oil
- salt
- english cucumber
- falafel
- olive oil
- chickpea
- garlic
- lemon juice
- tahini
- tomato
- boston bibb lettuce
- bacon
Split Pea Falafel
- pita
- sunflower
- onion
- sesame seed
- green pea
- baking powder
- salt
- chili powder
- coriander
- cumin
- parsley
- cilantro
- dill
- garlic
Falafel
- allspice
- canola oil
- black pepper
- tahini
- cilantro
- parsley
- za'atar
- coriander
- cumin
- salt
- cayenne pepper
- onion
- baking soda
- chickpea
- lemon juice
- garlic
- jalapeño
- green onion
Falafel
- cilantro
- parsley
- lemon juice
- salt
- chickpea
- baking powder
- cumin
- onion
- black pepper
- all purpose flour
- heat oil
- garlic
- pita bread
falafel
- cumin
- salt
- chickpea
- hot red pepper flake
- onion
- cilantro
- parsley
- garlic
- vegetable oil
- serve pita
Crispy Falafel
- chickpea
- salt
- cilantro
- parsley
- onion
- black pepper
- cumin
- olive oil
- cinnamon
- garlic
Red Pepper Falafel
- deep fry thermometer
- cabbage salad
- spiced green tahini sauce
- vegetable oil
- pita
- cumin
- baking powder
- hungarian sweet paprika
- smoked paprika
- garlic
- onion
- bell pepper
- coriander
- salt
- chickpea flour
- chickpea
Festive Pumpkin Falafel
- garbanzo bean
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic
- pumpkin
- cilantro
- tahini
- cumin
- ginger
- salt
- onion
- water
- cayenne pepper
- coriander
- maple syrup
- pita pocket
- maple tahini sauce
- cucumber
Air-Fryer Falafel
- garbanzo bean
- cilantro
- baking powder
- chili powder
- coriander
- salt
- sesame seed
- mint
- baking soda
- pepper
- garlic
- cooking spray
World's Best Falafel Recipe
- cilantro
- baking soda
- cumin
- salt
- garlic
- jalapeño
- all purpose flour
- onion
- pepper
- garbanzo bean
- parsley
Easy Falafel
- olive oil
- cumin
- onion
- parsley
- garlic
- cooking spray
- chickpea
Kuri Squash Falafel
- deep fry thermometer
- cabbage salad
- spiced green tahini sauce
- vegetable oil
- pita
- baking powder
- garlic
- black pepper
- cinnamon
- onion
- red kuri squash
- ras el hanout
- salt
- chickpea flour
- chickpea
Falafel with Tahini
- canola oil
- cayenne pepper
- salt
- tahini
- chickpea
- parsley
- coriander
- cumin
- pita
- parsley
- all purpose flour
- onion
- baking soda
- lemon juice
- garlic
- garlic
Air Fryer Falafel
- cilantro
- baking soda
- cumin
- salt
- jalapeño
- garlic
- all purpose flour
- onion
- pepper
- chickpea
- parsley
Falafel
- chickpea
- cilantro
- baking powder
- chili powder
- coriander
- salt
- sesame seed
- mint
- baking soda
- pepper
- garlic
- oil
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Higher Ratings
- parsley
Staple Ingredients
- salt 47%
- garlic 44%
Common Ingredients
- cumin 42%
- chickpea 39%
- onion 39%
- parsley 39%
- cilantro 31%
Usual Ingredients
- coriander 25%
- all purpose flour 19%
- baking powder 19%
Rarey Ingredients
- black pepper 17%
- lemon juice 17%
- olive oil 14%