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Home » Cuisines » Arabic Cuisine » Falafel Recipe | How to make Crispy Falafel

Falafel Recipe | How to make Crispy Falafel

Feb 25, 2023 by Priya_Srinivasan ·

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Falafel, deep-fried chickpea balls, favorite street food available all through the middle-east. Falafel balls can be eaten as such as a snack or served as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers).

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Crispy Falafel

What is Falafel?

Falafel is made from fava beans or chickpeas, or a combination. When made with chickpeas, falafel is high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber.

These crispy deep fried snack is eaten throughout the Middle East and a common street food. The Coptic's of Egypt claim to have first made the dish as a replacement for meat during Lent. The fritters are now found around the world as a replacement for meat and as a form of street food.

During Ramadan, you will find these crispy falafel balls in almost all the cafeterias for iftar, the meal that breaks the daily fast after sunset.

For us South-Indians, this authentic falafel is almost like our Paruppu vadai, though the spices added varies a bit. The best falafel recipe uses spices like coriander, cumin and loads of fresh coriander and parsley. Authentic recipe uses onion and garlic too, since i don't cook with them, i haven't used them both and didn't miss them at all.

Middle eastern appetizer

Ingredients

  • The main : Chickpeas, use dried chickpeas. Soak them overnight, drain and use them.
  • Spices : Green chilies, pepper and cumin are the main spices in this appetizer.
  • Greens : Loads of fresh parsley, fresh coriander and few mint leaves are used to make authentic falafel.
  • Leavening : a tad bit of baking soda is added to the falafel batter, it gives a fluffy texture.
  • Fried or Baked : These delish chickpea snack can be baked, air-fried or deep-fried. Authentic falafels are deep fried.

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Step-wise Instructions

Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions

  • Soak the chickpeas for 8-10 hours minimum. I prefer to soak them overnight.
  • Drain the chickpeas well. Take them in a food processor, add chilies, coriander, cumin, pepper, fresh coriander, parsley , sesame seeds and mint.
How to make Best Falafel
  • Blend them into a coarse mixture. Remove the ground chickpeas mixture to a wide plate. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
  • Just before frying, add baking soda and mix well. Heat oil for deep-frying and shape the chickpea mixture to flat patties or balls and deep fry them to golden brown.
  • Drain on a paper towel. Enjoy them as such or in a sandwich or part of mezze with an assortment of dips.

If you have tried this recipe and like it, give it a 🌟 rating or let me know in the comments below.  You could also share it with me on Instagram using

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What to serve with this Snack?

I prefer to eat these crispy deep fried golden beauties as such. When made with right spices, you actually don't need anything as side.

If you are throwing a party, check this simple recipes that can be part of your mezze.

  • Emirati Khameer
  • Yemeni Bakhmri
  • Khaliat nahal
  • Naan-e-Barbari
  • Jordanian Shrak Bread

Check these condiments to serve for your mezze minty yogurt sauce and Turkish Cacik. If you love labneh, check this colorful beets labneh and a spicy coriander labneh.

Authentic Falafel recipe

Do you like Falafel? PIN IT

falafel recipe pin

Recipe Card

Mezze dishes

Falafel Recipe | How to make Crispy Falafel

Falafel, a delicious deep-fried chickpea balls, favorite street food available all through the middle-east. Falafel balls can be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers).
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Arabic, Middle-eastern
Keyword: A quick appetizer recipe, appetizer with chickpeas, Canapes, chickpea recipe, Deep fried, finger food, how to make falafel, mezze dishes, quick and easy falafel
Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 319kcal

Equipment

  • Indian style mixie or food processor
  • Deep pan for frying

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried chickpeas
  • 4 nos green chilies
  • 2 teaspoon rice flour you can use all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns/milagu
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds/dhaniya optional
  • 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
  • ½ cup fresh parsley I didn't use
  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • oil for deep frying

Instructions

  • Soak the dried chickpeas for at least 8-10 hours. I prefer to soak them overnight.
  • After the said time, drain the chickpeas completely. Take them in to a food processor jar or blender jar. I used my kenwood food processor.
  • Add chilies, fresh coriander leaves, parsley leaves, ginger, sesame seeds and salt to the processor jar.
  • Take whole peppercorns, cumin and coriander, roughly pound them in a mortar-pestle and add it to the food processor jar. This ensures proper grinding of the spices.
  • Grind this to a coarse mix. Stop in between, use a spatula, scrap down the sides and grind.
  • Remove the ground mix to a flat plate. At this stage you can refrigerate the batter for a day.
  • Let the batter rest for an hour. Before deep frying the falafel, add baking soda and rice powder to it. Mix well with hands.
  • Heat oil for deep frying. When the oil is ready, shape the ground mix into flat patties or balls and deep fry them until golden brown.
  • Keep the oil in medium and fry the falafel. Once golden brown, remove the fried balls onto a paper towel.
  • Enjoy these crispy fried chickpea balls warm. Serve it as such or with an assortment of dips.

Nutrition

Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg

Disclaimer

I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Nithya

    May 25, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Delicious falafel 🙂 Looks so good. Wish someone could make one for me right now 🙂

    Reply
  2. Shobha

    May 25, 2012 at 8:44 am

    Yummy snack.. I posted this recently too.

    Reply
  3. Akila

    May 25, 2012 at 10:23 am

    Not only kids all will love it

    Reply
  4. Rekha

    May 25, 2012 at 10:33 am

    good one.. kids loves it..Am your new follower do visit mine if you have time to spare:)

    Reply
  5. Tina

    May 25, 2012 at 10:58 am

    looks delicious..

    Reply
  6. Jayashree

    May 25, 2012 at 11:41 am

    This is something that I love to make. Like your idea of making a sandwich with it.

    Reply
  7. The Pumpkin Farm

    May 25, 2012 at 11:41 am

    nice , liked the idea of putting it between the bread

    Reply
  8. Spice up the Curry

    May 25, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    falafel is looking really yummy and perfect snack

    Reply
  9. Subhie Arun

    May 25, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    yummy snack dear!!!

    Reply
  10. Priya Suresh

    May 25, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Feel like munching some crispy falafels rite now,my fav anytime.

    Reply
  11. Srivalli

    May 25, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    What a delicious feast, I would love to have this priya..

    Reply
  12. Sangeetha M

    May 25, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    Yummy n Healthy snack...looks too good!!
    Spicy Treats

    Reply
  13. Chef Mireille

    May 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    perfect fallafel...came out perfect!

    Reply
  14. Unknown

    May 26, 2012 at 2:57 am

    Delicious and healthy snack..

    Reply
  15. Unknown

    May 25, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    when I was young living in Middle east....we used to go to this shop just to get hot hot vadas...little that we know that was falafel...years later now still I love my 'vadas' and i make it at home too!...yummy one!

    Reply
  16. Jayanthi

    May 26, 2012 at 2:26 am

    Love to have these crunchy falafel inside a pita bread .....nicely done.

    Reply
  17. Unknown

    May 26, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Perfect and crispy looking falafel and great idea of using them in bread.

    Reply
  18. Nalini's Kitchen

    May 26, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    delicious and healthy one...

    Reply
  19. Harini R

    May 27, 2012 at 2:02 am

    Definitely a treat !

    Reply
  20. Gayathri NG

    May 28, 2012 at 2:11 am

    Yummy falafel, pics looks tempting...

    Reply
  21. Cool Lassi(e)

    May 28, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Lovely! Who doesn't love falafel..

    Reply
  22. Suma Gandlur

    May 28, 2012 at 3:23 am

    Power packed snack.

    Reply
  23. vaishali sabnani

    May 28, 2012 at 9:49 am

    Priya i love these cute beauties..and make them very often...gorgeous!!

    Reply
  24. Pavani

    May 28, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Falafel are one of my favorite snack/ dish. Yours look crispy and delicious.

    Reply
  25. Anonymous

    June 10, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    Hi Priya,

    Made the falafels for snack and they were absolutely delicious!!!! My kids just loved them, this will be a regular in my house now on.

    Regards,
    Viji

    Reply
  26. Mayuri Patel

    February 27, 2023 at 7:18 am

    5 stars
    Love falafel so much. Your preparation looks super tempting, so crispy and inviting. I have tried air fryer ones, they are healthy but still love the extra crispiness we get from deep frying them.

    Reply
  27. Sujata Roy

    February 27, 2023 at 7:07 pm

    5 stars
    Falafel looks so crispy and superbly delicious. Loved the use of roughly pound spices in the Falafel mixture. Next time I will make falafel in your way.

    Reply
  28. Spice Zone (Sarika)

    February 28, 2023 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    OMG, just made falafel yesterday. We enjoyed making the pita pockets. Your Falafel look so crispy and yummy, feel like picking it up and eating.

    Reply
  29. Seema Sriram

    March 01, 2023 at 4:17 am

    5 stars
    Wow, these are one set of pretty chickpea falafels. They are my lunch this week and love it with some salad stuffed Pita bread.

    Reply
  30. Kalyani

    March 01, 2023 at 8:37 am

    5 stars
    love, love love falafels.. your version and clear pics looks like something at an upscale fine dine restaurant, Priya - perffect with some hummus / labneh ! yum...

    Reply
  31. Archana

    March 01, 2023 at 11:04 am

    5 stars
    Wow you can make falafel without onion and garlic? Love the idea and will make some soon. We definitely will love them love the idea of adding rice flour. Will try.

    Reply
  32. Jayashree. T. Rao

    March 01, 2023 at 6:34 pm

    5 stars
    Falafel looks so good, I am so tempted to make them soon. Will make your version, there is a slight variation.

    Reply

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