Pan Fried Falafel Food

HOMEMADE FALAFEL (PAN-FRIED OR BAKED)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover the chickpeas with 3 inches of water and let sit overnight. The chickpeas will double or triple in size.
• Drain the chickpeas. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and spread the chickpeas on top. Top with additional paper towels and press gently to dry. Allow to sit for up to 3 hours to further dry.
• Pulse the chickpeas in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer half to a large bowl. Add the herbs, onion, garlic, and seasoning to the food processor with the remaining chickpeas and process until fully combined and pasty. Mix into the chopped chickpeas.
• Cover the mixing bowl and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the mixture to firm up. You can skip this step if desired, but the falafel will be more prone to breaking apart while they cook.
• If pan-frying: Heat 1" of oil in a large skillet over medium-high.
• Using a cookie or ice cream scoop, scoop out small balls of the falafel mixture, about 2 tablespoons in size. Once the oil is hot, add as many falafel to the pan as can easily fit without overcrowding- usually 4-5.
• Fry until crisp and deeply browned on the outside and cooked through inside, about 6 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil and sprinkle with additional kosher salt before serving.
• If baking: Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously oil a baking sheet and turn until fully covered. It should take about 1/4 cup of oil. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven to heat as the oven preheats.
• Using a cookie or ice cream scoop, scoop out small balls of the falafel mixture, about 2 tablespoons in size. When the oven is preheated, gently place the falafel on the hot baking sheet. Bake until crisp and deeply browned on the outside and cooked through inside, about 25-30 minutes, gently flipping once halfway through. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil and sprinkle with additional kosher salt before serving.

PAN-FRIED FALAFEL BITES

Steps:

• Place garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, onion, egg, parsley, curry powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Puree until coarse, adding bread crumbs if needed as you don't want mixture too moist.
• Take 1 tablespoon of mixture, roll into a ball, and coat with panko bread crumbs. Place on a plate. Repeat with remaining mixture.
• Heat remaining olive oil (about 1 inch) in a deep skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry bites until crispy golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary. Remove and drain on paper towels.

CRISPY PAN SEARED FALAFEL

Steps:

• Combine half the chickpeas, the onion, lemon juice, 4 teaspoons water, zucchini, cayenne, cumin, coriander, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add remaining chickpeas to processor, and pulse just until lumpy (should still have some texture), six to eight pulses. Stir into chickpea mixture. Stir in the herbs.
• Use your hands to pat the mixture into twelve 2-inch patties, each weighing about 1 1/2 ounces. Place each on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place skillet over medium heat, and cook 3 to 4 patties at a time, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer cooked patties to a heatproof plate to keep warm in a 200-degree oven, if necessary.
• To serve, toast pitas, and split them open. Arrange lettuce, tomato, and red-onion slices on each. Place two of the cooked patties on each pita. Sprinkle each with mint leaves. Serve with tzatziki.

QUICK PAN-FRIED FALAFEL WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Drop the garlic cloves into a food processor with the blade running. Add the parsley, cilantro and scallion. Process until the herbs are finely chopped. Add the chickpeas, lemon juice, cumin and tahini. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse until the chickpeas are finely chopped and sticky, about 20 pulses-you should still see little chickpea chunks (you're not going for a puree).
• Sprinkle the oat or almond flour over top. Pulse 2-3 times, then stir with a rubber spatula to fully incorporate the flour. Form the mixture into 12 patties (they should be about 1 1/2-inches wide and ½-inch thick) and arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Do Ahead: At this point, the falafel can be covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange half of the falafel in the pan, leaving plenty of space in between each. Cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until golden on the other side, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate and season with salt. Pour in another 1 to 2 tablespoons oil (as needed) and repeat with the remaining falafel.
• Serve the falafel in pita bread, or over whole grains or over lightly dressed salad greens. Drizzle with the tahini sauce and garnish with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, sliced red onion and a sprinkle of feta cheese (if using).

FALAFEL

Steps:

• Place the chickpeas in a medium bowl and cover with 2 inches of cold water. Soak overnight.
• Place the cumin and coriander seeds in an 8-inch cast-iron skillet and set over medium high heat. Cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the seeds give off an aroma and just begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the toasted spices to a spice grinder and process until finely ground. Set aside.
• Drain the chickpeas. Combine the soaked chickpeas, ground cumin and coriander, garlic and scallions, salt, black pepper, baking powder, cayenne pepper, and parsley leaves in a medium mixing bowl.
• Pass this mixture through a meat grinder or stand mixer with the grinder attachment fitted with the smallest die. Alternatively, you can divide the mixture in half and process one half at a time in a food processor, pulsing 10 to 20 times.
• Scoop the mixture into 1 1/2 to 2-ounce portions using a 2-inch diameter disher. Place on a half sheet pan lined with parchment. Can be held hold at room temperature for up to 2 hours before frying, or covered in the refrigerator overnight.
• Heat the peanut oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Adjust the heat to maintain temperature. Gently place the falafel, 1 at a time, into the hot oil. Fry 4 at a time until deep golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a half sheet pan lined with a cooling rack and topped with a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all falafel have been cooked. Serve on warm pita.

CRISPY FRIED FALAFEL

Steps:

• In a bowl add broad beans and chick peas then pour water into the bowl to cover the beans. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and all them to soak overnight.
• Drain the broad beans and chick peas then remove and discard shells.
• Place beans in a large food processor, add parsley, mint, coriander, onion, garlic, dried coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne and salt. Process until it's all chopped up and mixed.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add bicarbonate of soda. Knead the combine thoroughly, cover with cling wrap and leave to rest in fridge for about one hour.
• After one hour make patties. To do this mould the mixture into walnut size ball and then flatten it slightly, place it on a tray. Repeat step until mixture is complete.
• Heat the vegetables oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Once heated gently lower the patties into the hot oil in batches, (patties will be delicate and may not hold its shape). Deep fry for about five to six minutes, once cooked place them on clean paper towels to drain oil. Repeat step until all patties have been cooked.
• Serve the falafel either hot or cold and enjoy.

FALAFEL-FRIED

Steps:

• Soak garbanzos overnight in 2 liters of water.
• Next morning, drain.
• Place in a large pot, cover and water, add 1 Tbs salt and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Drain and allow to cool Soak the cracked wheat in hot water for 20 minutes.
• Drain and set aside.
• Put in food processor as follows: Place garbanzos in container and process until finely chopped.
• Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Peel the onion, cut into chunks and place in container along with parsley and garlic.
• Process until finely chopped.
• Add onion mixture and cracked wheat to garbanzos in mixing bowl.
• Stir in lemon juice and spices, mixing well.
• Add bread crumbs until mixture is firm enough to hold a shape.
• Shape mixture into 1" balls.
• Fry in deep hot oil until light brown and crisp.

AIR FRIED FALAFEL

Steps:

• Dry chickpeas on paper towels. Place onions and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add parsley, scallions, cilantro, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes. Process until blended, 30 to 60 seconds, then add the chickpeas and pulse 2 to 3 times until just blended, but not pureed. Sprinkle in flour and baking powder, scrape the sides of the bowl down with a spatula, and pulse 2 to 3 times.
• Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, covered, 2 to 3 hours.
• Form the falafel mixture into 12 balls; if mixture is too sticky add some flour to your hands and your work surface.
• Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) according to manufacturer's instructions. Spray falafel with cooking spray.
• Cook in the preheated air fryer until golden brown, about 14 minutes, turning halfway through.