Falafel is considered to be a Middle Eastern “street food.” Deep fried and wrapped in pita, these tasty morsels have less than stellar nutritional stats due to the method used to cook them. I have done you a favor and lightened them up by baking them, which eliminates a great deal of calories and fat. What this means is you can go balls to the wall and enjoy even more!
The almost traditional part is due to the fact that the binder in traditional Falafel is an egg, and mine are VEGAN! :)
My Falafel is a garbanzo bean patty that offers a punch of flavor from lots of fresh parsley, mint, onion, and spices. I cut down on calories and fat by baking them, but do not lose any of the flavor! Wrap them in a warm, toasted pita with hummus and tahini, garnish with a cucumber/onion salsa, and devour!
These balls will easily be your new best friend. Promise ;)
Ingredients
15 oz chickpeas, soaked and rinsed
1 large bushel of parsley (about 2 cups non-chopped)
¼ c fresh mint (non-chopped)
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 tbls fresh lemon juice
1 flax egg (3 tablespoons water plus 1 tablespoon flax seed )
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 rounded tsp cumin
1.5 rounded tsp coriander
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp cayenne
¼ tsp smoked paprika
1 tbls EVOO
1 tsp baking powder
1 c plain bread crumbs, roughly
Pre-heat oven to 350. Grease baking sheet with EVOO
Blend in food processor or blender: parsley, lemon juice, flax egg, garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, cayenne, and smoked paprika
Add chickpeas, mint, and onion and pulse until coarser texture is achieved. DO NOT puree.
Transfer to bowl and add baking powder and breadcrumbs. Only add enough breadcrumbs to hold the mixture together
Using ice cream scoop, two spoons, or hands, portion out 2 tbls sized balls and place on greased cookie sheet
Bake for half an hour until golden brown the bottom
Look at all of that gorgeous, fresh parsley
Be sure to pulse this mixture, not puree
Add baking powder in and then add bread crumbs in small amounts until consistency is not too dry, but holds together
Form your balls
DEVOUR over and over again!
Hurry! Brighten up your day with Falafel balls! :)