What does a falafel consist of?

chickpeas
Falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, sometimes both, plus fresh herbs and spices. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food sold from vendors or fast-casual spots in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel, where it’s the national dish.

Is falafel good or bad for you?

Falafel is high in many micronutrients and a good source of fiber and protein. As such, it may help curb your appetite, support healthy blood sugar, and lower your risk of chronic disease. Yet, it’s typically deep-fried in oil, which raises its fat and calorie content.

Is falafel made with raw chickpeas?

The key to great falafel is to soak the dried chickpeas, but grind them while they’re still completely raw. Because the chickpeas need to be totally raw before the falafel balls are formed, the standard quick-soak method of bringing the beans to a boil and letting them sit for an hour will not work with this recipe.

What type of food is falafel?

Street food
Falafel/Type
falafel, a staple Middle Eastern dish—and a popular street food around the world—that consists of fried spiced balls or patties of ground chickpeas or fava beans (or a mixture of both) stuffed into a pita or wrapped in laffa bread with hot sauce, tahini sauce, and generally some saladlike combination of tomato, lettuce …

What does falafel taste like?

So, what does falafel taste like? Though the ingredients in it may vary, traditional falafel has a slightly crunchy texture and a rich, savory, grainy, and herbaceous flavor, consisting of many herbs and spices including coriander, cumin, parsley, and mint.

Can Vegans eat falafel?

Is Falafel Always Vegan? Falafel is almost always vegan. But they’re often served in a wrap and the sauces added may not be vegan as they are sometimes yogurt based. But the falafels themselves are vegan.

What does a falafel taste like?

Why is falafel called falafel?

The word ‘falafel’ can be traced to the Arabic plural of ‘filfil’, meaning ‘pepper. ‘ A suggested Coptic origin notes ‘pha la phel’ (Φα Λα Φελ), meaning ‘of many beans’.

Is falafel like hush puppies?

Falafel is chickpea based fritter with a texture similar to American hush puppies – crispy on the outside, soft in the middle.

How do you eat falafel?

The most common way to eat falafel is in a pita with garnishes of tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled onions. Finally, the sandwich is topped with hummus, tahini, and/or spicy sauces.

What are the health benefits of falafel?

Health Benefits of Falafel. Falafel is bean-based, so it provides all the benefits of beans! It provides the filling, satisfying part of chickpeas in addition to being a high quality protein. Falafel has an Amino Acid Score of 111, which means that is a complete/ high quality protein. For people looking for a low fat/low calorie protein source,…

How do you make a falafel?

Directions In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine chickpeas, garlic, shallot, parsley, cumin, coriander, and flour and season with salt and pepper. Blend until mixture resembles a thick paste. Form mixture into falafel balls. In a shallow pot, heat 1” vegetable oil.

What do you eat with falafel?

Falafel-Spiced Roasted Chickpea Salad. Dig into this exciting salad with falafel spiced,roasted chickpeas and a generous drizzle of tahini dressing.

Are falafels healthy for You?

A falafel basically consists of chickpeas, which is a healthy source of protein and fiber. They have a low glycemic index, which means that they don’t raise the blood sugar levels. A single falafel patty has 57 calories.