Falafel | Imamother

Mrs. XYZ

Tue, Nov 25 2008, 1:19 pm

Aren't the bought ones deep fried? Does it come out the same if its pan fried? (I guess it doesn't come out round)

gryp

Tue, Nov 25 2008, 1:40 pm

Thanks, Defy, for this. You just made my easy supper into a cheaper supper. Smile

(Excuse my crude peasant language, but I just couldn't call falafel "dinner." Wink

)

Raisin

Tue, Nov 25 2008, 3:29 pm

I love homemade from scratch falafel. I think when I made them, if I dipped them in flour they datyed together better.

btw the best falafel I ever had was in paris. A little store in the rue des rosier. I think I have to go back there just to get some more! Really good falafel, fresh yummy salads. mmmmmmm.

maybe I'll make falafel tomorrow.

Did anyone try baking this recipe?

DefyGravity

Tue, Nov 25 2008, 3:30 pm

Yes, please note that you may need to add more flour. I think I usually use around 2 tablespoons, but it's very possible you'd have to add more.

justmom

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 10:55 am

Defy-- please help--I think I really messed up-- first of all--thanks, they were delicious and so fast and easy-- but I fried them in oil kind of like shnitzel and they all fell apart (I had 14 servable balls and made a double batch)-- was it supposed to be more of a less oil, pan fried type of thing?

wanderer

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 10:58 am

I wanna make this! About how many balls/patties do you get from your recipe Defy?

gryp

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:15 am

I also have falafel crumble. Sad

Was I not supposed to drain the chickpeas or something like that?

justmom

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:23 am

I know-- the batter seemed a little dry to me-- maybe you're right and we were supposed to leave the water in?

DefyGravity

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:26 am

No, I don't leave the water in. I knead the dough with all the ingredients until it's not crumbly.

I use not so much oil in a non stick pan.

I looked the recipe over carefully and definitely didn't leave anything out. As of now, I've made the recipe many many times and this is exactly what I follow, and the falafel never crumbles at all.

justmom

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:31 am

Are they more croquette looking, or smaller? And sorry to be a nudge, but how much oil and how long on each side-- my family really loved the taste and I'd love to do it right next time.

DefyGravity

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:42 am

I've made them all sizes, sometimes large like veggie patties, and sometimes falafel sized - but flatter.

I use around 2 tbsp oil, and add more as it gets absorbed.

I think the most important part is to knead it well at the beginning.

Mrs. XYZ

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:42 am

I haven't tried it yet, but looking at the recipe, I'm also wondering how it keeps together with any eggs? Every latke or patty recipe has eggs in it to keep it from falling apart. So what is the trick here?

DefyGravity

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:46 am

There are not supposed to be eggs in the recipe. I was skeptical when I first made them and almost added eggs b/c I didn't see how they'd stay together otherwise, and they were fine.

I adapted my recipe from a recipe on recipezaar.com and the recipes I saw there did not use eggs.

Here's a recipe I found online, maybe play around with this one:
Ingredients:
1 cup dried chickpeas or 16 oz. can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans.
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons flour
Salt
Pepper
Oil for frying

gryp

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 11:52 am

I'll try again next time and knead it better. We don't mind falafel crumble as long as it tastes good. I just like my food to come out perfect, at least the first time I try a new recipe..

DefyGravity

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 12:10 pm

When it's brown on one side, you flip it. I don't know the exact amount of time.

Mrs. XYZ

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 12:48 pm

I've been looking online, and found some tips which might help.
Using a food processor, rather than doing it by hand, will mix it better and make it more pasty.
Put the mixture in the fridge for a few hours before frying.
Adding more flour (and some places did mention adding an egg)

Raisin

Wed, Nov 26 2008, 2:20 pm

falafel is a popular vegan food, thats probably why most recipes have no eggs.