A Vegan Feast, Fit for a Weeknight
Ever noticed that the best vegan recipes are the ones that are sort of accidentally vegan—as in, no ingredients posing as a faux version of something meaty or cheesy? Falafel is just exactly that kind of meal—these crispy fried balls of herby, mashed chickpeas are really, really good and just happen to naturally be vegan. Filling, delicious and virtuous—who doesn’t love that?
💌 Let's Stay Together
There are so many great ways to receive all of our latest recipes, meal tips, and inspiration.
What Is Falafel?
Inexpensive to make and super high in protein (thanks, garbanzo beans!) falafel is a Middle Eastern street food that’s been popular for hundreds of years. Traditionally loaded with fresh herbs falafel balls are made from smashed chickpeas, and can be spiced with various Middle Eastern spices (cumin is usually in the mix). The herbs—usually parsley and cilantro, but sometimes mint is included—make the falafel balls speckled with a brilliant bright green on the inside, and a nice deep-fry makes them crispy and golden on the outside.
TMP Falafel Ingredients
We don’t mess with perfection—classic falafel balls are what we’re after, so classic falafel ingredients are what we’re using for this recipe. The baking powder may look a bit out of place, but it’ll help to keep the falafel airy and light on the inside. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chickpeas
- Onion
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Cayenne
- Cumin
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Flour
How to Make Falafel
Homemade falafel is surprisingly easy. The most tedious part is simply rolling the falafel balls and that’s not even too hard—just put on your favorite podcast and call it ‘me time’. Or gather the whole family and make an assembly line! Either way, at the end of it all there will be falafel, so everybody wins! Here’s how to make falafel:
- Pulse the chickpeas, onion, garlic and herbs until the mixture looks kind of like super chopped nuts (you don’t want a paste).
- Dump the chickpea mixture into a bowl, and stir in the baking powder, flour and spices.
- Make the falafel patties. You want them to be about two tablespoons each.
- Fry the falafel! Put that deep-frying thermometer to work! Carefully fry the patties in batches in 3” of oil, heated to 350°F.
- Eat the falafel! The best part, obviously.
What To Serve With Falafel:
It just so happens that we’ve got three delicious sauce and dip recipes that pair beautifull with falafel! Any one of these would pair perfectly with the homemade falafel, or you could make all three for a true Middle Eastern feast.
- Tahini sauce
- Tzatziki sauce
- Hummus
- Warmed pita bread (this one is a must!)
Tools You’ll Need:
More Easy Vegan Recipes:
- Vegan Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Tofu Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce
- Cauliflower Curry
- Lentil Soup with Quinoa and Mushrooms
Love It?
Let us know! Snap a photo of your golden, crispy fried falafel, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!