Falafel Recipe and
Best Oil for Deep Frying

A falafel recipe was probably created back in Ancient Egyptian days, but no one knows for sure.

What is a falafel? A falafel is usually a fried ball or patty of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) and/or fava beans.

However, you can also make a healthier falafel recipe (not to mention easier - no oily mess to clean up ) by baking your falafel instead of frying them.

If you insist on deep frying your falafel recipes, one of the best oils for deep frying is expeller-pressed coconut oil. This coconut oil can take the heat unlike a lot of the other oils.

How to Make Falafels

What is a Falafel?

Falafels are actually the national dish of Israel, but it has been said that it originates from Ancient Egypt.

Egyptians tend to use fava beans over chickpeas to make this dish. Although, using chickpeas and fava beans together is also a great idea.

Falafels are usually served in pitas along with vegetables and some kind of sauce like tahini.

Modern day falafels are typically a mixture of chickpeas, onions, garlic, herbs, and spices.

How to Soak & Cook Chickpeas aka Garbanzo Beans

  1. Soak 1 to 2 cups of Dried Organic Chickpeas (overnight in filtered water - a few inches above the dried chickpeas)
  2. Drain the soaking water and add the soaked chickpeas to a pot - cover with filtered water (a few inches above the chickpeas).
  3. Bring up to a boil and then lower the heat - simmer for approximately 1 1/2 hours (with the lid ajar) and until the chickpeas are tender.
  4. Finally, drain the cooking liquid and let the chickpeas cool before using in a falafel recipe.

It's much cheaper and healthier to prepare your own chickpeas to use in your baked falafels.  1 cup of dried chickpeas makes about 3 cups of cooked chickpeas.

I would soak the beans overnight instead of using the quick method for better health. 

How to Make Falafels - Baked Falafel Recipes

Ingredients:

  • 15 oz. Can Garbanzo Beans or Chickpeas (drained & rinsed)
  • 1 cup of Organic Parsley & Cilantro (rough chopped)
  • 1 med Organic Yellow Onion (chopped)
  • 2 to 3 Organic Garlic Cloves
  • 2 Tbsp. of Organic Flour
  • 1 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1 Tbsp. of Organic Lemon Juice
  • 1 tsp. of Cumin Powder
  • 1 tsp. of Ground Coriander
  • 2 Tbsp. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp. of Sea Salt (or to taste)

Instructions:

Put the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until a crumbly mixture is formed - transfer to a bowl.

Then roll mixture into golf ball sizes and flatten them. 

Place falafels on a greased baking tray and brush with olive oil.

Bake falafels at 350 to 400 degrees F for approximately 20 minutes. 

Be sure to flip the falafels half way through to cook evenly - bake until golden brown.

Baked Falafel Recipe - Gluten Free

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of Cooked Organic Garbanzo Beans or Chickpeas
  • 1/2 to 1 cup Organic Yellow Onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 to 4 Cloves of Organic Garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 to 1 cup of Organic Fresh Parsley, Cilantro, & Mint (finely chopped)
  • Organic Ground Spices like Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, and Coriander Seeds (to taste)
  • 1 tsp. Baking Soda
  • Sea Salt (to taste)
  • 4 to 6 Tbsp. of Organic Gluten Free Flour

Instructions:

Mix everything together in a large glass mixing bowl with a hand mixer.

Let mixture sit in your refrigerator for an hour.

Use an ice cream scoop and scoop the falafel mixture onto an oiled baking tray.  And flatten falafels to 1/2 inch thick.

Bake at 350 to 400 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes (flip at the half way mark).

Bake until golden brown and enjoy in pita bread along with tomatoes and a sauce.

The Best Oil for Deep Frying

Coconut oil is a saturated fat and is much safer to fry foods than using vegetable oils.

This oil does not oxidize or break down like the polyunsaturated or the monounsaturated oils tend to do.

Coconut oil is even safer than olive oil.  However, use a good quality expeller-pressed coconut oil for frying - an organic brand.

Vegetable oils like corn, soy, or canola are the worst oils to fry with - as they will become very volatile when you cook with them.

And most of these oils are way too high in omega 6 fatty acids which are too abundant in our diets these days.  Most of us need to cut way down on omega 6's.

They can be responsible for a long list of health problems when you consume too much - especially in the form of volatile vegetable oils.


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