Chickpea Falafel – Authentic Mediterranean recipe

Chickpea Falafel is a crunchy, spicy and protein-rich food that is considered a staple Middle Eastern dish and popular street food around the world. Falafel brings together a combination of flavors from the herbs and spices added. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, falafels are commonly stuffed into pita bread along with hot sauce, tahini sauce, and a combination of tomato, lettuce, cucumber, onion, parsley, and yogurt. Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both along with fresh herbs and spices. Falafel is commonly served in a pita, which acts as a pocket or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers). Falafel is a protein-rich food and is considered a national food in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. The dish is now popular in many countries including North America. The increasing trend of vegetarianism has made falafel very popular among vegetarians and vegans, as an alternative to meat-based street foods. Falafel can now be found around the world as a replacement for meat and as a form of street food. The main ingredient for Falafel is Chickpeas. Chickpeas are soaked overnight, then ground together with various ingredients such as parsley, cilantro, onion, chilies, and garlic. Spices such as cumin and coriander are added for flavor. The mixture is shaped into balls or patties and deep-fried. I have tried multiple recipes and customized the ingredients and proportions to create perfect falafels that are loved by my friends and family. I am also sharing two other recipes on my website for “Tahini Sauce” and a simple “Mediterranean Salad”, which are the perfect complement to Falafel as a side or to make “Falafel Pita sandwiches”. Please click on these links for recipes.

1. Recipe for Tahini sauce: Sesame seed dip for pita bread, or a topping for salads and sandwiches. A traditional dish from the Eastern Mediterranean, Israel, and parts of North Africa.
2. Recipe for Tzatziki sauce/dip  - A creamy, fresh, and aromatic dip from Mediterranean cuisine, that is made with fresh herbs, olive oil, spices, and yogurt.
3. Recipe for Simple Mediterranean Salad Recipe for vegans – made with Olive oil, tomatoes, parsley, and cucumbers.
4. Falafel gyros recipe - A traditional Greek dish adapted for vegetarians, falafels wrapped in pita bread with a topping of veggies and Tzatziki sauce.

I hope you will find this recipe helpful and tasty. Please rate this recipe. If you have liked it, please share it with your friends. For more updates on new recipes, please subscribe with your email ID.