Healthy Living (Eating Right) - Falafel Recipe

Since 2012 started people have vowed or resolved to lose weight and eat healthier. However, many of them fail with this resolution because they either 1. Lack the drive and determination to keep up with it. 2. Get bored with the workout routines they're doing 3. Say they don't really have the time  4. Get frustrated with food choices they believe they have.  With eating I really had to expand my palate to try new dishes from other cultures that I found to be healthier than some American cuisine. 

I've always tried different cuisines, but never thought to incorporate them into my everyday healthy eating. So I went on a search to find the recipes for some of the dishes I tried from other cultures.  One of my favorites is Falafel, it's said to be a Middle Eastern as well as a vegetarian food since it has not meat.  The only bad thing about Falafel's is that they're usually fried, but there are recipes for baked falafel.

So here is a recipe so you can make your own falafels at home.  Now, since trying this recipe I have tweaked it a bit and changed some of the seasonings, but I'm going to share the original recipe here:




FIRST: WASH YOUR HANDS, gotta add that!! :-)

Ingredients:

• 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (I used dried parsley flakes)
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 3/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (did not use salt, I rarely ever use straight salt when I cook)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• oil for frying (I used vegetable)

Preparation:

Combine chickpeas, garlic, parsley, onion, coriander, cumin, in medium bowl. Add flour and combine well.

Mash chickpeas, making sure to mix ingredients together well. You can also combine ingredients in a food processor. You want the result to be a thick paste.

Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten.

Fry in 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees until golden brown (2-5 minutes).

  Here are your ingredients  

 Here are you drained chickpeas

Add in your garlic

Next add in your parsley

Next add in your coriander

Then add in your cumin, I didn't have a 3/4 teaspoon so I just used half of a 1/4 teaspoon.

Add in your flour

Lastly, add in your minced onions

Here is everything all added in

Now you're going to mashed it all together.  I used a potato masher, you can use a food processor.

Take some of the mixture and form them into ping pong size balls or bigger if you would like, then drop into your hot oil ( I used a fry daddy) and cook for the 2 to 5 min.

Once done, drain them on a paper towel and then enjoy. 

I had these in a Mediterranean Veggie wrap which includes hummus, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach all on a spinach wrap.  I love hummus and will be sharing a recipe for that soon. The next time I am going to try them on a pita.

I hope you try this because it can be a great substitute for meat in your diet or at least some meat!!  LOL

TTYL!!!