Spicy falafels

Spicy falafels

Cheap and dead easy to make - stuff them into pittas with salad, or serve with couscous and houmous

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6

Easily doubled

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Ready in 20 minutes
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Method

  1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan, then fry the onion and garlic over a low heat for 5 mins until softened. Tip into a large mixing bowl with the chickpeas and spices, then mash together with a fork or potato masher until the chickpeas are totally broken down. Stir in the parsley or dried herbs, with seasoning to taste. Add the egg, then squish the mixture together with your hands.
  2. Mould the mix into 6 balls, then flatten into patties. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, then fry the falafels on a medium heat for 3 mins on each side, until golden brown and firm. Serve hot or cold with couscous, pitta bread or salad.

Per Falafel

105 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 8g, fat 6 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 2g, sugar 1g, salt 0.27 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2006.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2007-11-15 09:42:41.439161

    caroline rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Ours didn't end up looking much like falafels (very light coloured) and were very crumbly but they tasted great.

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  • 2007-11-23 14:40:19.048995

    PoppyD rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I added more cumin and used fresh corriander but I was very impressed with this recipe. I think the main thing is to taste the mixture (before you add the raw egg!) and see if it suits your tastes. The falafels held together very well. Mmmmm

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  • 2007-11-29 14:51:05.18144

    Nicola rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Likewise, the falafel were very crumbly and didnt bind very well. Possibly better deep fried so they are cooked all over - not as healthy though! Taste was great though.

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  • 2008-01-15 15:22:26.357356

    Alastair rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Vary tasty although I agree with the comments about crumbly teture but I overcame this by adding roasted aubergine or roasted pepper and it was much smoother.

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  • 2008-02-22 12:16:25.002368

    Suzanne rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I added chopped mint and coriander to these falafels, as I had it in the fridge, which gave them a lovely fresh flavour, plus a squeeze of lemon juice to lift the flavour a little. I also rolled the falafels in sesame seeds before frying, which gave them wonderful extra texture. I agree with the other reviewers that they were pretty crumbly, so take care when turning them over in the pan. If you cook them, then set them aside and re-heat in the oven before serving, they tend to hold together better. Delicious in a tortilla wrap with chilli sauce, yogurt, salad and sliced red onion. Veggie kebab heaven!

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  • 2008-04-06 16:34:41.062013

    Judie Holliday commented on this recipe

    I added a squeeze of lemon juice, some fresh chilli (fried with the onions and garlic) and some fresh coriander and then whizzed it up in my mini processor. The mixture was quite wet rather than crumbly but it fried up nicely into patties. Lovely in a wrap with salad and yoghurt.

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  • Binder photo Jon

    2008-07-17 14:12:51.470913

    Jon commented on this recipe

    Add some bread crumbs to help bind the mixture and place them in the fridge for an hour and they wont break up

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  • 2009-01-03 21:12:24.180593

    lady_v rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    tried this recipie for the first time and really liked it- my patties crumbled at the first attempt but leave to fry for 2 mins each side and they stay pretty solid. I also added a red chilli, fresh mint, coriander, a slpash of lemon juice to the mixture, and plenty of salt and pepper. We had them with pitta bread, salad, natural yoghurt dip with mint, cucumber and coriander and also the beef tomoato stuffued with cous cous recipie.. absolutely delicious! mmm

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  • 2009-01-08 10:01:27.777527

    flubbles1982 rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I amended this recipe slightly, I didn't have an onion (disorganised I know) but I did have a leek! I figured that it might work as they are both alliums, and it did. Then I didn't bother mashing this in a bowl, I added all the ingredients into a food mixer and it produced a much finer falafel which I prefer. Also I added a pinch of paprika and hot chilli powder. I then shaped these into 12 mini falafels instead of 6 large ones and found them much easier to turn in the pan. If you let them get quite dark before turning them it makes it much easier. I served them cold in half a pitta with garlic mayonnaise and cucumber and tomato. I have the left-overs for my lunch today. Yum Yum! Will definitely make again!

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  • 2009-01-24 17:59:15.267081

    Emmie rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Very easy to make although I'd put in the food processor next time rather than mashing. Was a very wet mixture but just about held up when cooking. I may try adding some lemon or lime juice as per other suggestions to make it a little more interesting. Went well with chilli jam and yoghurt but not enough wow factor to try again for a while.

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  • 2009-01-25 13:47:13.89958

    PolyVinylBride rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    It came out really runny, so when I tried frying them they were pretty much a disaster! I then baked them the next day hoping to rescue them and yes they came out crispy and lush. I love them in tortillas with sour cream and salad.

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  • 2009-02-04 12:19:43.717654

    flubbles1982 commented on this recipe

    Just another update! I made these again last night and I decided to mash the mixture (couldn't be bothered to get out the food processor wash it etc) and it was very wet compared to when I blitzed it in the food mixer. I will definitely use the food mixer next time.

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  • 2009-02-07 19:22:44.003075

    Leamac83 commented on this recipe

    Made these as the recipe stated and they worked out great. Used spray oil to fry them to cut the calories even more. Totally delicious!! Lunchbox fave!

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  • 2009-02-18 13:19:50.268203

    gemprimmer rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I baked mine in the oven instead and they came out great.

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  • 2009-03-08 16:22:22.822125

    Mhairi rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I used the food processor and some breadcrumbs to help bind it. Chilling them for half an hour seemed help them retain their shape. I was missing some spices so just added what I had like paprika and chili. Very yummy

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  • 2009-04-16 14:00:37.002644

    trixyvixy rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Really liked the flavour of these. Added cayenne pepper and salt as i followed Poppy's tip to taste before adding egg. Aslo fried the onion in garlic oil. Will make again!

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  • 2009-04-24 09:37:20.666369

    Yvonne rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    made these last night,mixture v wet.put in the fridge for awhile but still difficult to handle!made into 8 balls and baked on an oiled tray for 25 minutes-gas 4/180c looked very rustic!but yummy with basmati rice salad houmous and raita.

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  • Binder photo Rob

    2009-04-25 09:22:15.849095

    Rob rated and commented on this recipe

    1 stars

    Couldn't get on with these. Tried varying levels of seasoning but couldn't get past the fact that they just tasted like beans. Maybe I'm spoilt with supermarket instant falafel and this is what they *should* taste like ;)

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  • 2009-04-30 11:40:19.70791

    miniminx commented on this recipe

    i loosely used this to make my own falafel recipe, which traditionally includes fava beans or broad beans - i used tinned broad beans. used the blender to mush to a smooth paste and took out the egg, added lemon juice, coriander and parsely. rolled into balls, covered in sesame seeds and baked in the oven! easy, tasty and healthy...but a bit dry, so make some mint/yogurt dip and enjoy!

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  • 2009-05-25 20:39:00.811684

    Lisa commented on this recipe

    add flour! just made them with probably about 2 tablespoons of flour and they stayed together much better (and also cayenne pepper as i like it spicy!)

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6

Easily doubled

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 10 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Ready in 20 minutes
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion , finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 400g can chickpeas , washed and drained
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander (or use more cumin)
  • handful parsley , chopped, or 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 1 egg , beaten
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Per Falafel

105 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 8g, fat 6 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 2g, sugar 1g, salt 0.27 g

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