Description
Falafel with tahini sauce is a classic Middle Eastern dish featuring crispy, golden-brown chickpea balls paired with a creamy, tangy tahini sauce. This vegetarian recipe is flavorful, healthy, and versatile, perfect for a meal in pita, on a salad, or with hummus.
Ingredients
1 pound dry chickpeas/garbanzo beans (about 2 cups)
½ cup yellow onion, roughly chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
4 cloves garlic
1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ¾ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛–¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Pinch of ground cardamom
2 teaspoons baking soda mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Vegetable oil for frying
1 cup tahini sesame seed paste
¾ cup lukewarm water (more for desired consistency)
3 cloves garlic
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (or more to taste)
¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Soak the chickpeas: Place chickpeas in a large bowl, cover with about 3 inches of cold water, and soak overnight. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Prepare the falafel mixture: In a food processor, combine chickpeas, onion, parsley, garlic, flour, salt, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom. Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the baking soda-water mixture and stir. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Fry the falafel: Heat vegetable oil in a medium pot over medium heat (360°F-375°F). Shape falafel mixture into balls or patties using wet hands. Test the oil temperature with a small falafel ball. Fry in batches, about 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Prepare the tahini sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine tahini, lukewarm water, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more water if necessary.
- Serve: Serve falafel hot with tahini sauce, pita, veggies, or hummus.
Notes
- For a spicier falafel, add more cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
- For a lighter option, bake falafel at 375°F for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- For a different sauce, try a yogurt-based dressing or spicy harissa.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes to keep them crispy.
- If you don’t have a food processor, use a blender or finely chop the ingredients by hand.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying, Blending
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
