How to Make Chef John's Falafel - A Step-by-Step Guide

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor, falafel is a beloved Middle Eastern dish that has gained popularity all around the world. Made with chickpeas, herbs, and spices, falafel is a delicious and nutritious option for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. And nobody does it quite like Chef John's version of falafel.

Chef John's falafel recipe is a labor of love, combining traditional ingredients and modern techniques to create a truly exceptional dish. The...

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry garbanzo beans
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • ½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or more as needed
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • oil for frying

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Additional Time: 12 hrs
  • Total Time: 12 hrs 30 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • Place garbanzo beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 12 to 24 hours. Drain.
  • Blend garbanzo beans, onion, parsley, garlic, flour, lemon juice, salt, cumin, coriander, baking soda, and cayenne pepper together in a food processor, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary, until mixture is finely ground and holds together when pressed. Transfer garbanzo mixture to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until flavors blend, 1 to 2 hours.
  • Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Divide dough into 12 portions and roll each with moistened hands into a ball.
  • Working in batches, cook falafel balls in hot oil until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
  • Nutrition

    271 cal.

    • Total Fat: 17g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Sodium: 646mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 24g
    • Dietary Fiber: 7g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 7g
    • Vitamin C: 11mg
    • Calcium: 55mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 366mg