How to Make Southwestern Falafel - A Step-by-Step Guide

Falafel is a well-loved Middle Eastern dish, but in this recipe, we're putting a Southwestern twist on it to create a flavorful and unique dish that will surely become a favorite in your household. Our Southwestern falafel recipe takes the traditional falafel and adds a spicy kick with ingredients like red pepper, cumin, and cilantro, which are common in Southwestern cuisine. This dish is perfect for those looking to add a little extra flair to their dinner table, and it's also a great option...

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Ingredients

  • 1 quart vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package dry taco seasoning mix
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons peanut oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
  • 1 dash hot sauce, or to taste
  • 1 cup dry bread crumbs, or more as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Place onion, green bell pepper, egg, garlic, taco seasoning, baking powder, peanut oil, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper in a food processor. Puree until smooth.
  • Pour pinto beans into mixture and pulse until pinto beans are chopped and integrated, but not smooth.
  • Transfer bean mixture to a large bowl; stir hot sauce into mixture.
  • Stir enough bread crumbs into mixture to form a dough that holds together, but isn't sticky.
  • Form dough into quarter-sized balls.
  • Deep-fry in hot oil until falafel are deep brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    326 cal.

    • Total Fat: 19g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Cholesterol: 31mg
    • Sodium: 1354mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 32g
    • Dietary Fiber: 5g
    • Total Sugars: 3g
    • Protein: 8g
    • Vitamin C: 13mg
    • Calcium: 172mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 292mg