Falafel Day

Falafel Day

Falafel Day is June 12, a day set aside to celebrate the delicious falafel. This Middle Eastern dish is made of chickpeas, herbs, and spices, and it's perfect for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Whether you're enjoying a falafel wrap or salad, there's no doubt that this delicious food is a crowd-pleaser.

All About Falafels

Falafels are a popular Middle Eastern dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas or fava beans. They are often formed into small patties and deep-fried, but can also be baked. Falafels are usually served with a tahini sauce and some type of flatbread, such as pita.

There are many different ways to make falafels, and each cook has his or her own special recipe. However, there are some common ingredients that are used in most falafel recipes, such as chickpeas, fava beans, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, and coriander.

To make falafels, the beans are soaked overnight and then ground into a paste. The paste is mixed with the other ingredients and formed into small balls or patties. The falafels are then deep-fried or baked until golden brown.

Falafels are a very versatile dish and can be served in many different ways. They make a great appetizer or main course, and can be served with a variety of dipping sauces. Try serving them with tzatziki sauce, hummus, or a yogurt-based sauce. For a heartier meal, serve falafels inside pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Enjoy!

There are many different ways to make falafels, but the following recipe is a basic falafel recipe that can be easily adapted to your own taste.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried chickpeas or fava beans
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Soak the beans in water overnight. Drain and rinse the beans.

In a food processor, combine the beans, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. Process until the mixture forms a thick paste.

Add the flour and process for 1 minute.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Scoop 2 tablespoons of batter into the hot oil for each falafel. Fry the falafels for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

Drain the falafels on paper towels and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

This recipe makes about 12 falafels.

If you want to make baked falafels, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a baking sheet and scoop the batter onto the sheet, making small patties. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve as directed above. Enjoy!

For a vegetarian option, you can substitute the chickpeas or fava beans with cooked, mashed potatoes. Just follow the recipe as directed above. Enjoy!

How to Celebrate Falafel Day

There are many ways to celebrate falafel day with friends. One way is to make a giant falafel dish. This can be done by layering several smaller falafel patties on top of each other. Another way to celebrate is by eating falafels in different ways; eat them as a sandwich, in a wrap, or on their own. Get creative and make falafel-themed foods such as falafel pizza or falafel nachos. Whatever way you choose to celebrate, make sure to enjoy some delicious falafels!