One of my all time favorite lunch and/or dinner meals, hands down, is falafel. Since eating more plant-based, falafel is my go-to to bulk up my meals and add more flavor and variety to my dishes.
Falafel is typically a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas. It is a traditional Middle Eastern food.
Instead of deep frying these pups, I stick mine in the oven #healthified. I enjoy my falafels with some hummus, pickled veggies & in a pita, which acts as a pocket; all the YES! Count me in.
I wanted to share my recipe with you so you can make these balls of deliciousness at home.
There are quite a few ingredients, but this recipe includes everyday spices that you most likely already have in your cupboard. You won't believe how easy these are to make!
The quantities below will make about 18-20 falafel balls.
The ingredients you will need:
1 white or red onion
4 cloves of garlic
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup oat flour
1 bunch of parsley or cilantro
1 can (15 oz) of black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can (15 oz) of garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Place oven to 450 F. Then, place the white or red onion, garlic, lemon juice and parsley in a food processor until liquid consistency.
2. To the liquid mixture add in the black beans, garbanzo beans and all seasonings -- mix on high in the food processor until all the ingredients are combined.
3. Pour the wet mixture into a large bowl, then mix in the oat flour and stir until well combined.
*You can make oat flour by placing 1 cup of whole oats into a food processor and placing on high for about 2 minutes.
4. Using your hands, roll mixture into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Place balls the oven for 20 minutes. Remove after 20 minutes and flip the balls. Place back into the oven for another 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
falafel is another food that is extremely diverse and good with just about anything!
A few ways I would recommend utilizing the falafels would be:
In a pita with arugula, tomato, onion, pepper and avocado (as pictured)
On top of a bed of spinach & veggies
Falafel stuffed peppers
Taco style
Mix it up & make it your own dish!
What is your favorite way to enjoy falafel? Let me in the comment box below.
Health Benefits from the ingredients in falafels:
Black beans improve heart health, anticancer properties, relieve digestive issues, control blood sugar
Cilantro promotes detoxification, helps reverse candida, boosts immunity, reduces inflammation, supports bone health
Garbanzo Beans support satiety, weight loss & blood sugar regulator, aid digestion, lower cholesterol
Garlic boosts immunity, reduces blood pressure, promotes detoxification & heart health
Lemon promotes detoxification, boosts immunity, reduces inflammation
Onions boost immunity, promote heart health, reduce risk of cancer
Parsley improve bone health, protect against chronic diseases, and provide antioxidant benefits
Turmeric reduces inflammation, alleviates symptoms of arthritis, boosts liver function, lowers cholesterol
xoxo Holly
Comments