Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What are vegan falafels made of? ›

What are the ingredients? Traditionally, falafel is made from dried chickpeas and/or includes fava beans. I opted for a more simple version, using canned chickpeas so you don't have to wait for the chickpeas to soak overnight or worry about not being able to find ingredients.

They have to have enough fresh herbs and onion. Too much onion and your falafel will have a bad after taste. Too little and they won't be as moist and fluffy as they should be. It's all about balance.

Falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, sometimes both, plus fresh herbs and spices. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food sold from vendors or fast-casual spots in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel, where it's the national dish.

Falafel is a deep-fried vegetable ball packed with savory Middle Eastern herbs and spices. While there are myriad regional variations to this basic recipe, nearly all forms of falafel are vegan and contain no animal products.

Traditionally, falafels were deep-fried in lard or some kind of animal fat, but this is not so common anymore. Falafel is more often fried in vegetable oil and it's so easy to simply ask directly if the oil is vegetable or from animal fat.

Chickpea Flour - Chickpea flour firms up as it heats - making it a fantastic binder - it's also yellow in appearance, so your senses won't get confused. Use for: Burgers, falafel, pancakes, flatbreads and scones. How much: 1 egg = 3 tbsp chickpea flour + 3 tbsp water.

Baking soda — It may seem odd to add baking soda to a savory recipe, but it helps keeps the interior texture of the falafels fluffy.

Baking soda and powder: Baking soda breaks down and softens the chickpeas as they soak. Baking powder, mixed in just before baking, makes the falafel light and airy.

Turns out that dried chickpeas are essential to good falafel. See, canned chickpeas have already been cooked. Starch molecules within them have already burst and released their sticky contents, much of which get washed away in the cooking liquid, leaving the remaining chickpeas with very little clinging power.

There are three types of falafel--Traditional falafel, baked falafel and lemon falafel. “Where the traditional falafel is the basic fried falafel comprising a mix of chickpeas, onions, garlic, herbs and spices, baked falafels are made using fresh herbs in the chickpea mixture,” says Chef Sati from Ophelia.

Is falafel good or bad for you? ›

Chickpeas in falafel contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, B vitamins and folate. They are full of antioxidants and are useful in fighting diseases. Of course, we emphasize again that you try to prepare it at home and do not fry it. If it is fried, its fat and calories increase and the food is no longer so healthy.

Testing showed the E. coli in the falafel was closely related to the bacteria found in case-patients meaning that after months of persistence, Michigan investigators had found the likely source of this multi-state outbreak, and a recall was issued.

While, according to author Claudia Roden, falafel was “never specifically a Jewish dish” in Syria and Egypt, it was consumed by Syrian and Egyptian Jews, and was adopted in the diet of early Jewish immigrants to the Jewish communities of Ottoman Syria.

Pareve and Halal

In the Mediterranean, many staples in both Muslim and Jewish tables of the period were pareve. This includes falafels and hummus, which are made of chickpeas, salads, and flatbreads. All pareve foods would count as halal regardless.

With its sweet, nutty flavor and creamy texture, tahini is undeniably a tasty vegan addition to most recipes. But it's also pretty good for you, too. That's because, like most seed- and nut-based butters and dips, it's rich in heart-healthy, monounsaturated fats.

Yes, falafel is a good source of protein. It's primarily made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, both of which are rich in protein, making falafel a suitable option for vegetarians and vegans looking to increase their protein intake.

Falafel is high in many micronutrients and a good source of fiber and protein. As such, it may help curb your appetite, support healthy blood sugar, and lower your risk of chronic disease.

Is Falafel Always Vegan? Falafel is almost always vegan. But they're often served in a wrap and the sauces added may not be vegan as they are sometimes yogurt based. But the falafels themselves are vegan.

Turns out that dried chickpeas are essential to good falafel. See, canned chickpeas have already been cooked. Starch molecules within them have already burst and released their sticky contents, much of which get washed away in the cooking liquid, leaving the remaining chickpeas with very little clinging power.