Baked Falafel with Garlic Yogurt Sauce

https://thegreeneberger.com/p/recipes.html?recipe_id=6070228
Unless you’re from the Middle East or love Middle Eastern food, are a vegetarian, or self-proclaimed foodie, you may have never tasted the delightful “Falafel” before.  Falafel is a middle-eastern food made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, herbs, and spices, that are fried and served in a pita or with a sauce.  Recently, my husband and I went to a Little Lebanese restaurant by our house and had falafel as an appetizer to our meal. Quite delicious I might add.  I’ve had it out in the past, but have always wanted to make it myself, so that experience kicked me in the butt to do so.  
I have an excellent Mediterranean cookbook that features authentic recipes prepared in traditional ways. This of course was my first resource when seeking the real way to make falafel.  Unfortunately, many times in the United States (like if you purchase falafel at the grocery store), they add Panko Bread crumbs…bread crumbs, really?  It’s just like Americans to ruin a traditional dish by adding gluten instead of the appropriate ingredients.  Always liking a good ethnic food challenge, I decided to test making my own falafel, which is actually quite easy and inexpensive. So today, I’d like to share with you the recipe I made based off of authentic falafel.
Traditionally, falafel is deep fried.  However, you need a lot of oil to deep fry. Since I don’t use the vegetable oils (which are usually used due to low cost), and I don’t feel right about boiling Olive Oil (due to delicate fat structure and large amounts required for frying), and I would need a ton of coconut oil or butter, which are expensive, frying seemed a less than viable option.  I tried pan frying vs. deep frying, but the falafel are like sponges to the oil and it did not work very well…thus, baking seemed a good option. 

Basically, this is a less-expensive, easier way to make falafel, and the finished product is less oily when baked.

I would also like to point out the high fiber and nutrient content of falafel.  I had never purchased fava beans before, but they are a rich source of fiber, Folate, Manganese, Iron, and protein. Not to mention that there are many nutrients and beneficial compounds from the herbs and spices.

These little guys make an awesome snack or appetizer at your next get-together!
As always, I recommend purchasing dry beans, soaking them overnight, and boiling/cooking the next day for about 2 hours vs. buying canned.  However, you are able to use canned for the recipe, but preparing beans yourself helps remove the anti-nutrients that rob minerals from absorption.  See directions below for preparing your own beans. 

Snack Envy: Baked Falafel with Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Course Appetizers, Snack
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 30 falafel cakes

Ingredients
  

Falafel Ingredients

  • 1 small onion minced
  • 3/4 cup flat leaf parsley
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 2 cups fava beans cooked
  • 2 cups chickpeas cooked
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tsp. Himalayan salt or sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp. cumin ground
  • 1 tsp. coriander ground
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika

Garlic Yogurt Sauce

  • 12 oz plain yogurt organic, grass-fed
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
  • 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp. fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

For the Falafel

  • Use a food processor or blender to finely chop onion, garlic, parsley, and cilantro. Remove from processor to a bowl and set aside.
  • Add cooked garbanzo and fava beans to the food processor and pulse to break up. Add in olive oil and eggs and process until beans are smooth. Measure salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and coriander into mixture and pulse to combine.
  • Return onion, garlic, and fresh herb mixture to bean puree and process until mixed. Mixture will still be a little lumpy but mostly smooth and will be a light green color
  • Drop batter by heaping tablespoon onto a cookie sheet greased with olive oil.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 min or until bottoms are browned and tops are set. Flip falafel cakes and cook another 5-10 minutes or until they reach desired doneness. They should be crisp on the outside and still slightly soft on the inside

For the Yogurt Sauce

  • Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve over falafel. Store leftovers in refrigerator.