5-ingredient falafel

Name: 5-ingredient falafel
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 4-5 (makes 20)
Cuisine: middle eastern
Ingredients: 125g dried chickpeas; 1/2large onion roughly chopped; 3 garlic cloves crushed; 1/2 tbsp ground coriander; 200ml olive oil

2.65 (27)

⏱ 20 mins 🍽 Serves 4-5 (makes 20) 🌶 middle eastern ✅ Easy 🏷 Snack

This straightforward recipe creates classic falafel using only five key ingredients, perfect for a Middle Eastern-inspired meal. Dried chickpeas are essential for achieving the right consistency, soaked overnight then blended with aromatics. The mixture is shaped and shallow-fried until crisp and golden. Ideal for stuffing into wraps or serving as part of a mezze spread for lunch, dinner, or a satisfying snack. The whole process takes just 20 minutes of active cooking time.

Ingredients

125g dried chickpeas
1/2large onion roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves crushed
1/2 tbsp ground coriander
200ml olive oil

Method

Place the dried chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with at least double their volume of water, leaving them to soak for 12-24 hrs. After draining, transfer them to a blender along with the roughly chopped onion, crushed garlic cloves, ground coriander, and a generous seasoning of sea salt and pepper. Process the mixture, pause to scrape down the sides of the blender, then process once more until a coarse, grainy paste forms.
Take tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture, shaping them into balls before pressing gently to form slightly flattened oval shapes. Heat ½ a cm of olive oil in a frying pan for shallow frying. Cook the falafel for about 3-4 mins on each side until they become crisp and turn a deep golden brown. Transfer the cooked falafel to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain. They are now ready to be served, perhaps tucked into wraps.