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(Serious Eats)   Subby has had a major falafel craving and have never made them before. Any suggestions on how to skip the deep frying and get any sort of crispness on them?   (seriouseats.com) divider line
43
    More: Misc, Chickpea, Cooking, Iron, Falafel, Cookie, Hot sauce, Sandwich, Tahini  
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316 clicks; posted to Food » on 18 Mar 2023 at 6:40 PM (8 days ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



43 Comments     (+0 »)
View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest
 
dionysusaur [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 5:23:00 PM  
Air fry them?
 
no1curr [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 5:30:09 PM  
Microwave them on high for 40 minutes
 
yohohogreengiant [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 5:32:31 PM  

dionysusaur: Air fry them?


You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.
 
BenSaw2 [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 5:33:41 PM  
A quick search yields recipes (https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-chickpea-patties-with-cucumber-and-tahini-4621832 )  - no experience myself, though.

/ I'm sure the antifalafal gang will be along soon
// seriously saw something like that earlier today on the Twitter
 
RaceDTruck [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-03-18 5:48:56 PM  
Air fryer falafel
Linky
 
WickerNipple [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-03-18 6:12:07 PM  
If you do them flat instead of ball shape you can fry them in a very shallow amount of oil.
 
syrynxx [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-03-18 6:40:51 PM  
Concur wet not canned. Air fryer.
 
flucto
2023-03-18 6:49:40 PM  
boil until crisp. trust me.
 
flucto
2023-03-18 6:52:10 PM  
is it the word "deep" that bothers you because you could just pan fry them.
 
There are some who call me Tim
2023-03-18 6:56:56 PM  

WickerNipple: If you do them flat instead of ball shape you can fry them in a very shallow amount of oil.


That is what I was going to do however while I never made true falafel, I have made chickpea "burgers" before (so essentially the same thing).   They were delicious but a mess texturally.  I was just trying to avoid that but I'm guessing I either has too much moisture in the patties or I didn't use enough oil.
 
middleoftheday [OhFark]
2023-03-18 7:06:47 PM  
You know what some thread here was slapfighting about weight vs. volume vs. whatever in recipes... this one has it exactly right.  It's not even a recipe where all that is particularly crucial but it has every possible option.  You can do it in grams or milliliters  just one sloppy generous cup of whatever.
 
There are some who call me Tim
2023-03-18 7:07:19 PM  

flucto: is it the word "deep" that bothers you because you could just pan fry them.


Mainly  trying to go for healthier options.  I always have plenty of olive oil around so pan frying would definitely work.  Was thinking of a combo of baking/broiling but I suppose there needs to be some oil in there so I don't think I'll go that route afterall.
 
There are some who call me Tim
2023-03-18 7:19:36 PM  

yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.


I think I may have used the canned variety when I made my chickpea "burgers" and yeah it was a hot mess.  I wasnt looking for anything super crisp by any means but weird fried hummus sums it up exactly what I ended up with
 
Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadu
2023-03-18 7:25:30 PM  

There are some who call me Tim: flucto: is it the word "deep" that bothers you because you could just pan fry them.

Mainly  trying to go for healthier options.  I always have plenty of olive oil around so pan frying would definitely work.  Was thinking of a combo of baking/broiling but I suppose there needs to be some oil in there so I don't think I'll go that route afterall.


Honestly, if you want the falafel from Kenji's recipe, you're only going get it with pan/deep frying. They're delicious.

Using an air fryer will get you an ok result, but not the deep brown crisp exterior that frying will.

If you're really looking to avoid the oil involved with frying, then I'd fins more of a fritter recipe that you can saute in a pan. I'm not sure Kenji's recipe will work for that though since it's a very loose mix and would probably fall apart.
 
Vlad_the_Inaner
2023-03-18 7:49:52 PM  
watchingthewheelsdad.files.wordpress.comView Full Size
 
Lish
2023-03-18 7:50:31 PM  
Nothing quite beats the results from deep-frying, but I have had better success with air-frying (or convection baking, an air fryer is just a small convection oven) by spritzing the exterior with oil. Gets more crispy that way.
 
NINEv2
2023-03-18 8:02:07 PM  

Vlad_the_Inaner: [watchingthewheelsdad.files.wordpress.com image 400x214]


Ohai!
 
Bruscar
2023-03-18 8:17:49 PM  

There are some who call me Tim: yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.

I think I may have used the canned variety when I made my chickpea "burgers" and yeah it was a hot mess.  I wasnt looking for anything super crisp by any means but weird fried hummus sums it up exactly what I ended up with


Textural mess or not, y'all have more advanced cooking skills than I do. I just buy boxed falafel mix. I add water, stir, start heating the oil. Let the mix sit 10 or 15 minutes. Shape it into patties and fry it. I've never made falafel from scratch. I always imagined it required grinding dried beans into meal, processing that somehow, and then adding seasoning.
 
yohohogreengiant [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 8:39:54 PM  

Bruscar: There are some who call me Tim: yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.

I think I may have used the canned variety when I made my chickpea "burgers" and yeah it was a hot mess.  I wasnt looking for anything super crisp by any means but weird fried hummus sums it up exactly what I ended up with

Textural mess or not, y'all have more advanced cooking skills than I do. I just buy boxed falafel mix. I add water, stir, start heating the oil. Let the mix sit 10 or 15 minutes. Shape it into patties and fry it. I've never made falafel from scratch. I always imagined it required grinding dried beans into meal, processing that somehow, and then adding seasoning.


Dude it all goes in the blender except if you want a "binder". The blender don't give a shiat about anything. Nice tool, that blender.

I get the stuff out of the blender, add just a little liquid maybe if needed, put it in a bowl and add a couple spoons of flour (you can also buy bonzo flour to stay gluten free) and mush iat all together. It helps keep it all together but makes it a little more fritterish.

This allows for the flat little nuggets and less oil that they're talking about up thread.  You should chill it for a bit to let it form up before frying.

I always have shallots or red onion and parsley in the blend. It helps tie the room together
 
Tarl3k
2023-03-18 8:46:31 PM  

yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.


Yup, you don't need to deep fry.  Just a pan fry in a little bit of oil in a cast iron pan will do it.  I used to make chicken and waffles all the time, and that was the technique I used for finishing them.  Deep frying doesn't have the concentrated heat to get that super crispy skin. ;)
 
flucto
2023-03-18 9:23:36 PM  

There are some who call me Tim: Mainly trying to go for healthier options.


I applaud that. I'd still fry them. Mmmm
 
Kirkenhegelstein [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-03-18 9:33:28 PM  
Kenji's recipe is the one I use.  Also make the zhuug and the tahini sauce.
 
qlenfg
2023-03-18 9:42:53 PM  
Cat turds dusted in flour and popped into the air fryer?
 
Chenopod [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 9:52:46 PM  
Falafel waffles.  In oiled waffle iron.  Either a regular one or a mini wafflemaker.  Really crisp and waffly.  The aroma pulls people out of the back of the house. There are any number of recipes on the web, and the one for mini waffle makers works just fine.
 
middleoftheday [OhFark]
2023-03-18 9:57:02 PM  
...waffly
 
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
2023-03-18 10:03:18 PM  

WickerNipple: If you do them flat instead of ball shape you can fry them in a very shallow amount of oil.


In the past when I've seen people make them, a sort of oval shape about the size of a fast food hash brown patty worked the best.  But there's not getting around having to fry them - it just isn't texturally right otherwise.  Air frying I can't speak to not having tried it
 
luna1580 [TotalFark]
2023-03-18 10:04:25 PM  

Chenopod: Falafel waffles.  In oiled waffle iron.  Either a regular one or a mini wafflemaker.  Really crisp and waffly.  The aroma pulls people out of the back of the house. There are any number of recipes on the web, and the one for mini waffle makers works just fine.


i've made these with boxed mix and a mini waffle iron, in my "will it waffle?" frenzy of acquiring said mini waffle maker for 10 bucks. they came out delicious!

the air fryer recipe upthread looks legit, mediterranean dish is a good food blog
 
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
2023-03-18 10:09:25 PM  

luna1580: Chenopod: Falafel waffles.  In oiled waffle iron.  Either a regular one or a mini wafflemaker.  Really crisp and waffly.  The aroma pulls people out of the back of the house. There are any number of recipes on the web, and the one for mini waffle makers works just fine.

i've made these with boxed mix and a mini waffle iron, in my "will it waffle?" frenzy of acquiring said mini waffle maker for 10 bucks. they came out delicious!

the air fryer recipe upthread looks legit, mediterranean dish is a good food blog


I'd never considering trying it - interesting
 
There are some who call me Tim
2023-03-18 10:11:52 PM  

Chenopod: Falafel waffles.  In oiled waffle iron.  Either a regular one or a mini wafflemaker.  Really crisp and waffly.  The aroma pulls people out of the back of the house. There are any number of recipes on the web, and the one for mini waffle makers works just fine.


That is brilliant.  I'm definitely going to try this out.   I'll still fry some in a cast iron pan as well but I definitely need to use my waffle iron more and that sounds like that should do a good job.
 
olrasputin
2023-03-18 10:18:57 PM  
*scans thread*

*ctrl+f "fawaffle"*

Really guys? You were so farking close.

Fawaffle.
 
Nicki Minaj's Cousin's Friend's Swollen Testicle
2023-03-18 10:25:38 PM  
Liquid nitrogen.
 
cSquids
2023-03-18 10:29:56 PM  

yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.


Not that I am endorsing this mind you, but you can get canned ones to work with enough flour as a binder, this is why so many recipes for falafel have flour in them.
 
cSquids
2023-03-18 10:32:27 PM  
I haven't tried this one but I would like to at some point, Egyptian falafel apparently use fava beans which gives it a different texture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdGMnAt2sRY
 
skyotter
2023-03-18 10:32:48 PM  
Waffle maker.
Fark user imageView Full Size

Waffle falafel.
 
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
2023-03-18 10:34:21 PM  

skyotter: Waffle falafel.


Aww c'mon, fawaffel was right there ;p
 
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
2023-03-18 10:34:55 PM  

Some Junkie Cosmonaut: skyotter: Waffle falafel.

Aww c'mon, fawaffel was right there ;p


But my typing skills weren't as usual.  Fawaffle, he spelled out carefully.  Far too late of course
 
NINEv2
2023-03-18 11:09:43 PM  

Some Junkie Cosmonaut: skyotter: Waffle falafel.

Aww c'mon, fawaffel was right there ;p


Fuhwerfuh!
 
baxterdog
2023-03-19 12:18:06 AM  

Some Junkie Cosmonaut: skyotter: Waffle falafel.

Aww c'mon, fawaffel was right there ;p


I'm more into Falawaffle.

Remember, I made this up. It came from Fark, Mr. Eater or Vice "journalist."
 
Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadu
2023-03-19 1:24:25 AM  

Bruscar: I always imagined it required grinding dried beans into meal, processing that somehow, and then adding seasoning.


I've never tried a mix, but if it's being ground down into a meal then that doesn't sound like very good falafel.

There's a more in-depth explanation linked in the article, but the ingredients should be somewhat chunky and loose.

Fark user imageView Full Size
 
animal color
2023-03-19 1:46:18 AM  
This is the recipe we use, which is similar to Serious Eats but better. It only requires a food processor.

We've used it so often that we now puree the beans using the largest setting on a meat-grinder. Makes getting the right texture simple.
 
nakmuay
2023-03-19 2:50:20 AM  
berryhilldrip.comView Full Size
 
Some Junkie Cosmonaut
2023-03-19 4:16:18 AM  

NINEv2: Some Junkie Cosmonaut: skyotter: Waffle falafel.

Aww c'mon, fawaffel was right there ;p

Fuhwerfuh!


Ermahgerd fuhwerfuh?!
 
Ker_Thwap [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2023-03-19 8:06:45 AM  

Bruscar: There are some who call me Tim: yohohogreengiant: dionysusaur: Air fry them?

You can try air frying. You can try baking.

Fried in oil is the best. Made it just last night.

Remember, dry beans that are soaked. If you use canned beans you end up with weird fried hummus.

I think I may have used the canned variety when I made my chickpea "burgers" and yeah it was a hot mess.  I wasnt looking for anything super crisp by any means but weird fried hummus sums it up exactly what I ended up with

Textural mess or not, y'all have more advanced cooking skills than I do. I just buy boxed falafel mix. I add water, stir, start heating the oil. Let the mix sit 10 or 15 minutes. Shape it into patties and fry it. I've never made falafel from scratch. I always imagined it required grinding dried beans into meal, processing that somehow, and then adding seasoning.


I didn't let the mix sit for 15 minutes once, it was all crumbs.  Don't be like me.
 
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