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The Healthy Falafel Recipe You Have To Try

Healthy Falafel Recipe

Falafel is a Middle Eastern food that originated in Egypt. Falafel is made up mostly of ground chickpeas, although traditionally it was made up of fava beans.

Falafel is most commonly served in pita bread with hummus, or on a bed on the salad with tahini sauce or as part of a mezze.

Healthy-Falafel-Recipe

Is falafel healthy?

Chickpea falafel is good for you because chickpeas are packed with vitamins and minerals. Their health benefits include being high in protein, improving digestion, aiding weight management and decreasing the risk of disease. Because it is high in protein, falafel is also a great meat replacement for vegetarians and vegans.

How to make falafel: healthy falafel recipe

You can make falafel at home with this easy-to-follow recipe.

Ingredients (serves 20 falafel balls):

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas
  • 1 ½ large onion, chopped (1 for garnish)
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 green capsicum, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon dried red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Vegetable oil
  • 4-6 teaspoon plain flour
  • Pita bread
  • Tahini sauce

Method (prepare the day before):

  1. In a large bowl, put the dried chickpeas and cover with water so that the chickpeas are submerged by at least 2 inches. Leave to soak overnight. (You can also make falafel with canned chickpeas.)
  2. The next day, blend together the chickpeas, chopped onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, hot red pepper and salt.
  3. Add the baking powder and plain flour to the mix so it’s no longer sticky.
  4. Using your hands, make 20 round balls out of the mixture.
  5. Put the balls into the refrigerator and let cool for 3 hours.
  6. In a large wok, heat the vegetable oil and lightly fry the falafel balls for a few minutes on each side, until brown.
  7. Serve by putting the falafel into pitas, and garnish with chopped onion, tomato and tahini sauce.

Cooking falafel is so easy that anyone can do it! Try it for yourself and indulge in the traditional Middle Eastern cuisine at home!

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Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

5 Examples of Lebanese Street Food That You Want Right Now

Street food has been part of Lebanese cuisine for thousands of years and is particularly popular during summer when the streets of every city and town in Lebanon are filled with the aroma of fresh, healthy food and the sounds of families, friends and travellers enjoying it together. While our cuisine has evolved considerably over the past few decades, the following can all be considered genuine Lebanese street food classics.

Whether you need a healthy meal in a hurry or you are just looking for something tasty for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is hard to beat Lebanese street food.

Shish kebabs

These highly portable meals are easily among our most delicious and famous foods. The most traditional Lebanese version is made using lamb that is marinated in a mix of garlic, salt, pepper and your choice of spices, before being skewered along with vegetables such as capsicum, onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, then grilled. Not only are shish kebabs the perfect food to eat on the go, but they make a fantastic addition to any summer barbecue.

best lebanese street food in sydney
CC image courtesy of Charles Haynes on Flickr http://bit.ly/1NFs4CD

Shawarma

These classic Lebanese wraps can be found everywhere from Beirut to Brisbane to Bangkok. Shawarma is essentially a type of pita-based sandwich that contains strips of thinly sliced marinated meat that has been slow roasted for hours on a vertical skewer. Lamb is the most common meat of choice in Lebanon though chicken, beef or even goat are sometimes used. These delicious strips of meat are paired with ingredients such as lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles and a drizzling of tahini in a fresh baked pita.

awesome lebanese street food
CC image courtesy of Basher Tome on flickr http://bit.ly/1L9FKzE

Falafel

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian of just a fan on delicious food, a freshly made falafel wrap will hit the spot every time. The star of the show is obviously the falafel balls themselves, which consist of soaked and ground chick peas that are mixed with spices such as coriander, cumin, garlic and chili, before being formed into balls and fried. A handful of these delicious morsels are then wrapped in a fresh pita with lettuce, onions, pickles, peppers and, of course, a drizzle of tahini, creating a healthy, tasty and filling meal that is perfect for any time of day.

lebanese street food inner west

Kebbeh

Not only is kebbeh considered Lebanon’s national dish, but it has been eaten in this part of the world for thousands of years. Kebbeh is made from burghul (a type of cracked wheat), diced onion, ground meat (usually lamb), chopped pine nuts and an array of spices that range from salt and pepper to cumin, cayenne and cinnamon. These ingredients are thoroughly combined and sometimes eaten raw, though it is more commonly formed into small cylinders, fried and eaten with a side of hommus.

best lebanese street food newtown

Kafta

Meat lovers looking for a delicious street food will fall head over heels for kafta, which scholars believe was introduced to Lebanon thousands of years ago by the ancient Persians. While there are countless different versions, kafta most commonly features ground lamb, beef or chicken that is seasoned to perfection, then formed into cigar shaped cylinders, skewered, and cooked over an open flame. You can eat your kafta straight off the skewer or remove it and wrap it in a pita with your favourite salad ingredients.

examples of lebanese street food

Whether you need a healthy meal in a hurry or you are just looking for something tasty for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is hard to beat traditional Lebanese food. To get a taste of Sydney’s best Lebanese cuisine, drop by Manoosh or order from us online – you will not be disappointed.

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Blog Lebanese Food Traditional Ingredients

Have you Fallen for Falafel?

Falafel

If you have recently fallen for falafel you are certainly in good company, as this delicious treat has wooed millions throughout the years. Here is a brief look at how it all began as well as what makes falafel so special.

fallen for falafel manoosh pizza sydney
CC image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons http://bit.ly/1ibjJui

While there are many who can make a tasty falafel, few can match the fresh, healthy and authentic Lebanese version.

What is falafel?

If you are one of the few who have never eaten falafel, prepare yourself for a new favourite food. Lebanese falafel is made from chick peas which are soaked, ground and mixed with spices, such as cumin, chili, garlic and coriander. This mix is then formed into balls or patties and fried. Falafel balls can be eaten on their own, with a side of hommus or tabouleh, or as part of a full sized meal – the most popular approach is to stuff them inside a pita with a salad and a drizzle of tahini on top.

Falafel’s ancient roots

Everyone from Palestinians to Indians to Israelis claim to have been the first to eat falafel and considering that its main ingredients have been around for thousands of years it is little wonder that so many have developed such a strong affinity with this popular food. However, falafel almost certainly originated in Egypt, where it was first known as ra’amia and was made using fava beans rather than chick peas. Many believe that is was Egyptian Christians who created falafel, using it as a meat substitute on days when their diet was restricted by their religious beliefs.

manoosh pizza sydney best takeaway
CC image courtesy of James Gallagher on Flickr http://bit.ly/1IXs9e7

The perfect snack

Apart from being delicious, falafel is fast, cheap and healthy, making it the ideal snack food. While it takes quite a few hours to soak the chick peas, cooking falafel is extremely quick, making it very attractive for those looking to save money on fuel. Furthermore, its core ingredients are not only inexpensive, they are easy to transport and can keep for long periods of time without spoiling. Best of all, falafel is high in protein; it contains carbohydrates, fibre and an array of vitamins and minerals as well, including potassium, magnesium and folate. Falafel is also low in fat, salt and cholesterol.

fallen for falafel manoosh takeaway pizza
CC image courtesy of Vera Yu and David Li on flickr http://bit.ly/1VMmIaH

A global phenomenon

From its humble beginnings in ancient Egypt, falafel quickly spread throughout the Middle East and beyond. Ancient sailors are credited with the early rise in falafel’s popularity, many of whom would have stocked up on falafel in the port city of Alessandria and taken these tasty treats with them as far as Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. The popularity of falafel in Israel is attributed to the influence of Yemeni immigrants during the 1950’s, while places like Australia have their Lebanese born citizens to thank for this delicious treat. Nowadays you can find falafel almost everywhere, from Brisbane to Baghdad to Boston.

While there are many who can make a tasty falafel, few can match the fresh, healthy and authentic Lebanese version. If you have fallen for falafel and are looking to indulge your newfound love, stop by Manoosh or order online, we’d be happy to prepare this delicious and healthy Lebanese food for you!