Healthy Harissa Falafel Patties

You can make these as regular falafel balls if you prefer, but patties are quicker and easier to cook, and are great for popping in a pitta.

You will need

For the falafels:

• 1 can chickpeas, drained, keep the chickpea water (aquafaba)
• 1 red onion, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp chickpea flour (also called gram flour or garbanzo bean flour)
• 1 bunch parsley
• 1 tbsp harissa paste
• Extra virgin olive oil for frying

For the harissa sauce:

• ½ cup crème fraîche or plant-based equivalent (you can use our Plant-Based Healthy Cream Cheese recipe and add the juice of 1 lemon)*
• 1 tbsp harissa paste (or adjust this quantity per your heat preference)

*if doing this, rather than waste the zest of the lemon, you can add the zest to the falafels if you like, but it’s by no means necessary, just an option

For serving:

• Wholegrain pitta or other flatbread (you can use our Healthy Homemade Flatbreads recipe)
• Salad (your preference; we recommend some salad leaves, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, maybe some sliced onion, that sort of thing)

Method

(we suggest you read everything at least once before doing anything)

1) Blend the chickpeas, 1 oz of the aquafaba, the onion, the parsley, and the harissa paste, until smooth. Then add in the chickpea flour until you get a thick batter. If you overdo it with the chickpea flour, add a little more of the aquafaba to equalize. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes.

2) Heat some oil in a skillet, and spoon the falafel mixture into the pan to make the patties, cooking on both sides (you can use a spatula to gently turn them), and set them aside.

3) Mix the harissa sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

4) Assemble; best served warm, but enjoy it however you like!

Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

For those interested in more of what we have going on today:

• Why You’re Probably Not Getting Enough Fiber (And How To Fix It)
• Capsaicin For Weight Loss And Against Inflammation
• Hero Homemade Hummus ← another great option

Take care!