Homemade Falafel

Beetlebum

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if this seems like a nutrious low fat dinner to you guys. I made it last night and it was devine. It seems way too tasty to be healthy!

Falafel - I blended 1 can of chickpeas, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, baby spinach, half an avacado and added loads of spices, cumin, cayenne pepper and chilli powder. I rolled in a small bit of flour and fried in a small amount of olive oil. I then popped it into the oven for 15-20 minutes.

I made 3 bigish balls of it and had with some shop bought hoummous, some greek yogurt and an avacado & spinach salad.

It was amazing, one of the nicest dinners I've ever had.

I'm just crosinng my fingers that it's not high in fat...

Pembily

Beetlebum wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if this seems like a nutrious low fat dinner to you guys. I made it last night and it was devine. It seems way too tasty to be healthy!

Falafel - I blended 1 can of chickpeas, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, baby spinach, half an avacado and added loads of spices, cumin, cayenne pepper and chilli powder. I rolled in a small bit of flour and fried in a small amount of olive oil. I then popped it into the oven for 15-20 minutes.

I made 3 bigish balls of it and had with some shop bought hoummous, some greek yogurt and an avacado & spinach salad.

It was amazing, one of the nicest dinners I've ever had.

I'm just crosinng my fingers that it's not high in fat...

OHMYGOD - I am in heaven - have been looking for a nice tried recipe for ages for Falafel!!! Thanks so much :):) :D:D Defo going to try that!!!

K can't say caloires or fat but my thoughts are:
Chickpeas - per 100g 109kcal and 1.5g sat fat - not bad at all and quite high protein so all good
Onion - its vegish so grand!
Garlic - great natural antibiotic but probably not that potent as its cooked but not bad!
Baby spinach - good green leafy veg so defo not bad but can't think what i
Avacado - is kinda fatty but its all good fat and defo needed so thats great too :)
Spices - nothing bad really fat wise
Olive oil - once you only use a small amount its like avacado its good fat

Overall the recipe is good, thanks

corkcomp

that looks the business! I must try that when I get a chance!

Beetlebum

Aw thanks guys, my friend who's a Chef gave me the recipe.

It is absolutley amazing and so easy to make. I just roughly chopped the garlic and onion and threw it in the blender with the chickpeas & spinach. The spinach gives it a vibrant green colour. I also added coriander.
It really is fantastic. After every bite I was moaning..mmmmmm...gooood...mmmm...hee hee enjoy!

Sapsorrow

That meal sounds RIGHT us my street! Very healthy, only thing is maybe go for regular natural yoghurt, the greek stuff is more fattening as far as I know (if youre trying to lose weight that is otherwise its fine!)
Happy days falafels the best!

Beetlebum

khrystyna100 wrote: »

That meal sounds RIGHT us my street! Very healthy, only thing is maybe go for regular natural yoghurt, the greek stuff is more fattening as far as I know (if youre trying to lose weight that is otherwise its fine!)
Happy days falafels the best!

Yay!! I'm so gald it's healthy. I knew avacado had 'good' fats in it which are essential but I wasn't sure about the overall meal. I love greek yogurt so much. It's just amazing and worked well with the chilli kick from the falafel.
This is my new favourite dinner. I don't ususally like salad but even the raw spinach tasted great with a bite of falafel. I'm gushing about this dish:pac:
Defo try it!!

Leah-G1

Falafel - I blended 1 can of chickpeas, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, baby spinach, half an avacado and added loads of spices, cumin, cayenne pepper and chilli powder. I rolled in a small bit of flour and fried in a small amount of olive oil. I then popped it into the oven for 15-20 minutes

Sorry if this is a dumb question ( havent cooked spinach before) do you put the spinach in raw or do you boil it first?

Beetlebum

Leah-G1 wrote: »

Sorry if this is a dumb question ( havent cooked spinach before) do you put the spinach in raw or do you boil it first?

I bought a bag of washed baby spinach and just tore it up and threw it in.
For the salad I just ate it raw and dressed it with balsamic vinegar and lime juice. You may not like it raw so you could saute it in a little butter for 2-3 minutes if you like.

Pembily

Beetlebum wrote: »

Yay!! I'm so gald it's healthy. I knew avacado had 'good' fats in it which are essential but I wasn't sure about the overall meal. I love greek yogurt so much. It's just amazing and worked well with the chilli kick from the falafel.
This is my new favourite dinner. I don't ususally like salad but even the raw spinach tasted great with a bite of falafel. I'm gushing about this dish:pac:
Defo try it!!

Thanks for the recipe defo going to try it!!! Sorry never commented on the greek yogurt - never saw it, its higher in fat but unless you are looking to loose weight its not too bad

Leah-G1 wrote: »

Sorry if this is a dumb question ( havent cooked spinach before) do you put the spinach in raw or do you boil it first?

Baby spinach can be eaten raw :) and its noummy with rocket in a salad

mectavba

That does sound amazing thanks for sharing...

You say you threw in some flour and spices...you have any idea what quantities you put in???

fend

That actually sounds savage.... Defff giving it a whirl.
Just wondering, chickpeas... What do they taste like? Iv never actually tried them as i HATE the taste of baked beans and they strike me as being similar?

I must sound very adventurous :rolleyes: haha

Melia

fend wrote: »

Just wondering, chickpeas... What do they taste like? Iv never actually tried them as i HATE the taste of baked beans and they strike me as being similar?

Have you ever tasted hummus? It's made of chickpeas. They taste sort of like green peas, but a bit nutty - if that makes sense! I love them - I'm a vegetarian so I use them a lot instead of meat, in curry, stir fry, fajitas, stews, chili... in lots of things! They're also really nice roasted in the oven with some spices thrown over them.

Beetlebum, the falafel sounds great - how much spinach roughly do you use?

mloc

Beetlebum wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if this seems like a nutrious low fat dinner to you guys. I made it last night and it was devine. It seems way too tasty to be healthy!

Falafel - I blended 1 can of chickpeas, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, baby spinach, half an avacado and added loads of spices, cumin, cayenne pepper and chilli powder. I rolled in a small bit of flour and fried in a small amount of olive oil. I then popped it into the oven for 15-20 minutes.

I made 3 bigish balls of it and had with some shop bought hoummous, some greek yogurt and an avacado & spinach salad.

It was amazing, one of the nicest dinners I've ever had.

I'm just crosinng my fingers that it's not high in fat...

Don't worry too much if it's high in fat or not. Fat isn't bad for you, in general. It sounds great, nutritious and the fat that is in it is generally speaking "good fat".

Jammy

Mmmmmm falafels. I've only just discovered them!

I'm definitly gonna try these out, I may only have a few of the ingrediants but meh give it a try anyway! :P