Easy Vegan Falafel Salad with Hummus

Paying homage to an age-old delicacy that has transcended into a popular street food, this Easy Vegan Falafel Salad is absolutely delicious and perfect for all occasions!

Why I Love Easy Vegan Falafel Salad with Hummus

As far as vegan chickpea recipes go, the falafel is perhaps the most popular way to eat chickpeas.

If you have never made falafels before, don’t let the long list of ingredients put you off. They are all simply added together in a food processor and blitzed until well combined.

Falafels also make for a healthy vegan super bowl recipe or any rugby and Australian rules football parties!

All you’re merely doing is shaping the chickpeas into torpedo shapes and piping hummus on the top. At the same time, you’re not compromising on taste or presentation.

It was such a fun thing to do with my daughter. Best thing is when you mess up, wipe off the hummus and try again!

What is Falafel?

Simply put, falafels are deep fried balls of ground chickpeas.

The chickpeas, and sometimes fava beans, are mixed in with a ton of aromatic herbs and spices, rolled into a ball and dropped into hot sizzling oil.

This creates a crunchy outer layer while staying fluffy on the inside.

Where Did Falafel Come From?

This is one of those age-old rivalries where different countries vie for the accolade of being the first to create the falafel.

It has been said that falafels originated from Egypt. It dates all the way back to the Christian Copts of Egyptian, where meat was forbidden to be eaten during certain holidays.

As a result of that, they wanted to come up with a suitable alternative, and hence they created these balls of goodness but from fava beans.

Jewish pioneers then took this idea back to Israel and they made their own version by using chickpeas instead. This is why you may have heard them being referred to as Israeli falafels and is a quintessential street food staple in Tel Aviv.

How to Eat Falafel?

The most common way to eat falafel is in a pita, which is why it’s such a popular street food as it’s something you can grab and run.

The pita or flatbread is used either as a pocket, a wrap, or a sandwich of which the falafels are added with some greens such as a salad, pickled vegetables and topped with hummus, tahini or even a hot sauce.

Falafel wraps are not only popular in the Middle East but also make a massive appearance in Western countries. Falafel wraps are extremely popular as this vegan chickpea recipe ticks many dietary lifestyle choices.

Falafels are also served on its own as part of a meze, a quick snack and even as part of iftar during Ramadan, which is the meal that breaks the daily fast after sunset.

How to Make Easy Vegan Falafel Salad

How To Make Falafels

Falafels may seem like a daunting thing to make, especially when you look at the ingredients.

Or you have tried falafels that are so dry and hard that you could throw it against the wall and it would bounce back!

There are a few things you need to adhere to. If you follow it properly, you will get delicious falafels that stay together when frying, are crunchy on the outside and not dry at all.

The first rule you have to follow is to make falafels with uncooked chickpeas. Sorry but as much as I would also love to, you can’t use canned cooked chickpeas.

They are too wet and will fall apart. You need to buy dried chickpeas and soak it overnight or at least for 12 hours. Place loads of water to cover the chickpeas as they expand.

Please note that you are going to grind the chickpeas uncooked so we won’t be cooking them at all until we deep fry them. So, no boiling after soaking.

After soaking, drain and place in a food processor.

For all you chickpea lovers, you can try our Baby Cauliflower and Spiced Chickpeas or Red Tamarillo Salad with Basil.

Roughly chop the parsley, coriander and onion and add with the chickpeas.

Then add garlic cloves, water, flour, cumin powder, salt, cardamom powder, coriander powder, baking powder, black pepper and cayenne pepper.

Blitz until all is well combined.

The second trick to ensuring your falafels are not dry and is fluffy is baking powder. I have tried making falafels without them, and although they don’t come out super dry, the baking powder indeed makes a massive difference.

Using your hands, make about 10-12 torpedo-shaped falafels plus 1 extra-large one.

The last trick is then to place these falafels in the fridge for 30 minutes so that it will hold its shape when frying.

In a saucepan or deep fry pan, add 2 cups of vegetable oil on medium to high heat.

Add the falafels in and fry until golden brown. Watch them carefully as it doesn’t take very long.

Remove and let rest on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

How To Make The Salad

Cut the cucumbers to about 1 cm thickness.

Slice the shallots and red radishes thinly.

Slice the green tomatoes. If you’re wondering where to buy green tomatoes, they are sometimes readily available in your supermarket or greengrocer.

Try your farmers markets too if it’s not something readily available. Otherwise, feel free to use any tomatoes of your choosing.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the mixed leaves, cucumber, shallot, red radish and green tomatoes. Add ½ tsp of olive oil, the juice of ½ lemon and some pepper to taste.

Toss until well combined.

How To Pipe Falafel Footballs

Put a 1-2 tbsp of hummus into a zip lock bag or piping bag with a tip that has a very small opening. If using a zip lock bag, cut a very small hole at one of the bottom corners.

Select 3-4 of your best-looking falafel plus the extra-large falafel. Pipe the hummus gently with one long vertical line down the length of the hummus and 3 short lines horizontally to resemble the lace of the football.

Don’t overthink it. It’s just a bit of fun and no doubt your family and friends will love it!

Get the kids involved. If you want to turn all of the falafels into footballs, go for it! Watch who wins the fight for the large one!

How to Assemble the Salad

Using a big platter, place the mixed salad and spread out evenly.

On one side of the salad, place all the remaining hummus in a heap. Using the back of a spoon, press down in the centre of the hummus and make circular motions to create a well.

Add 2 tsp of olive oil in the centre of the hummus well.

Pick 3-4 falafels, break in half and place around the salad.

Place the rest of the falafel around the rest of the platter.

Season with pepper to taste.

Serve.

As far as Super Bowl or football salad recipes go, we think this is pretty cool! Falafels are a great snack alternative, so if you want, you can just make the falafels and pipe it for everyone to grab and run! Football or not, this is a great salad to have.

You can have it as a meal on its own, a mid-week alternative and most definitely when you’re entertaining. Either way, enjoy!

That’s all!

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