The Best Falafel Recipe – Vegan & Zero Points!!

Falafels were something I discovered during Veganuary.  I’ve been addicted to them since my first bite.  They make an excellent lunch or dinner.  A falafel is a middle eastern food made from blended chickpeas and seasons with spices.

Chickpeas

I really haven’t experimented much in cooking with chickpeas.  They’re so versatile, packed full of nutrients and really inexpensive.  The mature beans are usually cooked and eaten in salads, stews or curries.  It’s also common for them to be ground day and made into other things, for example, the mighty falafel, or turned into flour.  Sometimes chickpea flour is called Gram flour.  If you follow Weight Watchers, chickpeas are zero points thanks to their new updated Flex plan.

On To The Recipe! (Serves 3)

400g can chickpea, rinsed and drained

garlic clove, chopped

a handful of parsley

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1⁄2 tsp harissa paste or chilli powder

2 tbsp plain flour

2 tbsp sunflower oil (if you’re following Weight Watchers, this is the only ingredient you need to track – maybe try it out with spray oil for zero points?

1 small red onion, roughly chopped

Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Drain and rinse your chickpeas. Pat chickpeas dry with clean tea towel.

Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend into a smoothish paste.

Shape the mixture into 6 patties.

Heat the oil in a frying pan.

Cook the falafel patties for around 3 minutes on each side.

Serve with some salsa and salad in pittas, or try them in a burger.
Enjoy!

I have mine in pitta bread smeared with homemade salsa and a tonne of salad on the side.  My best friend has hers with yoghurt.  These would also make great burgers in a bun or just with a salad on their own.  I really enjoy them however they’re served.

Weight Watchers Flex

If you follow the recipe exactly as I’ve written, it works out to three points per serving for the falafels.  If you tweak the recipe and use spray oil, you can make them zero points.  Yummy!!

I’ve made a recipe card for you below if you want to see it without the photos.

You can read my other food-related posts here.  Thanks for reading,