Following on from making oven baked falafels this week, I, of course, then had a play with the recipe and ingredients. When I made the falafels during the week, I loved the flavours, the uncooked mixture was lovely even before it was cooked.I decided to try out the recipe again replacing the chickpeas with finely chopped cauliflower and some chickpea flour instead of standard plain flour and gluten free baking powder making the patties gluten free and low carb as something different…
So, taking Sadia’s falafels recipe, this is what I did..
Ingredients
1/2 medium cauliflower, chopped into florets
1/2 of a large onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp pepper powder
1/2 tsp red chilly powder/ cayenne
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp gluten free baking powder
3 tbsp besam/chickpea flour
Method
I chopped the cauliflower to a small crumb in my blender first, then added everything else and blended it all together. I put the mixture in the fridge for a few hours to firm up a bit, it remained pretty sloppy though.
To cook the ‘falafels’ I heated a pan over a low/medium heat and sprayed a fine mist of oil across the base of the pan.
With my hands, I formed balls of the mixture then placed them into the pan and flattened them. I cooked them until the underside started to brown then carefully turned them over to cook the other side. Keeping the heat low allowed the patties to cook through and firm up the mixture.
As above, I ate the first ones with my own harissa sauce (homemade rose harissa with extra tomato) and crumbled soft goats cheese. I finished the mixture off the next day with grated hard goats cheese..
Keeping the flavours of the mixture in mind, I decided to make some more falafels and then to utilise the flavours in a dip. Since making the first lot of falafels I had received a parcel of ingredients that I’d ordered including this falafel making tool..
Isn’t it cool? And it looks like it’s made of recycled tin cans so there’s arabic print in the inside of the cup 🙂
So this is how it works..
You fill the cup with the mixture, press it firmly into the cup then use the lever to push out the moulded falafel onto a sheet of oiled foil, lining a baking tray, ready to cook. Perfect little oven baked falafels..
Whilst making these, I made the dip: ‘spinach falafel dip’
Ingredients
200g cooked chickpeas
200g baby spinach
100g tahini
1/2 of a large onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
2-3 tbsp lemon juice, to your taste
2 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp red chilly powder/ cayenne
1 1/2 tsp salt
Water as needed
Method
Whizz it all up together until smooth, you will have to add the spinach in batches.
So this was my lunch today: falafels, crisp lettuce, carrot sticks, my spinach dip, my homous and my harissa.
Do you mind if I just say, again….I love my own food!!!! Belatedly, I am bringing this to this week’s Fiesta Friday, co hosted today by the fabulous Michelle and Juju, and hope that everyone fancies trying my concoctions.
I hope you’ve all had, or are having, a great weekend x x x
Love the combination of cauliflower and spinach! 🙂
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Thank you xx
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Oh my it’s a tool I do not have, except I have never made falafels before.. I have been known to buy a kitchen gadget just to make a recipe I liked. You come up with some of the best cauliflower recipes – thanks for sharing with Fiesta Friday!
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Ooh, I’ve got a gadget you haven’t got!!!! 😉
I’m glad you like it, thank you for co hosting cc
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love the colours again – you are the kitchen artiste I guess 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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This is so creative! I had never heard of a falafel making tool. Thanks for sharing :).
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Thank YOU 🙂
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Oh wow lovely teaming of cauliflower and spinach – looks so fresh and colourful. … yummm
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Thank you xx
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You create a colorful and delicious mezze Elaine. Have a great week! 🙂 xx
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Thank you, and you xx
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your falafel making tool is fantastic!! And it can be useful for many other mini burger style veg! Beautiful colors (a bit italian!!) and fab recipes!! 🙂 xxx
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That’s true, I hadn’t thought of that! Watch this space for more uses of my new tool!!!
Thank you xx
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I found it on Amazon.fr by the way…..I’m thinking about taking one for me….;) xxxx
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Cool 🙂 x
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How cool, these look great!! I like your falafel tool very spiffy xxxxxx
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Yay! Thank you xx
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Stunning!
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Thank you 🙂
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The colours alone are amazing!! Loving your falafel press 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Ooh these look awesome Elaine! I love that they’re gluten free too so everybody can have a taste – I know they’re going to want to! Gorgeous photos too 😀
And I love that falafel maker, so cool!
Thanks for bringing this along to Fiesta Friday 😀
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Thank you so much, Michelle, I hope you’ve enjoyed fiesta Friday xx
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What a great idea Elaine. Love it. 🙂
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Really like the falafil tool too. O too wanna have one. 🙂
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🙂 x
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Thank you xx
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