Dairy-Free Emirati Spiced Chickpea Fritters (Falafel)

Ingredients

• 1 cup Dried Chickpeas
• 0.5 cup Fresh Cilantro
• 0.5 cup Fresh Parsley
• 1 small Onion
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 1 tsp Coriander
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 0.5 tsp Turmeric
• 0.25 tsp Cardamom
• 0.5 tsp Baking Soda
• 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black Pepper
• 2 cups Vegetable Oil

Instructions

1. 1Place the 1 cup of dried chickpeas in a large bowl and cover them with plenty of water. Let them soak for at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. 2Drain and rinse the soaked 1 cup of chickpeas very well. Place the drained chickpeas into a food processor.
3. 3Add the 0.5 cup of fresh cilantro, 0.5 cup of fresh parsley, 1 small onion (peeled and roughly chopped), and 3 cloves of garlic (peeled) to the food processor with the chickpeas.
4. 4Add the 1 tsp of coriander, 1 tsp of cumin, 0.5 tsp of turmeric, 0.25 tsp of cardamom, 0.5 tsp of baking soda, 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp of salt, and 0.5 tsp of black pepper to the food processor.
5. 5Process the mixture until it is finely ground but still has a slightly coarse texture, like coarse sand. Be careful not to over-process into a paste. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
6. 6Roll the chickpea mixture into small balls, about 1-inch in diameter, or flatten them into small patties. You should have about 16-20 fritters.
7. 7Pour the 2 cups of vegetable oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
8. 8Carefully add 4-5 falafel at a time to the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 3-4 minutes, turning them occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides. They should sound crisp when they hit the oil.
9. 9Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked falafel from the oil. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining falafel.
10. 10Serve the Dairy-Free Emirati Spiced Chickpea Fritters warm.

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