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Felafel is a croquet-like fried ball or patty made mainly from ground chickpeas and broad beans. Felafel are made up of minced chickpeas, broad beans, coriander and garlic. Then 7 spice, cumin and salt are added to the mixture. Finally they are shaped into balls and fried. 

Felafel is commonly found in a Lebanese ‘Mezze’ and is a common snack and street food in modern Middle Eastern culture. The Felafel can be eaten on its own but in our family it’s commonly served up wrapped up in a piece of Lebanese bread with sliced tomatoes, pickles, and lettuce topped with tahini sauce.

History of Felafel

The origin of the dish again like all Middle Eastern foods is highly debated, but a few theories have put its origin in Egypt as a meal made by the early Coptic Christians as an alternative to meat. It was consumed while they were fasting from all animal products during various religious periods through the year when eating meat was forbidden.

Another theory which is not as widely accepted dates the Felafel back to Egypt’s Phararonic Period. Felafel etymology in the Coptic origin comes from a phrase “PHA LA PHEL” meaning “of many beans”, as the original Egyptian Felafel was made entirely of broad beans. Other origins for word Felafel trace it to the Arabic word “falafel” meaning pepper. It is also commonly used as the “iftar” (the meal that breaks the fast after sunset during Ramadan).

The main ingredients in the beloved Felafel have been cultivated by humankind for thousands of years. The chickpea has been grown for at least the last 11,000 years. It still grows in the wilds of Turkey and Syria till this day Some of the oldest locations for the chickpea include Tell el-Kerkh in Syria in 7250 B.C. and Akarcay Tepe in Turkey in 8700 B.C.

The Broad Bean too has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years and has been credited for being part of the eastern Mediterranean diet as early as 6000 B.C. These two main ingredients have been used in the Middle East for thousands of years so it would have only been a matter of time before someone combined the two to make a super tasty dish like Felafel.

I can speak from personal experience of eating Felafel regularly on Fridays when meat is not to be consumed by Maronite Catholics. Felafel is great dish especially for vegetarians as it is highly nutritious and extremely tasty.