Beetroot falafels

for 4-6 people
Jan Bilton
By
Jan Bilton

Food writer and cookbook author.

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Seed the chilli for a milder taste.

Ingredients

1small (raw) beetroot, peeled and chopped
1/2small red onion, chopped
1large garlic clove, chopped
1green chilli, chopped
1/2 cupparsley leaves, chopped
1/2 cupcoriander leaves, chopped
400g canchickpeas, well drained
1lemon, finely grated rind
1 tspground cumin
1 tspturmeric
1 tspsalt
2 Tbspchickpea flour or plain flour
1 Tbsplemon juice
1 Tbsprice bran oil for frying

Directions

  1. Place the beetroot, onion, garlic and chilli in a food processor and whizz until well chopped. Add the herbs. Process until finely chopped. Add the drained chickpeas then pulse until finely ground. Add the remaining ingredients — except the oil— and mix well.
  2. Take tablespoons of the falafel mixture and form into balls. Flatten slightly.
  3. Pour the oil into a deep frying pan — about 1cm deep. Fry the falafel in batches for about 4 minutes, until brown. Drain on paper towels.
  4. Great served hot quartered toasted pita breads together with equal amounts of tahini and yoghurt combined.