Among connoisseurs, falafel is inseparably associated with Arabic cuisine. In Israel, the dish is a kind of fast food, daily appearing on the tables of people of all classes. But the difference is that falafel is much more useful than fast food, because a dish is prepared from completely different products. At the moment, his recipe is distributed around the world. By the way, many residents of Russia also love falafel. Calorie content, history, recipe and other aspects associated with this amazing dish are described in the article.
Falafel: a brief about the dish
Falafel - what is it? In appearance, it resembles cutlets, but there is no meat in the composition. In fact, these crunchy balls consist of chopped chickpeas, which are traditionally used to make them. But in our time, no one is limited to just one thing, not afraid of experiments. There are a variety of ways to serve falafel, starting from an independent dish, ending with a semblance of shawarma.
The amazing dish quickly gained worldwide recognition. Falafel is especially popular among vegetarians, since its composition is completely herbal, and the main ingredient, chickpeas, is rich in protein and other useful substances that are so necessary for people who refuse meat. The calorie content of falafel varies depending on the method of preparation, so it can be used in different situations: in the daily menu and during the diet.
Where did he come from?
When did falafel enter our lives? In Russia, unfortunately, the dish is not yet very widespread, although its composition has the simplest ingredients that are sold in the nearest supermarket. Its distribution began in Israel, Egypt and Palestine, where it is an integral part of national cuisine. There are various opinions regarding its occurrence as a dish, but many agree that it comes from Egypt. In Arabic, the word "falafel" is translated as "peppers". Perhaps it was used during Lent as an alternative to meat, or maybe it was a way out for those who could not afford meat. Due to its caloric content, falafel coped well with this role. Traditionally, the main ingredient is chickpeas, but other legumes can also play this role.
How is falafel prepared?
Even those who are not good at cooking can cope with the preparation of falafel.
- First you need to take the so-called Turkish peas - chickpeas and soak it for several hours in cold water.
- Now the chickpeas must be chopped, but it is recommended not to turn it into porridge, that is, do not try too hard.
- Seasonings and herbs are added to the resulting chickpea paste, as well as some olive oil. You can also add chopped sesame seeds mixed with a couple of drops of olive oil and pour lemon juice over it.
- Balls are formed from the finished mass, which are deep-fried in vegetable oil or in a pan.
- Sometimes flour or an egg is added to the mass instead of olive oil. This is a matter of taste, because all the ingredients are needed for better “adhesion” of the resulting mass and more convenient formation of balls.
How to serve falafel?
As already mentioned, falafel can also be used as an independent dish without any additives. In the dietary variant, the balls are usually fried in a pan without oil until a crust appears. Falafel can be served as a side dish to a meat or fish dish, season with various sauces, add ingredients to taste directly to the mass.
Sometimes falafel is made on the basis of black or white beans, in which case you need to add pre-cooked potatoes to a kind of dough. With falafel, pita and rolls are made, it is served with pita bread or vegetables, sometimes even filling is added in the form of minced meat, meat, eggs or something like that. There are so many combinations.
Falafel Rolls
Recently, falafel rolls have become widespread. It turns out almost shawarma.
- Ready falafel balls are wrapped with sauce and vegetables in pita bread, forming a roll.
- Also, carrots can be added to the falafel itself.
- Such rolls are especially popular among vegetarians, since they turn out to be very nutritious and satisfying, but at the same time they do not contain products of animal origin.
Calorie Falafel
Now that we already know how to cook this dish, it's time to touch on another important issue. What is the calorie content of falafel per 100 grams? This figure ranges from 250 to 300 kcal, depending on the ingredients and the method of heat treatment. If you do not add an egg to the mass, do not overdo it with spices and cook without oil, then the calorie content of falafel per 100 grams can even be lower than 250 kcal, which will undoubtedly please those who lose weight. But sometimes it can increase dramatically, if other products and filling are added, a lot of oil and spices are used.
Thus, the calorie content of a roll with falafel will definitely exceed 350 kcal, because pita bread, sauce and vegetables will significantly change this figure upwards. Therefore, rolls should be taken more carefully by those who follow their figure - it is much better to use falafel as an independent dish without additives. Calorie content and BJU falafel are closely related. Due to the high content of proteins and carbohydrates, the calorie content of the dish is growing. The amount of fat depends on the use of oil, and its amount can be minimized.
Falafel is a pretty versatile dish. It is high in calories to use it separately from others, but at the same time they can be pampered during the diet, if you adhere to the above rules.