Crock Pot Falafel

   It smells like falafel , tastes like falafel, and is crispy like falafel ... It must be falafel- 

but this falafel is made in the crock pot!

What a great idea! Who would have ever thought you could make falafel in a slow cooker?? Well, I'm for anything that I can make in the slow cooker or crock pot. It makes my life easier, is a fast clean up, and frees up my time. 

I love falafel, but I don't like to fry or eat fried foods. This is a perfect solution !

Ok, mine don't exactly look like falafel. But when you pull the balls apart, it really does look and taste exactly like falafel . You will never know the difference ( and you might actually like it more)

This recipe is really delicious. Obviously it wasn't my idea. 
I found this recipe where I find many of my crock pot recipes on 
a fabulous blog called a Year of Slow Cooking.

I used her basic recipe but added some of our own preferences: grated carrot, sesame seeds, fresh herbs instead of dried herbs, and omitted some spices.

My results came out kind of like a pull apart pie because I made 2 layers in the crock pot it started to mold together; However, the balls pulled apart well once cooked and tasted great!

The following recipe is my version of the original recipe that I made from Stephanie's recipe at:  Year of Slow Cooking. 


Judee Algazi
Prep: 20  minutes
Slow Cooker Cook Time: 3 hours
Adapted from: A Year of Slow Cooking.

Ingredients:

3 cups of cooked chickpeas, drained or 1 large can chick peas, drained
1/2 onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 small carrot shredded
2 teaspoons of sesame seeds
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons ground cumin
a  shake of garlic powder, salt , pepper to taste
Juice from 1 lemon
3/4 cup of gluten free breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons of olive oil.

Directions:

Place all ingredients except olive oil and GF bread crumbs into a food processor. Pulse and process until mixture is smooth. Pour into a bowl,  add GF breadcrumbs, and mix well by hand. Make into golf ball sized falafel balls. Spray each ball with olive oil spray.  Add 2-3  T of olive oil in the slow cooker. Place falafel balls in the slow cooker. Turn on high for about 3 hours until crispy. ( Trust me it works).

I couldn't help peeking at the balls every half hour. I took a picture after about 1 hour  I noticed the crock pot became somewhat scorched on the side  from the oil. I let them continue to cook for the full 3 hours.When I first removed the falafel  from the crock pot, I have to admit that the falafel balls looked funny because they looked like a pie. But they smelled amazing.

After just one bite, my husband said, " Wow," " this is really good; make this again" . 
What else is there to say?

Eat with a gluten free wrap or on a plate. ( If you are not gluten free enjoy with pita bread)
Top with humus, Greek yogurt, Tsaziki, etc.

Step by Step Pictures




Mix drained chick peas, onion, parley, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic powder in the food processor. When done mix in breadcrumbs by hand.

Form into golf sized balls

                         Looked like a pie, but pulled apart into little falafel balls! Yum ..

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