Recipe

Cauliflower and seeds falafels

You'll love this twist on the classic Middle Eastern dish.

Jan 20, 2021 1:00pm
  • 1 hr cooking
  • Serves 6
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A low-carb version of the Middle Eastern falafel made with cauliflower and seeds instead of chickpeas and served with homemade hummus and salad.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (100g) pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels)
  • ½ cup (75g) sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup (35g) sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons linseeds (flaxseeds)
  • 700 grams cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • ½ cup mint leaves
    tbsp
    tbsp
  • ½ cup flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup (140g) tahini
  • 2 tablespoons psyllium husks
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • rice bran oil, for deep-frying
Salad
  • 1 small red onion (100g), sliced thinly
  • 250 grams grape tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
  • 140 grams persian fetta, crumbled
Hummus
  • 400 grams can chickpeas, undrained
  • ¼ cup (70g) tahini
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoons ground cumin

Method

  • 1
    To make salad, place onion, tomatoes and vinegar in a small bowl; stand for 30 minutes. Drain. Stir in fetta.
  • 2
    To make hummus, process chickpeas and canning liquid
    with remaining ingredients until smooth.
  • 3
    Heat a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook pepitas and seeds, stirring, for 2 minutes or until sesame
    seeds are golden.
  • 4
    Process toasted seeds with cauliflower, ¼ cup (60ml) water and remaining ingredients (except rice bran oil) until a coarse paste forms; season well. Using two dessert spoons, shape mixture into 30 falafel; place on a baking-paper-lined tray.
  • 5
    Fill a medium saucepan two-thirds full with oil, heat to 160°C (or until a cube of bread browns in 25 seconds). Fry falafel, in batches, for 5 minutes or until dark golden and cooked through. Remove falafel with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towel.
  • 6
    Spoon hummus onto plates, top with falafel and salad. Top with extra mint and parsley leaves, if you like. Season.

Notes

Psyllium husks are available at vitamin and health food stores, as well as large supermarkets.

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