In Food

Roasted Red Pepper #HummusMadeEasy Falafel (recipe)

Author JamiePosted on Leave a comment

Disclosure: This blog is compensated by The Women Bloggers and their advertiser. All opinions and words are my own. #HummusMadeEasy

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Have you ever heard of falafel? I hadn’t until a certain ’90s movie with Freddie Prinze Jr. came out and even then, I didn’t really get what falafel was. Fast forward about 10 years and I finally got a chance to try this fried delectable treat made with chickpeas or fava beans. I’m incredibly excited to offer my first original falafel recipe using the #HummusMadeEasy product from Bush’s Beans. I thought making Middle Eastern food would be hard but with this product, it was crazy easy and even more delicious.

I’ve tried various forms including the traditional balls (they look like hushpuppies) and patties that were a vegetarian option in a sandwich I purchased. When I started thinking of ways to use the Hummus Made Easy product, I at first thought I would use the hummus as a dip for falafel or perhaps homemade chips. I then figured out that falafel is made of most of the same ingredients as hummus; it’s just in a different form! Oooohhhhh, this was going to be good.

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I wanted my falafel to be unique yet still authentic so I did some research. I realized I could any of the three forms of Hummus Made Easy, which you can get at Walmart in the canned bean section. I decided it sounded the most yummy to make the falafel out of the roasted red pepper Hummus Made Easy using reduced sodium Garbanzo (chickpea) beans.

#HummusMadeEasy comes in three varieties: Classic, Roasted Red Pepper, and Southwest Black Bean. Most people use black beans with the Southwest and Garbanzo (Chickpea) with the other two. Feel free to use any variety or combination you like.
#HummusMadeEasy comes in three varieties: Classic, Roasted Red Pepper, and Southwest Black Bean. Most people use black beans with the Southwest and Garbanzo (Chickpea) with the other two. I recommend the classic or the roasted red pepper for falafel.

 

I tried baking them and using bread crumbs instead of frying using flour but it was a disaster. My next try I pan fried using olive oil and flour as my binder and the product was amazing! I like mine plain but most will like theirs with a little bit of hot sauce. You can eat them as a finger food or in a pita with veggies.

Here’s how you can make your own! As I usually do, I write out the instructions then provide pictures below.

Ingredients

  • 1 can Bush’s reduced-sodium Garbanzo (Chickpea) beans, drained but not rinsed
  • 1 bag of Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Made Easy mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 TBP dried parsley
  • 1 TBP dried minced onion
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • Olive oil for cooking

Instructions 

  1. Stir the Hummus Made Easy package contents together with the drained beans and then blend with a hand blender or food processor until the desired consistency (I prefer to leave a bit of smaller bean chunks for this recipe)
  2. Add the flour, baking soda, parsley, minced onion, garlic powder, cumin and paprika. Taste the concoction to see if you want more paprika or cumin (note: the Hummus Made Easy is already richly flavored but that it masked somewhat by the flour. Adding these spices simply enhances what it already there.)
  3. Once you have the desired flavor, mix in the eggs
  4. Heat olive oil to about medium (I’d say about two tablespoons that will need replacing as you cook)
  5. Use a 1/4 cup scoop to drop patties in the skillet
  6. Let the patties cook on one side until they become firm on the bottom
  7. Carefully turn the patties so that the other side can cook
  8. Remove the cooked patties to a plate that is lined with paper towels to absorb some of the oil (Patties are done when there is no more “oozing” of the batter and it’s cooked through as you see below) AD_Hummus_Made_Easy_Falafel_Detail

The process in pictures: 

Place the Hummus Made Easy and the beans (drained but not rinsed) together in a bowl.
Place the Hummus Made Easy and the beans (drained but not rinsed) together in a bowl.

 

I thought it made more sense to stir the Hummus Made Easy and the beans together before blending.
I thought it made more sense to stir the Hummus Made Easy and the beans together before blending.

 

After blending the hummus, add the spices to your taste. The flour and baking soda tones down the spices that are already in the mix so all you're doing is enhancing what is already there. Wait to add the egg until you get the flavors to your liking to reduce the possibility of food poisoning.
After blending the hummus, add the spices to your taste. The flour and baking soda tones down the spices that are already in the mix so all you’re doing is enhancing what is already there. Wait to add the egg until you get the flavors to your liking to reduce the possibility of food poisoning.

 

Two eggs help bind it all together.
Two eggs help bind it all together.

 

Use a 1/4 cup scoop (or smaller if you wish to get more than 6-8 pieces) to make patties that you will cook in olive oil on the stove.
Use a 1/4 cup scoop (or smaller if you wish to get more than 6-8 pieces) to make patties that you will cook in olive oil on the stove.

 

When the one side gets firm, carefully turn the patties so the other side can cook.
When the one side gets firm, carefully turn the patties so the other side can cook. You will need to periodically replace the oil.

 

This Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Falafel is easy because of #HummusMadeEasy from Bush's Beans!

 

Have you tried the Hummus Made Easy yet? Last week, I shared my rather unique recipe for (sponsored) Southwest Black Bean Hummus Made Easy Brownie Snack Bars. You should also check out ideas from other bloggers working with this product. You can get recipes, party ideas and much more on this Pinterest board.

Let me know what you try!

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