Your shopping cart is currently empty.
If this is an error, please contact us
Falafel Spice Mix
Falafel Spice Mix (pronounced fuh-laa-fl), is also called falafel seasoning, falafel spices, or falafel seasoning mix.What is a Falafel
Falafels are a common street food that is eaten throughout the Middle East. Falafels are deep-fried patty-shaped fritters or balls typically made from ground chickpeas (aka garbonzo beans), fava beans or some combination of both. Hot and crunchy on the outside, fluffy and herby within, they are enjoyed by people all across the world.Most often served inside a pita, or wrapped in flatbread, falafels are no longer simply fast food for vegetarians and vegans. The whole “sandwich” is coated with hummus, drizzled with tahini and, if you’re a fan of some additional heat, topped with a spicy sauce. Falafel Seasoning makes crafting homemade falafels much easier.
History of Falafels
Falafel has an interesting history. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this seemingly simple food, and while the origins of the dish can not be pinpointed exactly, it is an undisputed fact that this food has now crossed enough borders to be considered international fare.To try to understand falafel’s beginnings you can start with the origin of the name. Falāfil is of Arabic origin and is the plural of filfal meaning small round thing, peppercorn1. But Falafel is generally called Ta'miya or Ta'amiya in Egyptian Arabic. While it is generally agreed that falafel originated in Egypt it is not clear exactly when.
One legend has falafel originating in ancient times. Yet there is no written documentation in pharaonic texts supporting this. Some food historians believe the dish can be traced back to the Christin Copts of Egypt who had a word pha la phel which meant 'of many beans'. Given that they did not eat meat during some holidays, including lent, this could have been a meat substitute using fava beans2. But again no written documentation. One of the more realistic theories on the origin of falafel, with supporting Egyptian literature, coincided with Britain's occupation of Egypt in 1882. It has been speculated that British officers, having acquired a taste for fried vegetable croquettes during their occupation of India (which began in 1858), may have requested that their Egyptian cooks prepare a version using local ingredients3.
At first, the principal ingredient in falafels was fava beans, which had long been grown along the Nile River and had become a staple ingredient in Egypt through successive ruling dynasties, including the Persians (525–404 BC and 343–332 BC), Greeks (332-30 BC), Romans (30 BC - 641 AD), Muslims (641-1517), and then the Ottoman Empire (1517-1867). The fava bean had been the primary protein source for the poor during this time and appeared in the medieval no meat cookbook Kitab Wasf al-At’ima al-Mu’tada (Book of the Description of Familiar Food) compiled in Cairo in 13734.
Falafel would spread into the Mediterranean and the Middle East and each of these communities integrated the dish into their own cuisine along with a local tweak or two to the recipe. Chickpeas would replace fava beans throughout the rest of the Middle East. Falafels traditionally were served plain but may now also be served wrapped in flatbread or stuffed into pita bread. Different types of vegetables can be added as can tahini sauce. But it wasn’t until 1948, when Israel became an independent state and Jewish people from Yemen, Turkey, and North Africa began immigrating to Israel, that its popularity exploded. It has since been declared as one of the national dishes of Egypt5, Palestine6, and the national snack of Israel7.
What Does Falafel Seasoning Taste Like
Earthy with some mild heat, this is not a spicy blend. It is more of a flavor enhancer.How do You use Falafel Seasoning
This Falafel Seasoning blend is, in fact, wonderful in Falafel, so make them as individual appetizers to dip, or put them into a pita and enjoy a Falafel Sandwich. It's delicious sprinkled over hummus that’s topped with pomegranate seeds. Halloumi, a Mediterranean cheese that doesn’t melt, is delicious cut in slices and fried. Toss Falafel seasoning over halloumi fries for a street food treat. Add to the flavor base for lentil soup, or shell some fava beans and stir this into the sauté. This blend is also excellent tucked under the skin of roasted chicken; tuck half a lemon in the chicken’s cavity for extra fragrance while it roasts. Toss over grilled asparagus. Bake eggplant slices that have been tossed with oil and Falafel Spice Mix, then add to couscous. Mix tahini and yogurt and stir in some Falafel Seasoning for a dip for fresh vegetables.| Ingredients | Salt, garlic, onion, ground cumin, ground coriander, parsley flakes, cayenne pepper, black pepper and cardamom powder |
| Also Called | Falafel seasoning, falafel spices, or falafel seasoning mix |
| Recommended Uses | Use in falafels or add to cheese dips, chicken, couscous, fries, and soups |
| Flavor Profile | Earthy with hints of garlic and some middle to back of the tongue mild heat |
| Cuisine | Mediterranean and Middle Eastern |
| How To Store | Airtight container in a cool, dark place |
| Shelf Life | 6-12 Months |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Dietary Preferences | Gluten Free, Non-GMO |
| Allergen | Mustard |
Hungry for More Information
Middle Eastern Spices and SeasoningsAleppo Pepper: History in a Modern Kitchen
Vegan Spices and Seasonings
Living the Mediterranean Diet
References
1 Company, H. M. H. P. (2020). The American Heritage Dictionary entry: falafel . American Heritage Dictionary. Retrieved December 14, 2021.2 Raviv, Y. (2015). Falafel Nation: Cuisine and the Making of National Identity in Israel (Studies of Jews in Society) (Illustrated ed.). University of Nebraska Press.
3 Balta, P., & Bey, F. M. (2015). Jews and Their Foodways (Studies in Contemporary Jewry) (A. Helman, Ed.; 1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
4 Albala, K. (2017). Beans: A History (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Academic.
5 Roden, C., & Basan, G. (2021). A New Book of Middle Eastern Food By Claudia Roden & Mezze Small Plates to Share By Ghillie Basan 2 Books Collection Set. Penguin/Ryland Peters & Small.
6 In search of Fatima: a Palestinian story. (2021). London Verso 2002.
7 Nocke, A. (2010). The Place of the Mediterranean in Modern Israeli Identity (Paperback) (Jewish Identities in a Changing World) (Illustrated ed.). Brill.