Does anyone else feel like on a Sunday morning you embrace the same question, “What are we going to have for dinner this week”? I try to come up with creative ideas for something different each night that won’t take too much time to prepare because of our busy schedules.
Enter the room Trader Joe’s Falafel Mix.
This “just add water” box of mix means that I don’t have to worry about having a cabinet full of ingredients. It’s also $3.29 for the box which is less than half the cost of one falafel pita sandwich at our local Mediterranean spot and has a shelf left of almost 2 years!
Sometimes I feel like I am always making meat dishes for my family and I feel good knowing that I can always mix this in as another protein option. It’s one of the few falafel mixes I’ve found that is vegan AND gluten free. It’s also super high in fiber which is an added bonus. While I admit it’s not quite as good as good as ordering in from our local Greek restaurant, I can feel good about whipping up a gourmet batch of falafel over a salad or in pita in around 5 minutes of active prep. For this reason it has snuck into our weeknight dinner rotation.
Taste
TJ’s falafel mix is a blend of dried chickpeas and fava beans with both offer a nutty earthy flavor. The spice combination in this mix includes cumin and coriander as well as garlic so if you like a falafel that’s more rich in spice you’ll find these tasty. Frying the falafel in oil will enhance the flavors and give you a ball or patty that is more moist than if you baked. If you opt for baking I highly recommend to spray or lightly coat the falafel in oil first. If you have Greek yogurt on hand, mix in 1tbsp. before you let the mix stand. This will result in a cakier less dense patty. You can oil spray the uncooked falafel with some oil and air fry (just make the necessary cooking time adjustments) for delicious results!
Equipment You’ll Need
- Medium Sized Mixing Bowl
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Scoop for measuring balls (optional)
- Frying pan or Oven
Falafel Prep and Cooking Options
To cook falafel you have two choices. Baking or Frying.
Most of the time when I make falafel at home, I opt for the baking option which yields a tasty but drier and more dense ball or patty. With this mix, once you add in the water you let it stand for 20-30 minutes until it thickens. Tip: Don’t let the mix stand for too long or it will be difficult to form the falafels and it can cause them to break apart or crumble when cooked.
Once the mix is ready to be formed, you can decide how big to make each falafel ball. I find that forming them into 1/2 inch thick patties of around 2 inches in diameter helps them to cook more evenly. I was able to make 10 decent size patties as shown in the photo below.
Trader Joes Falafel Baked
Here’s a close up where you can see some cracking and the yummy seasonings inside.
Once and a while I opt for frying the falafel in a pan on the stovetop. I’ll use 1/3 of a cup of avocado oil or olive oil and cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side. The falafel should be a golden brown color and have a nice crispiness to the outside. this may be a less healthy option, but it is definitely a delicious way to enjoy the dish.
Final Thoughts
There are so many options once you have prepared the falafel. It can be put on a salad for a delicious lunch or dinner. I also like to serve it with a pita, diced tomatoes and Trader Joe’s Tzatziki sauce for a Mediterranean sandwich. It also pairs well with Trader Joe’s Organic Tahini. Once it is cooked up it can be served with rice or pilaf with other grilled or steamed vegetables. I really like that I can use it with other things I usually have in my pantry.
1 comment
Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.