Sweet Potato Falafels
Ingredients
2 medium sized sweet potatoes (orange inside, please) weighing around 700g in total
1 ½ tsps ground cumin
2 small cloves of garlic chopped
1 ½ tsps ground coriander
2 big handfuls of coriander, chopped (about 30g)
Juice of ½ a lemon
120g gram flour
A splash of olive oil
A sprinkling of sesame seeds
Salt & pepper
These falafels are a firm favourite of mine & they are delicious to eat at anytime of the year. They go well in a mezze, served with chopped tomatoes & pickles or they are good in a flat bread with chili sauce.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees & roast the sweet potatoes whole until just tender (about 45 minutes). Turn off the oven, leave the potatoes to cool, then peel. Place the sweet potatoes, cumin, garlic, ground & fresh coriander, lemon juice & gram flour into a large bowl. Season well, & mash with a potato masher until you have a smooth mix with no large chunks. Stick in the fridge to firm up for up to an hour or the freezer for 20-30 minutes. When you take it out your mixture should be sticky rather than really wet & you can add a tablespoon or so more of gram flour if necessary (sweet potatoes vary in water content enormously)
Heat the oven at 200 degrees. Then using a couple of dessert spoons or ice cream scoop place a well-heaped spoonful of mix & place on a baking tray & then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cook for 15 minutes turning them half way through cooking to ensure they are well cooked on both sides & then enjoy with your chosen dish.
These falafels provide so much goodness for you as the sweet potatoes are high in carotenoids & other carotenoids, which are the precursors to Vitamin A in your body. Carotenoids help strengthen your eyesight & boost your immunity to disease, they are powerful antioxidants that ward off cancer & protect against the effects of aging.
Their natural sweet sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream helping to ensure a regular balanced source of energy. They provide potassium, which is one of the important electrolytes that help regulate heartbeat & nerve signals.
Cumin seeds add a nutty peppery flavor & are an excellent source of iron, & have anti-carcinogenic properties. Research has shown that cumin may stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes; these are compounds necessary for proper digestion & nutrient assimilation.
Garlic is incredibly nutritious & contains manganese, Vitamin B6,B1, C, selenium, fiber, & calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorous & iron. Garlic supplementation is known to boost the function of the immune system & compounds in garlic can help reduce blood pressure & cholesterol.
Gram flour is made from chickpeas, which are a great source of protein & dietary fiber, vitamins & minerals. Chickpeas are a healthy addition to your diet & research shows that eating them on a regular basis can help you lose weight, boost intestinal health & they can also help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
These falafels are a great addition to any meal & are incredibility versatile source of vitamins & minerals, which also tastes delicious. This recipe serves around 10 portions.
