the.com/falafel
a chickpea that learned to deep-fry its way into global glory
means A Middle Eastern dish of spiced ground chickpeas (or fava beans) shaped into balls or patties and deep-fried, usually served in pita or as part of a mezze spread.
from From Arabic falāfil, understood as a plural of filfil, "pepper" — itself a borrowing that traces back, via Persian, to a much older Indian word for the spice (compare Sanskrit pippalī). The dish is widely thought to have begun in Egypt, possibly among Coptic Christians seeking a meatless food, before spreading across the Levant; the word's journey, like the pepper inside it, runs eastward into deep antiquity.
- origin debate
- Egypt and the Levant still fight over its birthplace
- ancient roots
- possibly eaten by Coptic Christians for centuries
- national symbol
- Israel and Palestine both claim it culturally
- two beans
- made from chickpeas or fava beans, regionally
- green inside
- herbs give the center its vivid color
ta'ameya — egyptian falafel made from fava beans instead of chickpeas, street food staple in cairo since ottoman times
al-reef falafel stand — famous falafel shop in amman, jordan, operating since 1952 on rainbow street
sabra hummus — israeli brand that produces both hummus and falafel as packaged foods sold globally since 1983