Like most people in their early 20s back in the late 90s (Oh no, I’m giving away my age now!) I lapped up episode after episode of Friends. I’m sure I must have watched most episodes at least twice but I never got tired of that line in the theme tune that went like this:
‘…when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year …’ (come on now, you have to sing that part, you know)
Well, by the end of last weekend this line was really ringing true. Nothing so awful really happened, but it just hadn’t really been my weekend. It was a total ‘non-starter’ for want of a better description. Mr. Scrummy and I set out earlyish on Saturday morning for our usual 10k walk/jog (usually loads of fun, as described in this post) with big black clouds shrouding the skies above, for instance, and sure enough ended up soaking wet, shivering with cold and turning back only 20 minutes or so in. We decided to go and grab breakfast in our favourite little Italian café instead (also described here, in case you’re interested), but ended up abandoning that plan too after we got there, for some reason just not really feeling like going in.
And so the weekend went on. I mooched around at home for the rest of Saturday, wanting to go and do something and not wanting to at the same time. Feeling tired and wanting a nap on the one hand, knowing that I had loads of jobs to do on the other but not really feeling like doing either. Things were looking up in the evening after we decided to go out to eat at a bustling Vietnamese restaurant. The food and service were great, but then over coffee and dessert Mr. Scrummy and I ended up having a … ahem … ‘tiny squabble’, shall we say.
Sunday morning brought yet more frustration. I popped down to the supermarket between rain showers, discovered when I got there that it didn’t open for another hour and then promptly got caught in a heavy shower on the way back home. Then we had our ‘Groundhog Day’ experience as we attempted to go for our run around the river again. You guessed it, we ended up back at home less than 20 minutes later. Grrr grrr grrr. We were not happy chappies.
And then, suddenly, just after midday on Sunday, the clouds broke and some rays of sunshine broke through, both literally and figuratively. On a whim, we decided to visit a sort of indoor farmers’ market I’d been wanting to go to for a while, just to get out and do something. Well, I immediately cheered up. We found purple sweet potatoes, cheap bags of green peppers, a wonderfully fresh-looking pack of snow pea sprouts, which I’d never tried before, Turkish bread and all sorts of other fresh and colourful goodies.
So the highlight of my weekend ended up being making and eating these sweet potato falafel. Purple sweet potato falafel made from the lovely big pack of veggies I found at the market if we’re going to be totally accurate here. As usual with my recipes, they were super easy to make. I simply cooked my sweet potatoes for about ten minutes in the microwave (you could roast them if you preferred but they’d just take a little longer that way), then roughly mashed them with a can of cooked chickpeas, a little finely chopped onion and crushed garlic and cumin, coriander, paprika and cayenne pepper. Finally, I added a little lemon juice, salt, baking powder and plain flour and after chilling the mixture for a while moulded it into little nugget-shaped falafel.
I ended up making these three times over 3 days – that is how much ‘dough’ you end up with with just one large sweet potato and 1 can of chickpeas … and that is how much we enjoyed scoffing them as well! The first time I made the falafel on the larger side and served them stuffed into Turkish bread with my lovely snow pea sprouts, tomatoes, homemade hummus, and Greek yoghurt. Mmmmmmm … but even more ‘mmmmmm’ were the slightly smaller version I made the day after and served on top of the pea shoots and with all the little accompaniments and condiments on the side, like so:
I loved these little sweet potato falafel served with homemade hummus, snow pea shoots, tiny tomatoes, spring onions & Greek yoghurt. Delicious!
These falafel are delicious either large or small, but my personal preference was definitely to take little balls of the dough about as large as a walnut and flatten them slightly into a pattie, then to shallow fry them for about 5 minutes on each side until nice and golden and crispy. Absolutely delicious!
Just as a little side-note, if you haven’t made any hummus for a while (or ever) then please, please do! I had honestly forgotten how easy it is to make and how utterly delicious it is. I used Yotam Ottolenghi’s simple recipe from his and Sami Tamimi’s fantastic book Jerusalem
All that is left to say is that I really hope you haven’t got the Friends theme tune stuck in your head now after reading this post. I also wish you a fantastic upcoming weekend that has no non-starter or groundhog or otherwise frustrating moments at all!
Sweet potato falafel
Ingredients
For the falafel
- 1 medium to large ish sweet potato (or 2 small ones!)
- 1 can of cooked chickpeas 9 ounces/250 grams net weight
- 1/2 a medium onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
- 1/2 of a lemon worth of juice
- sesame seeds for scattering over
optional ‘accompaniments’
- chopped tomatoes & spring onions/scallions pitta bread or another type of fresh bread, hummus (see below for a quick recipe), Greek yoghurt, snow pea sprouts
Instructions
-
Peel the sweet potatoes and cook in a microwave for about 10 minutes or until soft. (you can roast them if you prefer for about 45 minutes or so or until soft)
-
In the meantime, pulse the chickpeas a few times in a food processor until still a little bit chunky.
-
Mash the pulsed chickpeas and sweet potato together with all of the other ingredients apart from the sesame seeds. Cover the mixture and chill in the fridge for at least half an hour.
-
Take spoonfuls of mixture about the size of a walnut and form into balls. Flatten the balls into a patty and press a few sesame seeds into them on both sides.
-
Heat up a layer of oil in a skillet/frying pan until quite hot, then fill the pan with patties. Let them cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy.
-
Remove from the pan and serve immediately with fresh bread and accompaniments of your choice.
Recipe Notes
I would highly recommend making a batch of your own hummus for this recipe (you could make it the day before to ‘spread out’ the work a little). Just blitz another can of chickpeas with a clove of crushed garlic, the juice of about ½ a lemon, about 100 grams tahini & about 30ml iced water. (recipe based on Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s recipe in their book Jerusalem
I also got a few tips for the falafel from the basic falafel recipe in the above-mentioned book! (well worth well worth getting your hands on
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Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
Wow… This looks AWESOME, my dear! This looks heavenly. There are so many good things in this!! I need to try these ASAP.
Helen says
Thanks, Olivia! I’m so happy you like these falafel and hope you do give them a try some time!
Melanie @ Bon Appét'Eat says
Oh dear Helen, you are trouble! I need to book a day of vacations to try a bunch of your recipes! This one is a total yes! I have sweet potatoes at home already!
I keep thinking of that phyllo and cheese recipe you have too!
Beautiful pics!
PS: Dummy question: how do you put your avatar/picture on your comments when you comment on other blogs?
Helen says
Hi, Melanie! Oh, that’s not a dummy question at all! It’s really easy. You just go to the site gravatar.com, set up a wordpress.com account if you don’t already have one and then they guide you through the process, as I remember. I just had to upload a photo and I was set up within a really short time. Let me know if you get stuck and I’ll try to give you more specific instructions.
Also, thank you SO much for your really lovely, complimentary comment about my recipes. Honestly, I am blushing right now! I’m particularly happy that you still remember the feta cheese in filo pastry. You should definitely give that one a go – it’s so easy and delicious! Have a great weekend, Melanie! 🙂
marcie says
I’m sorry to hear that you had a blah few days there, Helen, but what a way to bounce back! These sweet potato falafel look amazing, and it was one brilliant idea you had making those. These look absolutely delicious! 🙂
Helen says
Thanks, Marcie! I reckon if those are my only problems then I’m not doing too badly … haha!
So happy you like the falafel … I really enjoyed making them!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I definitely can commiserate on having a few “off” days in a row, Helen. That happened to me recently, where nothing I cooked turned out right, I spilled just about everything I touched, I wasn’t a happy camper, etc. It’s such a great feeling when the gray clouds part (both literally and figuratively)! But I can certainly see how these falafel would be the bright spot of your weekend. I love falafel, and never thought of adding sweet potatoes to them. They look delicious!
Helen says
Aw, thanks Alyssa! I’m hoping for a better weekend this time around. It’s going to be lovely and sunny for a start, so that should help!
So glad that you like the falafel. I was really pleased with how they turned out and will definitely be making them again!
[email protected] says
Never thought of using sweet potatoes for falafel! Totally doing it now!
Helen says
I hadn’t until this point, Ami, but I’ll definitely do it again. So glad you want to try making them!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I adore falafel, but I haven’t made it with sweet potato before. Definitely going to make this. Going to share it with my followers on Twitter too 🙂
Helen says
Aw, thanks so much for the share, Dannii! 🙂
And I always always get excited when someone says they’re going to make my recipe. So glad you like it! Have a wonderful weekend!
Ashley says
Aw, yeah I know that feeling when it’s just not your day (or weekend!).
And yes, I do now have the friends song stuck in my head but that’s not a bad thing! haha These sound awesome – I can never ever get enough sweet potatoes and this would be such a different way for me to use them!
Helen says
Oops, sorry about the song getting stuck in your head, Ashley! I hope it’s gone now!! (and this doesn’t remind you again and put it back … haha!)
So glad you like the recipe – I love both sweet potatoes and chickpeas so I thought I’d try putting them together to see what happened. 🙂
Allison says
Ha, that certainly hasn’t been a good time. But this would make me feel much better! I love the Jerusalem cookbook so much! It’s one of my faves. Makes me feel very worldly to cook from 🙂 I’m making these, by the way! These are my kind of flavours. Super bold and hummus makes everything better! Yum. Also, that bread looks beautiful. I want to tear off a piece for a snack right now!
Helen says
I honestly can’t stop reading my new book, Allison. It’s just so beautiful in every day … ahhh (wistful look).
I’m also smiling from ear-to-ear right now that you like these enough to make them. I really hope you like them!
Laura says
Maybe I’m just not a very imaginative person, but I’m really trying to figure out how this would taste! And I can’t!! I guess that just means I’ll have to make it myself…. love sweet potatoes and would think this dish is just bursting with all sorts of luscious flavor. Where do you get these ideas? I guess there’s no microwave popcorn in your house!! But your probably the 10th person to suggest making my own hummas to me, so maybe it’s time to get a move on!
Helen says
Oh, Laura, I’ve been buying supermarket hummus lately because I had sort of ‘forgotten’ how easy hummus is to make, but honestly it’s SUPER easy. Just give it a go once to see what I mean!
And thank you once again for your lovely complimentary comment. Your comments always make me blush and smile!! Have a wonderful weekend, Laura!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
There’s nothing like falafel to give us a boost. I like how creative this is , Helen. A new way to make falafel.
Helen says
Thanks so much, Norma. I think falafel has got to be one of my all-time faves, so I thought I’d give it a bit of twist. So glad you like it!
Ambar says
This recipe sounds so amazing! So creative!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Ambar!
Chrissy says
These sounds so much better than regular falafals! Can’t wait to make them!
Also, I love Friends and having been in the mood to watch them, have had my DVD set on constantly every night this week. And I can’t help but clap every time that part comes on in the song 🙂
Helen says
Ha! So it’s not just me that likes that line! So happy you like the falafels. I’ll definitely be making them again!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I love Friends, it makes me nostalgic 🙂 Love the sweet potato/chickpea combo, and these falafels look delicious!
Helen says
Thanks so much, Denise! Yes, I think I could still sit down and watch Friends for a whole day. Definitely makes me nostalgic!
Eva says
Cette recette est top ! Tu as fait tout, le pain, la sauce, elle paraît très bonne! J’aime aussi les recettes d’ Ottolenghi. La dernier fois que je suis allée à Londres, on a mangé un jour las bas, c’était très bon!
Moi aussi j’adoré voir Friends 😉
Helen says
Ooh, je savais pas qu’Ottolenghi a un restaurant a Londres! J’y irais tout de suite quand je retournerai en Angleterre!!
Je suis ravie que tu aimes la recette, Eva! 🙂
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
These sound delicious and I’m sure my step son will enjoy them as he loves sweet potatoes. Hope this weekend is better 🙂
Helen says
Thanks so much, Tandy! Hope you have a great weekend, too!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Hopefully this week will be a little better for you, Helen! I am so impressed by this falafel! It looks absolutely amazing! I love all of the ingredients, especially the chickpeas. Definitely pinning to try out. Have a great weekend, Helen!
Helen says
Aw, thanks so much, Gayle! I’m so happy that you like it! Thanks for the pin as well and I really hope you do get around to trying this out. It really was delicious!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This sandwich is amazing!
Helen says
Thanks, Jocelyn!!
lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
I’d say that rough start to your weekend ended beautifully with this really creative recipe, Helen! And the ingredients are nutrient-packed. Those purple sweet potatoes are cancer fighters, digestive aides,immunity supporters, etc. And those snow pea shoots are delicious! I had never had them until our local Chinese restaurant introduced me recently. Fantastic flavors here — a must pin!
Helen says
Thanks so much, Lori! I’m so happy that you’re so excited about this recipe! And thanks so much for the nutrition info, too. Wow, it sounds like this was a bit of a ‘super lunch’ – just the business when you’re having a ‘blah’ weekend. Hope you have a great weekend!
P.S. Yes, snow peas are just delicious, aren’t they? Definitely buying those again!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession says
Ahhh… I’m so sorry that you had a tough weekend Helen :* But I’m prettttty sure these beautiful falafels with those delish sweet potato patties made up for it! These look incredible and those tomatoes and the snow pea sprouts look so amazing! I could eat this every single day!!!!! <3
Helen says
Ah, now that’s a compliment! I think I could eat these every day, too!! So glad you like them so much! 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
This looks so delicious! I am so hungry. I need to move away from the computer and get something to eat. I so wish I had one of these sandwiches right now 😀
Helen says
Haha … I know the feeling. That happens to me every day when looking at different blogs! Hope you had something lovely for dinner!
Pam says
I’ve had a week like that… nothing terrible but nothing great either. The falafel look amazing and so flavorful. A nice way to end a ho hum weekend.
Helen says
Great description, Pam – no hum! So glad you like the falafel!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
hehe okay firstly I did have the Friends theme stuck in my head but I’ve just put on another song to cancel it out 🙂 Secondly what a great idea using sweet potato for felafel! 😀
Helen says
Oops … sorry about that one! I’m just a big tease …
So glad you like the falafel! 🙂
Sarah @ Running On Brie says
I’ve totally got the theme song stuck in my head now! Ahh- memories! And I’m so with you on hummus…everybody should be making their own. I forget how easy and absolutely worth the extra couple of minutes it is. I want to try this sweet potato falafel- looks delightful!
Helen says
Hi, Sarah! You know, I just made some more hummus as an afternoon snack and it literally took me five minutes. I didn’t even use the recipe and it turned out perfectly. So happy you like the falafel!
Louisa [Living Lou] says
LOVE Friends – I always watch it when it’s on TV even though I’ve seen all the episodes hundreds of times. Sorry to hear you had such a glum weekend, but it sounds like the farmer’s market really made it pick up! These falafel sound delicious 🙂
Helen says
Thanks for the good weekend wishes, Louisa! At least this weekend is turning out much better so far, so all’s good! 🙂
[email protected] The Gastronomic Bong says
Yum!! I love falafel. The sweet potato version looks and sounds delicious.. so so amazing. .. love it!!
Helen says
I know, me too … it’s one of my favourite snacks. So glad you like it, too! 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
I’m pretty sure I need this in my life. ASAP!
Helen says
I think you do, Aimee!! Hello and thanks so much for passing by! 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
i do love a good falafel, i usually crumble mine through a salad! never tried a sweet potato version before, definitely something i need to recreate in my kitchen!
Helen says
Ooh, great idea to crumble falafel through a salad! I’ll have to try that one! 🙂
Mary Frances says
Ugh, my weekend felt pretty similar 🙂 I can totally relate to wanting a nap, but knowing my list of things to do is long and this is my last chance before the week starts … it is a little discouraging! I had some “tiny squabbles” too. It does make feeling forgiven so much better!
Can you bring me some of these? They are everything I enjoy food wise! Chickpeas, sweet potatoes … oh my goodness, yes please! Pinning these!
Helen says
I think I have the answer, Mary Frances … I think we should campaign for 3-day weekends. Then we can ‘mooch’ all we like for one of those days, hey?!
Yup, I can bring you some of these. You just need to wait a handy 24 hours or so while I get there! 🙂
Consuelo - Honey & Figs says
Aaaauch terrible feeling Helen 🙁 But I guess it happens to most of us hehe 😉 Also, I was like 4 in the 90’s and I had to sing to that lol yes.
AAAAAAAAAND how I love falafels! And sweet potatoes! These look yummy!
Helen says
Yup, I do feel old now. 😉
So glad you like the falafel, Consuelo! 🙂
Isadora says
First of all, I’m obsessed with Friends and have watched each episode like 100 times and own all the seasons! Second of all I’m also obsessed with falafel and I love all things sweet potato! These are like my match made in heaven! I hope you are having a better week! I’ve been having a bad few weeks so I know how you feel. I think these sweet potato falefels will bright everything up though!
Helen says
Thanks for the good wishes, Isadora … to be honest I was just being a whinge-bag that weekend. I really have nothing to complain about … haha!
So glad I presented you with a match made in heaven today … and hope this week is looking up for you 🙂
Shashi @ runninsrilankan says
Helen – I adore falafel but have never thought to use sweet potatoes – or any potatoes in them for that matter – ooh this combo with cumin, coriander and paprika sounds incredible! I am so glad the clouds parted and the sun got y’all to the farmers market so you could bring us this wonderful recipe -thanks btw for sharing it!
And now I have this line …when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year …stuck in my head! I have a friends DVD -guess I know what I will be doing this evening! 🙂
Helen says
Hahahaha! Sorry about the song, but at least I know you will now have an entertaining evening!
The falafel worked really well – they were different to ordinary falafel, and I’m not sure anything can really beat those, but they were certainly good. Give them a try some time!
Annie @Maebells says
I am such a sucker for anything with sweet potato! And I have never ever made a falafel at home! Obviously I am so behind! I will be making these soon!
Helen says
Oh, yes, please do try making some falafel, Annie! I thought they were really easy to make, and so worth the effort anyway. I’d like to try making some classic ones, too. You probably can’t beat those. 🙂
Fish Fingers for tea says
I have butternut squash falafel on my blog and we eat them on a fairly regular basis but why have I never thought of using sweet potato? I adore them. Definitely on the list to make!
Helen says
Oh, I think butternut squash would produce almost the same end product! I should try mine with the squash next time!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
Ah, falafel. It’s been far too long since I’ve enjoyed the amazing taste of falafel. I really should try to make it one day. The only time I’ve had it is when ordering at a restaurant.
Funny you mention the rain. It’s been raining all day where I live. I don’t really mind, though. I like when it’s rainy and stormy. But I also like to enjoy the outdoors, much like you do. So when it rains for days and days and days, I too get a little bummed. Glad the weather has cleared up for you!
Helen says
I think this may have been my first attempts at falafel, but I don’t think it’s going to be the last. It isn’t so easy to find it where I live, so I guess that’s a good enough incentive!
Thankfully the weather here has cleared up to the point where you’d be forgiven for thinking it was summer. Honestly, I don’t know how these Australians have the gall to say that they have a winter!
Alexandra says
Yum! These look great. Cooking is always the highlight of my weekend 🙂
Helen says
Thanks, Alexandra, and thanks so much for passing by and saying hi!
whatjessicabakednext says
Love falafels! Also, love the fact you’ve used sweet potato- so delicious! I will be trying these out soon! 🙂
Helen says
Hi, Jessica! And thanks so much! Do let me know what you think if you do give them a try!
Lilli @ Sugar and Cinnamon says
I had exactly that kind of week this week! These falafels definitely would have saved the day they look perfect 🙂 I love sweet potato combined with hummus! It’s such a great flavour combination!
Helen says
Hi, Lilli! So glad you like these and hope your week got better!