What deep-fried snack is made from ground chickpeas?

What deep-fried snack is made from ground chickpeas? Falafel. It is a Middle Eastern fritter shaped into balls or patties and seasoned with herbs and spices before frying.

Falafel most likely originated in Egypt, where it is traditionally made with fava beans. In the Levant, including Lebanon, chickpeas are more common, and some recipes combine chickpeas with fava beans. This regional variation is why describing falafel simply as a chickpea snack is useful but not universal.

The mixture is usually prepared from soaked, uncooked legumes rather than cooked ones. Chickpeas may be ground with parsley, scallions, garlic, cumin, and coriander, then shaped and deep-fried. Falafel is often served in pita or another flatbread with salad, pickles, tahini sauce, and hot sauce. A common mix-up is confusing the fritter with the entire sandwich, since “falafel” can refer to either the fried pieces or the wrapped meal.