Falafel with Muhammara
Nikita created this dish for MasterChef UK Professionals Season 18. The 2022 champion returned to set the Skills Test benchmark for Week 8, designing a falafel platter that contestants had to replicate in 20 minutes. The dish features crispy chickpea falafel shaped into quenelles, muhammara with roasted red peppers and walnuts finished with pomegranate molasses, a two-ingredient yogurt flatbread with nigella seeds, and a sumac tomato salad. Monica called it 'Stunning. The falafel, crispy, crunchy. The inside is beautifully cooked' and praised the muhammara as 'so delicious.' Matt noted Nikita 'made a very detailed flavoured dish look incredibly easy.' Both contestants struggled: Charlie panicked and added water to his falafel mixture, while Tom's were rough and unshaped. This home version preserves Nikita's benchmark standard without the 20-minute time pressure. Chef’s Notes: The Skills Test Benchmark Why This Works as a Skills Test Matt Tebbutt captured the essence of Nikita’s challe…
- Time: 40 min
Source: Relaxed Recipes
Ingredients
- SOAK THE CHICKPEAS
- Place the dried chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with at least 3 inches of co
- MAKE THE FALAFEL MIXTURE
- Add the drained chickpeas, parsley, coriander, garlic, cumin, chilli flakes, sal
- MAKE THE MUHAMMARA
- Pat the roasted peppers very dry with kitchen paper. Place the peppers, walnuts,
- MAKE THE FLATBREAD DOUGH
- In a bowl, combine the self-raising flour, Greek yogurt, nigella seeds, and a pi
- COOK THE FLATBREADS
- Heat a dry heavy-based frying pan or cast iron skillet over high heat until smok
- SHAPE AND FRY THE FALAFEL
- Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F . Shape the falafel into elegant q
- MAKE THE TOMATO SALAD
- Cut the tomatoes into a mix of halves, quarters, and slices for visual variety.
- PLATE THE DISH
- Smear or dollop the muhammara onto a platter or individual plates. Arrange the w