Name: Revithokeftedes Sifnou (Ρεβιθοκεφτέδες Σίφνου)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 24 small fritters, serving 6 as a meze
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 300g dried chickpeas, soaked overnight in plenty of cold water; 1 small yellow onion, about 120g, roughly chopped; 2 spring onions, roughly chopped; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 25g flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems, chopped; 12g fresh mint leaves, chopped; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 40g plain flour, plus 1-2 tablespoons more only if needed; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 300ml extra virgin olive oil or olive oil, for frying; lemon wedges, for serving

Question 1

Do I need to cook the chickpeas before making revithokeftedes Sifnou?

Accepted Answer

Do not cook the chickpeas for revithokeftedes Sifnou. Soak 300g dried chickpeas in plenty of cold water for 12 to 18 hours, then drain them very well. Raw soaked chickpeas grind into rough crumbs that fry crisp outside and tender inside.

Question 2

Can I use canned chickpeas for Greek chickpea fritters?

Accepted Answer

Do not use canned chickpeas for these Greek chickpea fritters. Canned chickpeas are already cooked and too soft, so they grind into paste instead of coarse crumbs. Revithokeftedes Sifnou need soaked dried chickpeas for craggy edges, a tender center, and a lighter fried texture.

Question 3

How coarse should the chickpea mixture be for revithokeftedes?

Accepted Answer

Pulse the revithokeftedes mixture until it looks like coarse wet sand with a few visible chickpea crumbs. Stop before it turns smooth. The uneven raw soaked chickpea pieces create craggy edges in the olive oil and keep the fritters from frying heavy.

Question 4

Why are my revithokeftedes falling apart in the pan?

Accepted Answer

Revithokeftedes fall apart when the chickpeas are under-soaked, the mixture is too wet, or the flour has not hydrated. Stir in 40g plain flour, test a pressed spoonful in your palm, then add 1 tablespoon more flour if needed. Rest the mixture for 15 minutes before shaping.

Question 5

How long do I fry revithokeftedes?

Accepted Answer

Fry revithokeftedes in hot olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes per side. The oil is ready when a crumb of mixture sizzles at once. Cook in batches until the chickpea fritters are deep golden brown and firm enough to lift cleanly.

Question 6

Can I make revithokeftedes ahead of time?

Accepted Answer

You can make the revithokeftedes mixture up to 12 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator before frying. Fried revithokeftedes hold at room temperature for a few hours, but the first hour gives the crispest ridges and best contrast with the soft center.

Ingredient	Quantity
dried chickpeas (revithia)soaked overnight in plenty of cold water	300g
yellow onionroughly chopped	1 small, about 120g
spring onionsroughly chopped	2

Culinary Explorer

Revithokeftedes Sifnou (Ρεβιθοκεφτέδες Σίφνου)

Ingredients

dried chickpeas (revithia)

yellow onion

spring onions

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