Easy Falafel Recipe
This Easy Falafel Recipe features crispy, flavorful falafel made from soaked dried chickpeas blended with fresh herbs and spices. Perfect as a flavorful vegetarian dish for wraps, salads, or appetizers, these falafels can be cooked using air frying for a healthier option or deep frying for a traditional crispy texture.
- Prep Time: 12 hours 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (air frying) or 20 minutes (deep frying including heating oil)
- Total Time: 12 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 falafel balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Falafel Mixture
- 2 cups dried chickpeas (measured before soaking)
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley
- ½ cup mint leaves or cilantro (optional)
- 1 yellow or white onion
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Cooking Oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for air frying)
- 4 to 6 cups frying oil (for deep frying)
Instructions
- Soak Chickpeas: Rinse 2 cups of dried chickpeas and soak them in plenty of water overnight or for at least 12 hours to fully hydrate.
- Prepare Ingredients: Drain the soaked chickpeas well. Roughly chop the parsley, mint or cilantro if using, onion, and garlic to prepare for blending.
- Blend Falafel Mixture: In a food processor, combine the drained chickpeas, chopped parsley, mint or cilantro, onion, garlic, ground coriander, cumin, salt, black pepper, cayenne or red pepper flakes, and baking powder. Pulse until a coarse, grainy texture forms. Be careful not to over-process into a paste; the mixture should hold together but still have some texture.
- Chill Mixture: Transfer the falafel mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour to help it firm up and improve binding.
- Form Falafel Balls: Using damp hands or a falafel scoop, shape the mixture into small balls or patties about 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Cook Falafel – Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly brush the falafel balls with olive oil and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until the falafel is golden brown and crispy.
- Cook Falafel – Deep Frying Method: Heat 4 to 6 cups of frying oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry falafel balls in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve: Serve falafels warm with tahini sauce, pita bread, salad, or hummus as desired.
Notes
- Do not use canned chickpeas for this recipe, as soaked dried chickpeas provide the best texture.
- The falafel mixture can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
- For best crispiness, air fry or deep fry falafel just before serving.
- Adjust spices to taste, adding more cayenne for extra heat if desired.
Keywords: falafel, easy falafel, Middle Eastern, vegetarian falafel, air fryer falafel, deep fried falafel, chickpea balls, healthy falafel
Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/easy-falafel-recipe/