This is a crunchy falafel recipe on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This easy falafel recipe is scrumptious and tasteful due to the presence of chickpeas, fresh herbs, onion garlic and spices. Then there is the fact that this healthy falafel recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. Serve stuffed in a pita with hummus or on a salad as a tasty meat free meal option.
As I have said in the past, I am a veggie-lover who happens to be married to a family of carnivores…which is why when I come up with a vegetarian recipe that my meat & potatoes husband enjoys it must be something special.
This is a healthy baked falafel recipe I worked on years. It is prepared using chickpeas, fresh herbs, garlic, onion and spice hence it tastes great and good. And it is vegan and gluten-free option as well!
This gives an incredibly simple falafel recipe that can be cooked up in minutes in the food processor, ideal as a vegetarian weeknight dinner. They freeze beautifully, too so they are an awesome meal-prep recipe!
Ingredients and Substitutions Baked Falafel Recipe:
- Chickpeas: Best would be if you cook the chickpeas yourself it will require approximately 1 of soaked chickpeas overnight or atleast 8 hours.
- Onion: You can use any onion for this , In India I get red onions easily so I have used that.
- Fresh Parsley / Cilantro: I have used fresh cilantro leaves for these 30 gm
- Garlic: Best to use 5 to 6 garlic cloves, If fresh garlic is not available you can use garlic powder.
- Black Pepper & Coriander and Cumin: These are the hero ingredients for the recipe which elevates the taste all to the next level.
- Clarifies Butter (Ghee) :Ghee works the best for greasing the pan in this recipe as its add richness to the falafel but you can use any neutral oil if ghee is not available.
- Binding Agent: To bind the patties together use 2-3 tbsp og roasted gram flour or bread crumbs.
How to Make Falafel
Put all the ingredients ( Soaked and paper dried chickpeas, Onion, Garlic, All the dry spices, 2 tsp Lemon juice and salt to taste)
Coarsely grind them and make a paste ready.
Bake
Preheat the airfryer at 180 degree celcius for 5 mins.
Make the small discs of the mixture and put them in airfryer for baking at 185 degree celius for 12 mins to cook it from inside and then turn heat to 200 degree celcius for another 4 mins to get the golden brown crisp on outer.Glaze the falafel in between with clarified butter for richness.
Serve
There arealways questions what to pair with falafe’s?
As per my experience. The simple hummus and falafel goes best together with some salad on the side.
My family also enjoys it together with warm pita and garlic hung curd dip.
Eat It Plain.
Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freeze
- Let the falafel come to a room temperature
- Place them into freezer in a plate.
- Once frozen, transfer it to freezer friendly airtight container.
- When you want to enjoy it again, take it out from freezer and reheat them. Delicious falafel is ready to be enjoyed again!
Baked Falafel Recipe FAQs
Is baked falafel healthy?
Yes baking significantly reduces the calorie coming from fat, making this protein rich and fiber rich healthy option to eat.
Can you use canned chickpeas for falafel?
Yes! That would work but in my experience the self-done chickpeas works better . If you do not have time to do so please go ahead and use the canned ones.
Healthy AirFryed Falafel Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat airfryer to 185 degrees C for 5 mins.
- Add chickpeas, onions, garlic and cilantro to your food processor. Blend it all in to make a coarse mixture
- Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, coriander, cumin, baking powder and gram flour.
- Grease your hands with ghee and to prep for making falafels.
- Take about 2 Tablespoons of falafel mixture into balls and then flatten into discs and arrange them in the airfryer.
- Bake in preheated airfryer for 12 minutes at 185 degree C and for another 4 mins at 200 degree C,
- Remove from airfryer and serve with condiments like hummus, hung curd garlic dip etc.
Notes
- Chickpeas: Best would be if you cook the chickpeas yourself it will require approximately 1 of soaked chickpeas overnight or atleast 8 hours.
- Onion: You can use any onion for this , In India I get red onions easily so I have used that.
- Fresh Parsley / Cilantro: I have used fresh cilantro leaves for these 30 gm
- Garlic: Best to use 5 to 6 garlic cloves, If fresh garlic is not available you can use garlic powder.
- Black Pepper & Coriander and Cumin: These are the hero ingredients for the recipe which elevates the taste all to the next level.
- Clarifies Butter (Ghee) :Ghee works the best for greasing the pan in this recipe as its add richness to the falafel but you can use any neutral oil if ghee is not available.
- Binding Agent: To bind the patties together use 2-3 tbsp og roasted gram flour or bread crumbs.
Serve- There are always questions what to pair with falafe’s?
- As per my experience. The simple hummus and falafel goes best together with some salad on the side.
- My family also enjoys it together with warm pita and garlic hung curd dip.
- Eat It Plain.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Let the falafel come to a room temperature
- Place them into freezer in a plate.
- Once frozen, transfer it to freezer friendly airtight container.
- When you want to enjoy it again, take it out from freezer and reheat them. Delicious falafel is ready to be enjoyed again!
Healthy AirFryed Falafel Recipe
This baked falafel is hard and crispy on the outside and soft at the center. Chickpeas, fresh herbs, sautéed garlic onion and some spices bring this falafel recipe to life with its wonderful flavor and taste. On top of this the healthy falafel recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan(in case you oil instead of ghee)! Serve this as pita stuffing or topping of your salad, they are a healthy, meatless food.
Equipment
Ingredients
- ▢1 cup overnight soaked and pat dried chickpeas
- ▢½ cup onion roughly chopped
- ▢½ cup fresh cilantro
- ▢½ teaspoon pink himalayan salt (to taste)
- ▢¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢5-6 Garlic cloves
- ▢1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ▢2 teaspoons cumin powder
- ▢½ teaspoon baking soda
- ▢2-3 Tablespoons Roasted Gram Flour
- ▢1 teaspoon Clarified butter or oil for greasing hands.
Instructions
- Preheat airfryer to 185 degrees C for 5 mins.
- Add chickpeas, onions, garlic and cilantro to your food processor. Blend it all in to make a coarse mixture
- Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, coriander, cumin, baking powder and gram flour.
- Grease your hands with ghee and to prep for making falafels.
- Take about 2 Tablespoons of falafel mixture into balls and then flatten into discs and arrange them in the airfryer.
- Bake in preheated airfryer for 12 minutes at 185 degree C and for another 4 mins at 200 degree C,
- Remove from airfryer and serve with condiments like hummus, hung curd garlic dip etc.
Notes
Ingredient & Substitutions
Ingredient Substitutions
- Chickpeas: Best would be if you cook the chickpeas yourself it will require approximately 1 of soaked chickpeas overnight or atleast 8 hours.
- Onion: You can use any onion for this , In India I get red onions easily so I have used that.
- Fresh Parsley / Cilantro: I have used fresh cilantro leaves for these 30 gm
- Garlic: Best to use 5 to 6 garlic cloves, If fresh garlic is not available you can use garlic powder.
- Black Pepper & Coriander and Cumin: These are the hero ingredients for the recipe which elevates the taste all to the next level.
- Clarifies Butter (Ghee) :Ghee works the best for greasing the pan in this recipe as its add richness to the falafel but you can use any neutral oil if ghee is not available.
- Binding Agent: To bind the patties together use 2-3 tbsp og roasted gram flour or bread crumbs.