Make air fryer falafel in minutes with this super easy recipe!
Healthy and delicious falafel is so easy to make and is great for appetizers, as a side dish, or even as a post-workout snack!
What is Falafel?
- This recipe is so easy and uses ingredients already in the pantry! Falafel is a Middle Eastern food made with ground chickpeas, onions, and savory spices formed into balls or patties. They’re widely popular at food trucks and kiosks everywhere now and even Trader Joe’s and Costco sell them frozen and ready to cook.
- Homemade falafel mix can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to cook!
- This recipe makes falafel balls that have a golden and crispy deep-fried look and texture without the oil or the messy cleanup!
Ingredients and Variations
Beans – Chickpeas (AKA Garbanzo beans) should be rinsed well before using in the recipe to remove the liquid.
Pro Tip:
Freeze the liquid (AKA aquafaba) as it makes an excellent substitute for egg whites if you are vegan and it’s a high source of protein.
Seasonings – Go for any savory combination of fresh or dried garlic, parsley, cilantro, coriander, cumin, dill, or even mint.
Flour – Used mostly as a binder, white flour can be replaced with wheat or any gluten-free flour, if desired.
How to Make Air Fryer Falafel
- Pulse onion, garlic, parsley, and cilantro into a paste in a food processor.
- Add coriander, cumin, and lemon juice, and season with salt to taste and pulse. Add garbanzo beans and pulse until the mixture is smooth (as per the recipe below). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Form the falafel mixture into balls (add flour as needed to hold them together). Air fry until the falafel is golden brown and crisp on the outside.
How to Serve Falafel
Falafels can be eaten plain or served with hummus, tahini, tzatziki, or spicy mango chutney. They can also be tucked into pita bread or wrap and used to top a salad. Make an appetizer platter with fresh kalamata olives, marinated red onions, roasted red peppers, snap peas, and a few slices of naan.
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover falafel in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator and frozen in a zippered bag for up to 4 weeks. Reheat in the air fryer.
Healthy Air Fryer Appetizers & Sides
Air Fryer Falafel
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion small, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 cans chick peas, garbanzo beans 15-ounce cans, drained, rinsed.
- 1-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Pulse onion, garlic, parsley, and cilantro in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
- Pulse in coriander, cumin, and lemon juice, and season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Add the garbanzo beans and pulse until a thick paste that can be rolled into balls forms.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of flour to thicken if the paste is too watery. Add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing to combine until it reaches the right consistency.
- Scoop and roll into 1½ tablespoon-sized balls.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Add the falafels in a single layer. Do not overcrowd. Spray spray each falafel with olive oil.
- Air fry the falafel for 13-16 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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