Easy Falafel Recipe (Deep fry and Air fryer)
Servings: 15 falafel
This simple recipe shows how to prepare flavorful falafel from scratch using soaked chickpeas, herbs, sesame seeds, and spices, with options to fry or air fry. They are perfect for parties, wraps, or as a tasty side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chickpeas (dry) (soak for 8 hours)
- ½ cup Onion (chopped)
- 1 cup Parsley (fresh, packed, stems removed and rinsed)
- ¾ cup Cilantro (fresh, packed, stems removed and rinsed)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Salt (to taste)
- ½ tablespoon Mediterranean seasoning (Shawarma or other, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Sesame seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon Baking powder
- Oil (for frying, about 1 inch depth)
Instructions
- Rinse the dried chickpeas and soak it in enough water for about 8 hours.
- Discard the water from the soaked chickpeas.
- In a high speed blender, Vitamix, or food processor, add the soaked chickpeas, onions, salt, parsley, cilantro, and seasoning.
- Blend coarsely into a well blended mixture on medium speed.
- Transfer the falafel mixture into a bowl.
- Add baking powder and sesame seeds.
- Mix well with a spatula.
Make falafel rounds
- Divide the falafel mixture into 15 equal portions.
- Make small balls of each portion and flatten them slightly.
Option 1: Deep frying
- Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat.
- Deep fry the falafel patties in oil for about a minute or until golden brown.
- With the help of a slotted spatula, flip them and deep fry the other side for about a minute or until golden brown.
- Remove them carefully and place them on a plate lined with kitchen towel which will absorb any excessive oil.
Option 2: Air fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F.
- Place a parchment paper in the air fryer basket and then place the falafel patties.
- Spray some oil on the patties with an oil sprayer.
- Air fry the falafels for about 6-8 minutes.
- Carefully flip them and place them on parchment paper.
- Spray some oil and air fry for another 5-6 minutes.
- Once falafel are slightly golden brown on both sides, remove them from the air fryer.
Notes
While air frying, if you try to flip the falafels and they are stuck on the parchment paper, then continue to air fry for another 1-2 minutes. Once they cook well, they are easy to flip.
Nutrition
Serving: 1falafel | Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 239mg (10%) | Potassium: 35mg (1%) | Fiber: 0.3g (1%) | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 391IU (8%) | Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) | Calcium: 11mg (1%) | Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
