Did you know you can make a healthier version of falafel without deep-frying it? Falafel is a Middle Eastern cuisine that is a deep-fried ball made from ground chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices.
However, let me put emphasis on the word “deep fried”. If you are on a healthy or low-carb diet, deep-fried foods usually are not the first thing you should consume. But the good news for you because I have here an easy air fryer falafel recipe that you can eat guilt free and make in your own home!
You can also check out this quick and easy air fryer chickpeas recipe!
How to make falafel in the air fryer
This crispy air fryer falafel recipe is easy to make and definitely much healthier than the traditional falafel recipe deep frying method. However, this does not steer away from the authentic falafel taste! Plus, you will use fewer cooking tools! Even with an air fryer, you can achieve the crispy on the outside but tender on the inside result for your falafel!
The ingredients:
- 2 cups dried chickpeas, Do NOT use canned or cooked chickpeas
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- ¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
- ½ cup fresh dill, stems removed
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 7-8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and soak them in water and baking soda. The chickpeas should be covered by at least 3 inches. Leave them to soak for 18 to 24 hours.
Note: Soaking dried chickpeas will make the chickpeas double in size. Do not use canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas for this recipe!
After, drain the chickpeas completely and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
You will now make the falafel mixture. In a bowl of a food processor, add the soaked chickpeas, 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, cilantro leaves, fresh dill with stems removed, 7 to 8 peeled garlic cloves, a small quarter yellow onion, kosher salt, and the listed spices.
Process for around 20 seconds, scrape down the sides and repeat. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground but not too mushy.
Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for 45 to 60 minutes. You can also have it chilled in the fridge overnight. Chilling the falafel mixture will help you shape the mixture into falafel balls or falafel patties easily.
Scoop the chilled falafel mixture for about a golf ball-sized amount of the mixture. Shape the falafel mixture into a ball. You can spray a little bit of olive oil on the mixture if it is too sticky.
Spray the air fryer basket with a little cooking spray. Place the falafel balls in the air fryer basket in a single layer and do not overcrowd them. Cook in batches if necessary.
Cook at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes while flipping them over at the 10 minutes mark.
Once cooked, the falafel is golden brown on the outside.
Serve your crispy falafels immediately.
More tips for the best homemade falafel made in the air fryer
You can easily make air fryer falafel with no problems at all since the recipe I have provided is pretty straightforward. However, I have here some more tips and notes on how you can make this whole cooking process easier for you and give you the best results:
- You can preheat the air fryer while you are preparing your falafel or when you roll them into balls to save time.
- It is important that you do not overcrowd your falafel balls in the air fryer basket so they can be cooked evenly at the same time and you can get the best texture and crispiness on all of them.
- The uncooked falafel mix can be frozen and stored for one to three months.
- I recommend trying out and experimenting with different herbs and spices to fit your taste palate. You can try paprika, cayenne, cilantro, parsley, turmeric, and more.
- You can press your falafel ball mixture and turn it into a disk or a falafel patty. These disks can work better in the air fryer in some cases.
How to serve falafel | Falafel pairings
These air-fried falafels can easily be eaten on their own because it is already rich in flavor and quite filling. But if you want a full meal experience, then you can serve falafels with other various foods, side dishes, or dips.
Here are some ideas on how to serve your falafels:
- Serve as an appetizer with your favorite sauces or dips such as hummus, mayo, and more.
- In a healthy salad bowl
- Buddha bowl
- Create as a falafel sandwich
- In a pita sandwich
- A part of a healthy appetizer platter including these air-fried zucchini fries, air-fried buffalo cauliflower, air-fried kale chips, and more.
- Serve as larger patties and use as an alternative to burger patties for your burgers
- Crumble and use as a pizza topping
- Serve with these air fryer green beans
- And more!
How to store air fried falafels
If you have any falafel leftovers, you can easily store them so you can eat them later. First, allow the air-fried falafel to cool to room temperature before putting them in an airtight container. These can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days though they will slowly lose their crispiness.
To reheat, add the falafel to the air fryer at 375 degrees F for a few minutes until they are warm again.
If they are frozen, place them in the air fryer and add a few minutes of the cooking time until warm.
Is this crispy air fryer falafel recipe healthy?
In general, falafels are healthy because they are generally made from chickpeas which are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that helps weight management, improve digestion, and reduce your risk of several diseases.
But since falafels are deep fried in oil, the fat and calorie content will greatly increase which may not be beneficial for those that are on a certain diet or health management.
But by using an air fryer, you can keep your falafels low-carb and guilt-free! An air fryer barely needs any oil for your ingredients or food to cook. You can use a dab or a spray, and the air fryer will cook everything inside it through hot air circulation.
But aside from this, what I love about air fryers is that they will take you shorter cooking time as opposed to deep frying or cooking something in an oven. Plus, you can cut down on your cleaning time since you will not need to use a lot of cooking equipment!
Truly, this is an easier and waaay healthier method of preparing your meals!
Delicious Air Fryer Falafel
This air fryer falafel recipe uses the same ingredients as a traditional falafel recipe. The only thing that is different is its cooking method where we use an air fryer instead of deep frying - which is a healthier cooking method!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried chickpeas, Do NOT use canned or cooked chickpeas
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- ¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
- ½ cup fresh dill, stems removed
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 7-8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and soak them in water and baking soda. The chickpeas should be covered by at least 3 inches. Leave them to soak for 18 to 24 hours.
- After, drain the chickpeas completely and pat them with a paper towel to dry.
- You will now make the falafel mixture. In a bowl of a food processor, add the soaked chickpeas, 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, cilantro leaves, fresh dill with stems removed, 7 to 8 peeled garlic cloves, a small quarter yellow onion, kosher salt, and the listed spices.
- Process for around 20 seconds, scrape down the sides and repeat. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground but not too mushy.
- Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for 45 to 60 minutes. You can also have it chilled in the fridge overnight.
- Scoop the chilled falafel mixture for about a golf ball-sized amount of the mixture. Shape the falafel mixture into a ball. You can spray a little bit of olive oil on the mixture if it is too sticky.
- Spray the air fryer basket with a little cooking spray. Place the falafel balls in the air fryer basket in a single layer and do not overcrowd them. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Cook at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes while flipping them over at the 10 minutes mark.
- Once cooked, the falafel is golden brown on the outside.
- Serve the crispy falafels immediately.
I’m Anastasia and I’m a full-time blogger, online entrepreneur, and Pinterest marketing strategist. I help digital entrepreneurs and bloggers drive targeted traffic from Pinterest either through my online courses or through Pinterest consultancy.