Hey everyone! Today I’m sharing a super easy recipe for Air Fryer Falafel. These little chickpea fritters are packed with flavor and perfect for a healthy, vegetarian meal.
Falafel is a Middle Eastern dish traditionally made with dried chickpeas that are soaked and then ground up. They’re kind of like vegetarian meatballs, but way tastier in my opinion!
This recipe uses canned chickpeas instead, which makes things a lot quicker and way less time-consuming. Plus, the air fryer gives you that crispy on the outside, soft on the inside texture without needing a deep fryer. Score!
These falafel are not only delicious, but they’re also a great source of protein and nutrients. They’re perfect for those days when you want to skip the meat or just add more plant-based options to your diet.
What’s in Falafel?
Falafel is typically made with 100% plant-based ingredients like chickpeas, herbs, spices, and onions. They’re naturally vegan and vegetarian, making them a crowd-pleaser.
How to Make Air Fryer Falafel (the quick and easy way!)
The traditional way involves soaking and grinding dried chickpeas, which can take a while. This recipe uses canned chickpeas for a shortcut, but there’s a trick! The key is to blend the other ingredients first and then just pulse the chickpeas a few times to avoid a mushy texture.
A quick spritz of olive oil before air frying does wonders for getting those falafel nice and crispy on the outside while keeping them tender on the inside. Trust me, it works!
How to Eat Falafel
There are so many ways to enjoy falafel! Here are a few ideas:
- The Classic Pita: Stuff your falafel into a pita bread with some chopped veggies like lettuce, cucumber, and tomato. Don’t forget a dollop of tahini sauce for extra flavor!
- Falafel on Hummus: This is my personal favorite! Falafel nestled on a bed of creamy hummus, topped with fresh veggies and pita wedges on the side. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
- Falafel Platter: Make a mezze platter with your falafel served over fluffy couscous or rice, with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers for a complete and satisfying meal.
- Lettuce Wraps: Feeling healthy? You can even ditch the bread and serve your falafel in lettuce wraps for a lighter option.
Falafel is a versatile dish that’s easy to customize. Get creative and enjoy!
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Air Fryer Falafel
Falafel is a Middle Eastern dish traditionally made with dried chickpeas that are soaked and then ground up. They’re kind of like vegetarian meatballs, but way tastier in my opinion!
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup each: parsley, cilantro, scallions
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 tbsp flour + extra for dusting
- Olive oil spray
- (Optional for serving: hummus, pita, veggies, tahini)
Instructions
- Pat chickpeas dry.
- Pulse onion, garlic, herbs, spices in a food processor. Add chickpeas, pulse a few times until combined (not mushy).
- Mix in baking powder, flour. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
- Form balls with floured hands. Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- Spray falafel with oil, air fry for 14 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftover falafel for up to 4 days, or freeze uncooked balls for 6 months (thaw overnight before air frying).
- Serve with hummus, pita bread, veggies, and tahini (optional).
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 134 kcal
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 403 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
