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Falafel is one of Lebanon’s most iconic street foods, and this air fryer version of falafel is much easier and made without any oil. It’s a crispy, dark brown chickpea fritter with a soft and airy interior with a beautiful vibrant green color. The falafel batter is made with chickpeas, herbs, and aromatics, making it a breeze to prepare. This air fryer method skips the traditional deep frying, making it one step easier.
Jump to Section
- Why you’ll love this falafel recipe
- Homemade falafel ingredients
- How to make falafels in the air fryer
- Tips for making the best air fried falafels
- Popular substitutions & additions
- How to serve falafel
- How to store & reheat falafel
- Frequently asked questions
- More Lebanese air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Falafel Recipe
If you’ve ever made my authentic falafel recipe, you would know I have two big rules for making the best falafel: first, you have to use dried uncooked chickpeas, and second, you have to deep fry the falafel. Well, I’m breaking one of those rules today for a less authentic version by air frying falafel. And that’s because I wanted a reason to eat more falafel without the hassle of deep-frying and using a large amount of oil.
Why you’ll love this falafel recipe
- Crispy without deep frying. I was honestly skeptical of air frying falafel, but I tested a couple of temperatures and times to get the best crispy edges while keeping the texture on the inside moist and airy.
- Authentic flavor. Because I grew up watching my parents make falafel from scratch so often and eating a lot of falafel sandwiches, I’ve perfected the falafel batter with the right mixture of fresh herbs, onions, garlic, and spices. It’s the best batter ever!
- Vegan-friendly recipe. Falafel is traditionally a vegan recipe with a chickpea base seasoned and formed into delicious little bites.
- Enjoyed in many ways. This recipe is so good because you can eat these falafels in many ways! They’re perfect for dipping in tahini sauce as an appetizer or stuffing them into bread with yummy toppings for a sandwich. Plus, you can mix and match different herbs and seasonings to make them just the way you like!
Homemade falafel ingredients
- Chickpeas: Use dry chickpeas, not canned. Canned chickpeas are too soft and will not bind together correctly.
- Onion: Yellow onions have the best flavor for falafels, but any large onion will do. Don’t substitute onion powder because the fresh onions add texture, a touch of moisture, and extra flavor to the patties.
- Baking powder: Baking powder is used in falafel recipes to help the chickpea mixture rise and become light and fluffy.
- Fresh herbs and garlic: This recipe is just chickpeas with herbs, and a few other ingredients, so fresh is the way to go.
- Seasonings: cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper, black pepper
How to make falafels in the air fryer
Prepare to make some delicious falafels by soaking the chickpeas overnight and drying them well before making the batter. Quartering the onion can make blending easier. Don’t worry, this recipe is a breeze, and if the batter isn’t sticking together, you can always adjust it as needed.
Make the falafel batter
- Place the soaked and dried chickpeas and salt in the bowl of a food processor.
- After pulsing the chickpeas into fine crumbles, add the cilantro, parsley, onion, salt, cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.
- Blend until the mixture turns into a thick green paste, scraping down the sides as needed. Remove the blade from the bowl, then cover and refrigerate to let the batter set.
- Remove the falafel batter from the fridge. Sprinkle the baking powder over the top, then gently fold it throughout.
- Use a falafel scoop or spoon to portion the batter If using a spoon, shape the batter into a ball or flat disc.
- Place them on a parchment line baking sheet for easy transfer to the air fryer.
How to air fry falafel
- Place some of the shaped falafels in the air fryer basket, leaving enough room between each piece.
- Cook until crisp and browned on the outside.
Tips for making the best air fried falafels
- Soak the chickpeas overnight. While 12 hours will do the trick, giving a full day will ensure they are soft and blend easily into a batter, resulting in a better texture after cooking.
- Chill before cooking. Letting falafel batter rest in the fridge allows the flavors to meld together and the mixture to firm up, making it easier to shape into patties or balls. This also helps the falafel to hold its shape during cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer. Preheating your air fryer for a few minutes before cooking is important to make sure it’s hot enough and ready to cook your falafels evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Remember to give your falafels some breathing room in the air fryer basket so they cook up evenly and get nice and crispy all around!
- Flip halfway through. Air fryer recipes often recommend shaking or flipping the basket during cooking to ensure even browning of the food. To avoid damaging the fragile falafels, it’s best to flip them carefully with a fork or tongs.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Swap out the chickpeas. While chickpeas are the traditional falafel base, but you can also use other beans, such as black or kidney beans. I still recommend using dry beans for the best texture.
- Try different herbs. Parsley and cilantro are the most common herbs for falafel, but you can experiment with other herbs, like mint or dill, for a different flavor.
- Try different spices. Start with the basics, cumin, and coriander, and add or swap out with paprika, 7 spice, or chili powder to give them a different flavor.
- Add vegetables. Shredded or grated vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or sweet potatoes to the falafel mixture add extra flavor and make for a heartier chickpea bite.
- Add cheese. Cheese isn’t a common addition, but who can resist? Use a hard cheese like parmesan to ensure you still get a crispy air fryer falafel.
How to serve falafel
- Sandwiches and Wraps: Falafels can be stuffed in pita bread, wraps, tortillas, and fresh veggies, pickles, and sauces for a quick lunch or dinner.
- Salads: Add to salads to provide a plant-based protein source and a crunchy texture. You can also use falafel in a vegetarian or vegan salad as a meat substitute.
- Bowls: You can use falafels as a base for a bowl, which can include rice or quinoa, veggies, and sauces.
- Appetizers: Falafels make great appetizers that can be served with various dips such as hummus, tzatziki, or tahini sauce.
- Side dish: Serve as a side dish alongside roasted veggies, quinoa, or rice.
How to store & reheat falafel
To store your air fryer falafels, let them cool to room temperature and then transfer them to an airtight container.
To reheat the falafels, you can pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes until they are heated through and crispy again, or you can heat them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
How long will air fried falafel last in the fridge?
They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Can I freeze falafels?
You can freeze both cooked and uncooked falafels. Let them cool, then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. For uncooked falafels, shape them into patties or balls. Store in a freezer-safe container for 2 months. Follow the recipe to reheat, adding a few extra minutes.
Frequently asked questions
For each batch of falafels, using 1 ½ tablespoons of batter, cook for 10 minutes. Adjust the cooking time accordingly if making multiple batches (this recipe requires about 3 rounds of air frying).
It’s not necessary to cook chickpeas first when making air fryer falafels. However, you do need to soak the chickpeas overnight to soften them before making the falafel mixture. Soaking the chickpeas will help them blend more easily and create a smoother texture for the falafel mixture.
I don’t recommend quick soaking chickpeas for the same reason as canned chickpeas. It can make them too soft, and falafels are best made with dry, uncooked chickpeas that have been soaked slowly.
Air fryer falafels are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional deep-fried falafels. They are versatile, easy to make, and can be customized to suit your taste preferences. By following the tips and tricks mentioned above, you can ensure that your falafels turn out perfectly crispy and flavorful every time. So why not try this recipe and enjoy a tasty and nutritious snack or meal?
More Lebanese air fryer recipes:
- Chicken Shawarma Salad
- Kibbeh
- Beef Shawarma
- Shawarma Pita Pizza
- Chicken Shish Tawook
- Zaatar Manakeesh
- Ful Medames
- Lebanese Mujadara
- Vegan Cauliflower Pita Sandwiches
If you try this feel good Air Fryer Falafel recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
Air Fryer Falafel
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry chickpeas uncooked
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- 1 large onion roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons coriander
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Olive oil spray
- Tahini sauce for serving
- Lettuce for serving
- Tomato sliced for serving
Instructions
- Cover the chickpeas with water in a large bowl. Set aside at room temperature to soak for at least 12 and up to 24 hours. They will end up doubling in size.
- Drain the chickpeas. Rinse and dry them as thoroughly as possible.
- Place the chickpeas and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to create fine crumbles. Add the cilantro, parsley, onion, garlic, salt, cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Blend until the mixture turns into a thick green paste, scraping down the sides as needed. Remove the blade from the bowl, then cover the bowl of the food processor and refrigerate for 1 hour to let the batter set.
- Remove the falafel batter from the fridge. Sprinkle the baking powder over the top, then gently fold it throughout.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Using a medium spring-loaded cookie scoop (or your hands), scoop, firmly pack, and roll about 1 ½ tablespoons of batter into a round ball and add it to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Heat the air fryer to 400ºF. Arrange about 12 falafel balls in the air fryer basket, spray the falafel balls with cooking spray, and cook for 10 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. Repeat with the remaining falafel balls to make about 36.
- Transfer the falafel to a serving platter and serve tahini sauce for dipping.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Is there a way to increase parsley amount? Thank you!
Yes, you can add as much parsley as you’d like! Enjoy!!
I soaked dry chickpeas and cooked them as per your how to cook chickpeas recipe. I did this for the purpose of salads and hummus. Would I be able to use cooked chickpeas for this recipe?
Unfortunately, no. Uncooked chickpeas provide the best texture, cooking the chickpeas or using canned chickpeas can make the falafel fall apart!
I think 1 tbsp made the falafel too salty. Not sure if its a typo or different type of salt. I would probably just use a tsp of salt next time.
No, it isn’t a typo! So sorry that you found it too salty, you can definitely adjust the amount if you make the recipe again. Not sure if you ate your falafel with the tahini sauce, but the fat in the sauce helps cut some of the saltiness as well!
Love this recipe for it’s healthy alternative to traditional falafel. Easy to make and yields a lot. So tasty!!! Just became an instant classic in my house!! Thank you for this recipe!
Aww, I’m so happy you like it!! Thank you!
This is the most delicious falafel! I have never been able to make a falafel that wasn’t a hockey puck…until now! The exterior is light and crisp and the inside is light and fluffy with lots of flavor! Super happy to have found this recipe!
We have been eating healthier (to reduce cholesterol) and looking for more air fryer’s recipes. We used to love eating falafel since we love all Mediterranean food! But with all of the oil that it absorbs we stopped making it. Now with this amazing air fryer falafel recipe this one would be on our dinner rotations recipes! They came out absolutely delicious, crispy, and way healthier than the traditional way of frying them.
Always on the lookout for some new feel good foodie recipes!!
Yay, so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Made these over the weekend, easy to make and they are really good not deep fried.
I’ll definitely make these again. Thanks
Thanks, Vanessa! So glad you enjoyed it.
I usually remove the skins from my chickpeas after I have cooked them when I’m making hummus. Would I do that here, too? You didn’t say to do that, so that made me think that I can can skip that step. Thanks!
Yes, no need in this recipe!
I made the air fryer version for lunch today, and they were delicious! I sprayed them with evoo before cooking and they browned beautifully. I ate them with the tahini sauce, which is also yummy! I will be making this again!!
So glad you loved them!
I will try this recipe tomorrow. I was just wondering if the calories are counted per portion or per individual?
Thank you so much.
Per individual falafel.