Easy Air Fryer Falafel Recipe – Vegan & Glutenfree

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hola you Falafel crazy folks! This Air Fryer Falafel Recipe is going to swoon you over. Not only is this recipe delicious, it is healthier too. These are CRUNCHY from outside and soft in the middle. Stuff them in Pita or a wrap, it makes a yummy wholesome meal. 

how to make falafel in air fryer?
Healthy & Yummy Falafels

Easy Vegan Air Fryer Falafel Recipe

I am a huge fan of falafel from the Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Cuisine. These are deep fried balls of chickpeas that are crunchy from out side and melt in the mouth from the center. Super packed with fresh flavors of herbs and seasonings, these babies can blow your mind off with their texture and flavors. 

Since air-fryer falafels are healthy and guilt-free, I can enjoy them to the fullest. Isn’t that awesome? It is also Vegan, Gluten-free and requires minimal amount of oil. 

I tried the oven-baked version as well. These were good but not close to the original deep fried version. The Air-fryer Falafels are the closest to the original texture. 

I love grabbing a falafel wrap from the streets of New York from the street vendors. Barcelona has many shawarma houses and they make excellent falafels.

SIMPLYVEGETARIAN777 AIR FRYER RECIPES

Air fryer Banana Bread, Air fryer Baby Potatoes, Air fryer Fajitas, Air-fryer Tofu in Asian Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Apple StrudelSweet Potato Fries, Hand PiesBread RollsSalted NutsPeanuts, Air fryer Green Peas,Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Banana Chips, Peas Puff Pastry Air Fryer Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Air Fryer Apple Crisp Recipe, Air Fryer Calzone Recipe , Air Fryer Croissant Rolls with spinach & ricotta, Shishito peppers and more.

What is Falafel?

[Resource – here]

Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. It is a traditional Middle Eastern Food, commonly served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as taboon.

Then these balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini based sauces. You can eat these alone as a snack or serve as part of a meze tray (assortment of appetizers).

Falafel is eaten throughout the Middle East and is a common street food. It is usually made with fava beans in Egypt and with chickpeas in the Levant. This is popular with vegetarians & vegans world-wide.

Falafel Ingredients

What are the ingredients of Falafel?

Chickpeas, dry and soaked – Please do not use canned chickpeas for this recipe. Results won’t be same.

Chickpea flour – Since it has the same flavor profile as of Chickpeas, it suits the best to combine the ingredients. You may use all purpose flour or corn starch in case you do not have chickpea flour. 

Baking Soda – keeps the inside of the falafels soft & melting.

Fresh Produce – Parsley, Cilantro, Onion, Garlic

SpicesCoriander powder, Cumin powder, paprika, Salt

Condiments to serveHummus, Tzatziki, Pickled Vegetables, Pita, Wraps, Hot Sauce

Oil Spray

Kitchen Gadgets for the Recipe

Measuring Cups & Spoon

AIR FRYER

Air fryer parchment paper

Mixing Bowl

Ice-cream scooper

Chopping Board & Knife

Food Processor

Stirring Spoon

 

how does the inside of falafel look?

How to make Falafels in Air-fryer?

Soaking the Chickpeas

Wash Chickpeas couple of times under running cold water. Since these beans double and triple in size after soaking, so make sure to soak them in enough water in a large Bowl. Soak these for at least  10-12 hrs or overnight. When ready to use, drain the water and set aside.

Making the Falafel Mix

Take your large Food Processor and add roughly chopped onion and garlic to it. Process it fine (not paste).

Herbs – Make sure that the herbs are thoroughly washed. Remove the hard parts of parsley and cilantro and use only the tender stems plus leaves. Now add parsley and cilantro to the processor. Process it a little to mix with onion & garlic. Open the processor and loosen up the mix with a Stirring Spoon.

Now add the soaked and drained Chickpeas, Chickpea flour, Baking Soda, Coriander powder, Cumin powder, paprika, Salt to the processor. Pulse and process the mixture till chickpeas are crushed. In between, stop the processor few times, open and loosen the mixture if needed. Uneven pieces of chickpeas are ok. Don’t process it too fine. Falafel are grainy in texture. We need grainy mix for falafel.

Finally remove the falafel mixture to a large Mixing Bowl. Mix well with a Stirring Spoon or hands. It will be a grainy mix but will combine well because of chickpea flour. If needed, add more Chickpea flour to bind the mix. 

Refrigerating the Mix

Now cover and refrigerate the mix for 25-30 minutes. It becomes easy to handle when refrigerated.

Shaping the Falafel

Prepare a cookie tray with parchment paper on it. You will use this tray to keep the shaped falafels till ready to be air-fried.

Shaping can be a bit tricky depending upon how well combined your falafel mix is. I use ice cream scooper to scoop the dough and place it directly on the Air fryer parchment paper. Then patted these scoops a bit down to form about 2 inches wide mini patties for even cooking. You can leave these dome shaped too. Or if your mix is firm enough, then roll between your hands and air fry. You can make smaller size falafels too. Time will vary and be faster for smaller size. 

I did not make a tight mix. My falafel mix was slightly soft and ice-cream scoop worked really well. If you do not have ice cream scoop, then you can use a soup spoon as well to scoop and shape. 

Air frying Falafel

Pre-heat AIR FRYER at 390*F for 5 minutes. Then place 7-9 falafels on a parchment paper & place inside the basket. Spray these falafels with the oil spray lightly. 

AIR FRY FALAFELS at 390*F for up to 20 minutes till crispy from all the sides. If you are making smaller falafels, those might get done between 13-15 minutes. The timing will also depend upon how dry or wet your mix is. Drier mix will cook faster and wet mix will take time. I like slightly wet mix since it keeps the falafel moist from inside. Try slightly wet mix. It is totally worth the texture.

I will be honest, I love using Air fryer parchment paper for most of my air-fried recipes. It makes the cooking and cleaning so convenient. And later I remove the parchment paper and transfer these directly to the basket for crisping up from all the sides. Air fry directly on the air fryer basket minus the parchment paper for last 2-3 minutes.

If you do not have air fryer parchment paper then you can place them directly on the basket. Make sure to grease the basket properly. 

Serving Suggestion

Serve these warm immediately. These are well served with hummus, tzatziki and tahini, pickled vegetables on the side. 

We love stuffing Pita Pockets with falafel, hummus, tzatziki, & pickled onions. You can add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives to the pocket along with falafels. 

It makes a delicious meal. You can serve these as appetizers also along with all the sauces.

Lately, falafel burgers are making a wave too. SO make mini-sliders with these for your get-togethers.

Oven Baked Falafel
Oven Baked Falafel

How to make falafels in the Oven?

You will follow the same instructions for preparing the chickpeas, making the falafel mix, and shaping these. Now preheat the oven at 425*F and then oven bake these falafels for 25-30 minutes till crispy.

Is this recipe good for Deep Frying?

Yes. But for deep-frying make sure that the falafel mix is tight and is not falling apart. Then deep fry at medium heat till golden brown.

Falafel Pita Pocket
Falafel Pita Pocket

Can I use canned chickpeas for this recipe?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. Please use dry chickpeas for this recipe.

Is it ok to make falafels in advance?

Yes you can make these in advance. I always make these in bulk and refrigerate for healthy snacking. 

Can I freeze these?

I have not tried freezing these. But if you freeze them separately on a flat try first and then put them in a freezer friendly bag and FREEZE. 

How to re-heat the falafels?

Place the refrigerated falafels in the air fryer basket and air fry at 390*F for 2-4 minutes till they are hot in the middle. 

How to store the leftovers?

Bring these to the room temperature and then refrigerate these in air tight container.

Is air fryer falafel healthy?

YES air fryer falafel are very healthy. These are high in protein, fiber & minerals. Since these have minimal amount of oil, this is heart healthy and good for diabetics.

Air Fryer Falafel Recipe - vegan and gluten-free

SIMPLYVEGETARIAN777 AIR FRYER RECIPES

Air Fryer Baby PotatoesAir-Fryer Fajita VeggiesAir-fryer Tofu in Asian Sauce, Sweet Potatoes, Apple StrudelSweet Potato Fries, Hand PiesBread RollsSalted NutsPeanuts, Air fryer Green Peas,Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Banana Chips, Peas Puff Pastry Air Fryer Stuffed Poblano Peppers, Air Fryer Apple Crisp Recipe, Air Fryer Calzone Recipe , Air Fryer Croissant Rolls with spinach & ricotta, Shishito peppers and more.

Simplyvegetarian777 Vegan Instant Pot Curry Recipes

Chana Masala, Saag Aloo, Rajma Masala (red kidney beans curry), Palak Paneer, Aloo Baingan ( potato eggplant curry), Lobiya (Black eye Peas curry) and more.

Simplyvegetarian777  INSTANT POT VEGAN ASIAN RECIPES

Red Thai Curry, Green Thai Curry, Kung Pao Noodles, Thai Curry Noodles, Tom Yum

Simplyvegetarian777 Instant Pot Desserts

Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Holiday Coffee Cake, Chocolate Cheesecake, New York Cheesecake and many more.

Simplyvegetarian777  Instant Pot Vegetarian Soups

Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Panera Corn Chowder, Olive Garden Minestrone Soup, Poblano Cheddar Soup, Taco Soup, Mixed Beans Chili, Hot & Sour Soup,

Wonton Soup, Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup and more.

You can follow us on FacebookInstagramPinterest & Twitter & You-tube for regular updates. And don’t forget to sign up for our E-Letter whenever we publish a new post.

Air Fryer Falafel Recipe

Air Fryer Falafel Recipe - vegan and gluten-free
Print Pin
3 from 3 votes

Easy Air Fryer Falafel Recipe

These air fryer falafels are super yummy and taste as good as the original deep fried ones. This is vegan and gluten-free recipe and will become your family favorite.
Course Lunch/Dinner, Main / Dinner, Side Dish, Snacks / Brunch / Appetizers
Cuisine Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Keyword air fryer appetizers, air fryer falafel, Air Fryer Recipes, vegan air fryer recipes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Soaking Time 12 hours
Servings 30 falafels
Calories 22kcal
Author simplyvegetarian777

Equipment

  • Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cups, Stirring Spoon,
  • Chopping board and knife
  • Air fryer parchment paper
  • Air Fryer
  • mixing bowl
  • Food Processor
  • Stirring Spoon
  • Ice cream scooper

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Chickpeas dry
  • 1 medium Onion, white chopped
  • 3-4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup Parsley with its leaves & tender stems thick stems removed
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro with its leaves & tender stems thick stems removed
  • 3-4 tbsp Chickpea flour use 1 tbsp at a time to bind the mix
  • 1/2 tbsp Coriander powder
  • 1/2 tbsp Cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1&1/2 to 2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • Few sprays of Oil Spray

Instructions

Read the complete recipe first. Then gather ingredients. ALWAYS READ NOTES FOR TIPS & INFORMATION.

    Soaking the Chickpeas

    • Wash Chickpeas couple of times under running cold water. Since these beans double and triple in size after soaking, so make sure to soak them in enough water in a large Bowl. Soak these for at least  10-12 hrs or overnight. When ready to use, drain the water and set aside.

    Making the Falafel Mix

    • Take your large Food Processor and add roughly chopped onion and garlic to it. Process it fine (not paste).
    • Herbs - Make sure that the herbs are thoroughly washed. Remove the hard parts of parsley and cilantro and use only the tender stems plus leaves. Now add parsley and cilantro to the processor. Process it a little to mix with onion & garlic. Open the processor and loosen up the mix with a Stirring Spoon.
    • Now add the soaked and drained Chickpeas, Chickpea flour, Baking Soda, Coriander powder, Cumin powder, paprika, Salt to the processor. Pulse and process the mixture till chickpeas are crushed. In between, stop the processor few times, open and loosen the mixture if needed. Uneven pieces of chickpeas are ok. Don't process it too fine. Falafel are grainy in texture. We need grainy mix for falafel.
    • Finally remove the falafel mixture to a large Mixing Bowl. Mix well with a Stirring Spoon or hands. It will be a grainy mix but will combine well because of chickpea flour. If needed, add more Chickpea flour to bind the mix. 

    Refrigerating the Mix

    • Now cover and refrigerate the mix for 25-30 minutes. It becomes easy to handle when refrigerated.

    Shaping the Falafel

    • Prepare a cookie tray with parchment paper on it. You will use this tray to keep the shaped falafels till ready to be air-fried.
    • Shaping can be a bit tricky depending upon how well combined your falafel mix is. I use ice cream scooper to scoop the dough and place it directly on the Air fryer parchment paper. Then patted these scoops a bit down to form about 2 inches wide mini patties for even cooking. You can leave these dome shaped too. Or if your mix is firm enough, then roll between your hands and air fry. You can make smaller size falafels too. Time will vary and be faster for smaller size. 
    • I did not make a tight mix. My falafel mix was slightly soft and ice-cream scoop worked really well. If you do not have ice cream scoop, then you can use a soup spoon as well to scoop and shape. 

    Air frying Falafel

    • Pre-heat AIR FRYER at 390*F for 5 minutes. Then place 7-9 falafels on a parchment paper & place inside the basket. Spray these falafels with the oil spray lightly. 
    • AIR FRY FALAFELS at 390*F for up to 20 minutes till crispy from all the sides. If you are making smaller falafels, those might get done between 13-15 minutes. The timing will also depend upon how dry or wet your mix is. Drier mix will cook faster and wet mix will take time. I like slightly wet mix since it keeps the falafel moist from inside. Try slightly wet mix. It is totally worth the texture.
    • I will be honest, I love using Air fryer parchment paper for most of my air-fried recipes. It makes the cooking and cleaning so convenient. And later I remove the parchment paper and transfer these directly to the basket for crisping up from all the sides. Air fry directly on the air fryer basket minus the parchment paper for last 2-3 minutes.
    • If you do not have air fryer parchment paper then you can place them directly on the basket. Make sure to grease the basket properly. 

    Serving Suggestion

    • Serve these warm immediately. These are well served with hummus, tzatziki and tahini, pickled vegetables on the side. We love stuffing Pita Pockets with falafel, hummus, tzatziki, & pickled onions. You can add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives to the pocket along with falafels. It makes a delicious meal. You can serve these as appetizers also along with all the sauces. Lately, falafel burgers are making a wave too. SO make mini-sliders with these for your get-togethers.

    How to make falafels in the Oven?

    • You will follow the same instructions for preparing the chickpeas, making the falafel mix, and shaping these. Now preheat the oven at 425*F and then oven bake these falafels for 25-30 minutes till crispy.

    Is this recipe good for Deep Frying?

    • Yes. But for deep-frying make sure that the falafel mix is tight and is not falling apart. Then deep fry at medium heat till golden brown.

    Instant pot air fryer lid instructions

    • You will follow the same instructions as the air fryer. It might cook the falafels faster than the regular air fryer.

    Notes

    You can follow us on FacebookInstagramPinterest & Twitter & You-tube for regular updates. And don’t forget to sign up for our E-Letter whenever we publish a new post.

    Can I use canned chickpeas for this recipe?

    ABSOLUTELY NOT. Please use dry chickpeas for this recipe.

    Is it ok to make falafels in advance?

    Yes you can make these in advance. I always make these in bulk and refrigerate for healthy snacking. 

    Can I freeze these?

    I have not tried freezing these. But if you freeze them separately on a flat try first and then put them in a freezer friendly bag and FREEZE. 

    How to re-heat the falafels?

    Place the refrigerated falafels in the air fryer basket and air fry at 390*F for 2-4 minutes till they are hot in the middle. 

    How to store the leftovers?

    Bring these to the room temperature and then refrigerate these in air tight container.

    Is air fryer falafel healthy?

    YES air fryer falafel are very healthy. These are high in protein, fiber & minerals. Since these have minimal amount of oil, this is heart healthy and good for diabetics.

    Kitchen Gadgets for the Recipe

    Measuring Cups & Spoon
    AIR FRYER
    Air fryer parchment paper
    Mixing Bowl
    Ice-cream scooper
    Chopping Board & Knife
    Food Processor
    Stirring Spoon

    Nutrition

    Serving: 30balls | Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 446mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

    I am sure you are going to make this recipe soon. Please leave your feedback in the comments section.

    Thanks,

    Sonal

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.