Air Fryer Falafel

Now you can make the traditional falafel in an air fryer. Air fryer falafel is the best alternative to deep-fried ones. The falafel made in an air fryer is definitely healthy compared to the traditional ones. Air-fried falafel is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with authentic flavors.

I was a little skeptical about this recipe because I could make the falafel mixture the right way. But after several trials and errors, I finally made this recipe the right way and thought of sharing it with you guys. And I’m so proud to make my favorite dish at home in a healthier way.

Falafel is a delicious vegetarian dish made with chickpeas, onions, herbs, and lots of spices. Generally, falafel is shaped like a meatball or like a patty. They are nutritious and packed with protein. Falafel is vegan-friendly and a treat for vegetarians.

What is falafel?

Falafel is commonly served as a street food in the Middle East. They are usually made with chickpeas or broad beans, herbs, and spices. And is cooked (deep-fried) by forming a ball or patty shape serving as a falafel sandwich/pita.

How to shape falafel for air frying?

Generally, falafel is made into a little ball or patty shape. If you’re making falafel for the first time in the air fryer the discs shape works better. Because it lays flat in the air fryer basket, cooks faster, and won’t roll around while cooking. However, you can make any shape of falafel depending on your liking.

After the chickpeas, herbs, and spices are processed together you need to take a scoop of the mixture and shape them with your hands. Make sure you’re gentle while making the falafel.

How to make falafel in the air fryer?

I’ve tried to make falafel mixture in the traditional way. To make this recipe you need to prepare the chickpeas by soaking them overnight. Now, let’s see what are ingredients used to make a falafel recipe.

Ingredients for air fryer chickpeas:

• 1 cup dry chickpeas (soaked overnight)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• ½ cup parsley leaves
• ¼ cut cilantro leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• Salt to taste
• Oil for cooking

Instructions for air fryer chickpeas:

Soak The Chickpeas:

Take a large bowl to add 1 cup of dry chickpeas and cover it with plenty of water. Leave the chickpeas to soak overnight or at least for 10-12 hours.

Drain the water completely and dry the chickpeas with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.

Make The Falafel Mixture:

Transfer the chickpeas, onion, parsley, and cilantro to the food processor and process for around 10 seconds.

Scrape down the sides add the spices and repeat the process 2-3 times until the mixture is well combined. The texture of the mixture should be like a coarse meal.

Then chill the falafel mixture in the fridge for about 30-40 minutes. However, this process is not mandatory you can escape this step. But if the mixture is mushy this step will help to hold the falafel together and prevents it from crumbling apart while cooking.

Put the sesame seeds in the mixture and mix.

Shape The Falafel:

Use a spoon or an ice cream scooper to take the falafel mixture. Then start shaping it into a ball or a disc shape with your hands.

Continue shaping the rest of the mixture.

Preheat The Air Fryer:

Spray/apply a generous amount of oil on the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 175C/347F for 3 minutes.

Cook The Falafel:

Place the falafel into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray/apply a generous amount of oil over the falafel balls and cook them at 175C/347F for 10 minutes. Flip the falafel balls apply oil and cook for 10 minutes more at 200C/400F.

The total cooking time is 20 minutes. I’ve made round-shaped falafel so, it takes a little more time. Additionally, the falafel will cook evenly this way, with a crispy outer surface and a soft inner center.

Serve and enjoy.

You can find the air fryer falafel recipe in the printable card below

How to serve air fryer falafel?

When it comes to serving the falafel you can serve the way you like the most. Here are some of the serving suggestions that you can try:

Serve them as an appetizer with your favorite dips- such as hummus and tahini sauce, pickled mango sauce, or ketchup.
Falafel pairs best with Mediterranean Lentil Salad. It tastes fresh with cucumber, and tomatoes and a dash of tanginess changes the game.
Falafel pita pocket with veg salad is the easiest way to serve.
You can serve falafel as a topping to any of your favorite salads.

Tips

• If the falafel mixture is too wet and doesn’t hold the shape you can add 1-2 tablespoons of chickpea flour or corn starch. Flour works as a binding agent to hold the falafel shape.
• Make sure to use overnight-soaked chickpeas for the recipe for the best result. Don’t use canned or cooked chickpeas because they get mushy and the texture is not right.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, place falafel in a single layer with enough room for the best result. Instead, cook in batches.
• Make sure to use fresh herbs for this recipe, dry herbs are not recommended.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the air fryer brand and the shape of the falafel. You should keep a close eye on it and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

To Store:

You can always store the leftover falafel for the other day. Before storing them falafel should be cooled completely. Place them in an air-tight container and store them in the refrigerator. They are good for 4-5 days.

If you want to store them for a longer period of time store them in a freezer-friendly air-tight container and store them in the freezer. They are good for 2-3 months.

To Reheat:

Place the leftover falafel in the air fryer basket and reheat them at 190C/375F for 3-5 minutes or until warmed through. However, leftover falafel will not have the same crispy outer layer but it’s still delicious.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions:

What is falafel made out of?

Falafel is commonly made out of chickpeas. The chickpeas are soaked overnight and drained. Mixed with fresh herbs and spices formed in a ball shape and deep-fried.

Should you use dry or canned chickpeas for making air fryer falafel?

Make sure to always use dry chickpeas that are soaked overnight while preparing the falafel recipe. Canned chickpeas get mushy and don’t hold the shape of falafel. Plus the texture of canned chickpeas is not right.

Why is my falafel wet inside?

When you cook falafel in high heat the outer layer gets crispy but the inside remains uncooked or wet. To avoid this problem follow my air fryer falafel cooking instructions step-by-step.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below.

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