The crunch on these air fryer falafels is going to knock your socks off! Easy to prepare, full of flavor, and very little oil required to cook them.
Baked falafels are a family favorite. We love to put them in falafel salad bowls, stuff them in pitas, and serve them up with super speedy tzatziki. But ever since I discovered how good they are cooked in the air fryer, the oven has just not been running as much
Though made a different way than authentic falafels, this version has familiar flavors, but reduces the oil substantially. Using dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight is the key to the crisp factor here, so be sure to skip the canned chickpeas this time. I promise it’s worth it!
What Are Falafels?
Falafels are small chickpea balls or fritters that are mashed or blended together, then deep fried. While the origins of the falafel is a contentious topic of debate, they are generally associated with the Middle East.
With a base of chickpeas, home chefs put their own spin on them by adding a variety of spices, garlic, onion, parsley and other herbs. If you are looking for authentic, check out these easy authentic falafels.
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Falafel
The crunch on these air fryer falafels is going to knock your socks off! Easy to prepare, full of flavor, and very little oil required to cook them.
Ingredients
1 cup dried chickpeas soaked at least 12 hours; see note 1
3 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
spray oil
Instructions
Soak chickpeas overnight- Place 1 cup of dried chickpeas in a large bowl or measuring cup. Cover with 4-5 cups of water, then cover and let it sit overnight.
The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas.
dried chickpeas soaking in large measuring cup, covered with a plate
Blend- in the base of a 7 cup food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the chickpeas, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne, baking powder, black pepper, salt and egg. Pulse the mixture for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula half way through.
ingredients for air fryer falafels in food processor
Texture- When the mixture is coarse and mealy (as pictured above), use a cookie scoop to carefully form the falafels. They will be crumbly, but should hold together when patted gently. If they fall apart completely, return to the food processor and blend for longer.
falafel mixture in a food processor after blending
Form-Spray the trays of your air fryer with spray oil. Use the cookie scoop to press the mixture in tightly, and form the falafels on the tray. Pat gently to flatten and form into a smooth shape. (The recipe video shows you exactly how to do this).
falafels on air fryer rack before cooking
Cook- Heat air fryer oven to 400°F for 5 minutes, then add the trays. Cook for 5-7 minutes, rotating trays as needed. Falafels are ready to come out when they’re golden.
falafels in the air fryer
Tips:
1- canned or cooked chickpeas do not work well in this recipe
2- this recipe is easiest to cook in an oven-style air fryer with removable trays. Make sure you spray or brush the trays with oil before forming the falafels.
3- if your air fryer has two racks, rotate them half way and play very close attention to the top rack to ensure they don’t burn. Personally I preferred to cook them only on the bottom rack.
4- makes roughly 14 falafels
Storage
These falafels are best served fresh, as they dry out a touch after storing.
store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through
Nutrition Information
Calories: 826kcal, Carbohydrates: 128g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 164mg, Sodium: 2447mg, Potassium: 2149mg, Fiber: 36g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 643IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 383mg, Iron: 16mg