Description
This Air Fryer Falafel Recipe offers a crispy and healthy twist on the traditional Middle Eastern favorite. Made from chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices, these falafels are air fried to perfection, delivering a flavorful and guilt-free meal that pairs wonderfully with pita, salads, or your favorite dipping sauces.
Ingredients
Scale
Falafel Mixture
- 2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or chickpea flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Additional olive oil spray for air frying
Instructions
- Prepare the Mixture: Add the chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture is finely chopped but still retains some texture.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the chopped mixture to a bowl. Stir in the lemon juice, flour, baking powder, and olive oil until well combined to form a cohesive mixture.
- Shape the Falafel: Form the mixture into small balls or patties about 1 to 2 inches wide, ensuring they’re compact enough to hold shape during cooking.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 375°F and preheat for a few minutes.
- Prepare for Air Frying: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil. Arrange the falafel in a single layer, leaving space between each. Lightly spray the tops of the falafel with oil as well.
- Air Fry: Cook the falafel for 10 to 12 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time, until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Serve: Remove falafel from the air fryer and serve warm alongside pita bread, salad, or your choice of dipping sauce such as hummus, tzatziki, or tahini.
Notes
- If the mixture feels too wet, add a little more flour to help it hold together better.
- Chilling the mixture for 20 minutes before shaping can make it easier to form the falafel.
- These falafel are delicious served with hummus, tzatziki, or tahini sauce for dipping.
