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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes

    How to Make Falafel

    Published: Jun 17, 2021 · by Nicole · Updated: Sep 15, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    homemade falafel
    homemade falafel
    homemade falafel

    Learn how to make falafel at home with this simple and easy to follow recipe. This falafel is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with spices and herbs in each bite. 

    bowl of homemade falafel with salad

    Serve your falafel on a wrap, sandwich, or create a falafel bowl. No matter how you serve up these bite-size falafel, they are sure to please!

    Falafels are so versatile—roll them in a wrap, form them into burgers, or even make them out of sweet potatoes! No matter how you make falafels, they're always delicious.

    This Falafel recipe is...

    • Vegan 
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian 
    • Dairy-free 
    • Freezable
    • Easy to make 

    How to Make Falafel 

    how to make homemade falafel collage
    1. Chop up the onion, garlic, and parsley in a food processor. Then add in the drained chickpeas, cumin, salt, pepper, and mix again. 
    2. Now transfer the mix to a bowl and stir in the flour. Let it rest 5 minutes.
    3. Then shape into balls—you will get around 14–16 for this recipe. 
    4. Then fry in a pan with some oil, making sure all sides brown. 
    5. Place on a paper towel, then serve. 

    Full directions and measurements for this falafel recipe are in the printable recipe card below. 

    Tips & Tricks for Falafel 

    top view homemade falafel

    Cookie Scoop 

    To get even balls, I recommend using a cookie scoop to scoop up the dough. That way all of your falafels will be similar in size. 

    Let dry on a paper towel

    Once you finish frying up your balls, place them on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess oil. This helps prevent all the excess oil. 

    Food Processor 

    I highly recommend using a food processor. If you don't use a food processor, you will find the texture can be a bit off from what you would like for a falafel. I find a blender just doesn't quite work as well. But if all you have is a blender, use the pulse setting. 

    Variations to Falafel 

    side view homemade falafel

    Canned Chickpeas 

    I soaked dry chickpeas for 12 hours before using them. But to make it quicker, you can use canned chickpeas or even pressure cook dried beans to speed up the cooking process. 

    Spices 

    Feel free to change up the spices used in this recipe. You can use whatever spices you enjoy most!

    Serving Falafel

    Serve your falafels in a bowl with green leaves, tomatoes, and a tahini sauce. Or eat them plain with your favorite sauce, put them in a wrap, or more. The possibilities are endless!

    Falafel FAQs

    two bowls of homemade falafel

    What is falafel? 

    Falafels are delicious balls made with chickpeas and warm spices. You will find traditional falafel recipes also use fava beans. 

    Can I bake falafel instead of frying it? 

    Go right ahead and bake these balls in the oven at 425°F for 20–30 minutes. 

    How do you reheat cold falafel?

    You can eat your falafel balls cold or warm them up in the microwave. Or, if you want a crispier texture, reheat your falafels in a pan on the stove or bake them in the oven till they are warmed through. 

    homemade falafel

    How to Make Falafel

    Learn how to make falafel at home with this simple and easy to follow recipe. This falafel is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with spices and herbs in each bite.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Resting Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Course: Appetizer, main dish, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: falafel recipe, homemade falafel, how to make falafel
    Servings: 16 falafel balls
    Calories: 73kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dry chickpeas soaked for at least 12 hours
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • ⅓ cup chickpea flour
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley
    • 2 cups green leaves
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
    • ⅓ cup oil for frying
    • ½ red onion, or 1 whole onion if small
    • ¼ tsp ground cumin
    • 1 tsp salt
    • ½ tsp ground pepper
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Set roughly chopped onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a food processor.
      homemade falafel
    • Pulse a few times.
      homemade falafel
    • Add previously soaked and drained chickpeas, cumin, salt, and ground pepper, and blend.
      homemade falafel
    • Blend until granulated texture.
      homemade falafel
    • Transfer mix to a bowl and add chickpea flour. Stir very well and let it rest for 5 minutes. After that, you should be able to form the falafel into balls. (Add one more tablespoon of chickpea flour if needed.)
      homemade falafel
    • Use your hands to roll mixture into 14–16 falafels. It's easier to make them one by one and fry them at the same time. Just make sure that you roll the dough together hard enough! To fry your falafels, add olive oil to a heated skillet and roll them over when they get brownish at the base.
      homemade falafel
    • Place falafels in a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
    • Serve falafels with green leaves, cherry tomatoes, and tahini sauce.
      homemade falafel

    Nutrition

    Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 151mgPotassium: 94mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 462IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
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    Vegan Main Dishes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Main Dishes, Vegetarian Recipes chickpea flour, chickpeas, parsley

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. dinoroland says

      June 30, 2021 at 8:32 am

      4 stars
      I love snacks like this, easy to make and delicious...

      Reply

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
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