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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes

    Sweet Potato and Millet Falafel

    Published: Mar 3, 2014 · by Meg · Updated: Feb 15, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Sweet Potato & Millet Falafel
    I have a confession: I have an absolute obsession with falafel. I am always dreaming up new ways to make it for my family on those special nights when we indulge ourselves and this sweet potato and millet version is my newest flavor combination. If you have ever ordered authentic falafel at a Mediterranean restaurant then you know that it's crisp and golden on the outside while the inside stays nice and tender. The secret to achieving this texture at home is by using dried, not canned, chickpeas.

    A batch of falafel like this one is simple to pull together and cook, but there is some advance preparation that has to happen. First, the chickpeas have to soak for 24 hours to get all nice and tender. You won't actually be cooking them, so the soaking process is really important.

    Sweet Potato & Millet Falafel
    This recipe also calls for mashed sweet potato and cooked millet. If you aren't familiar with millet, it's a tiny grain that is mildly sweet and nutty. It is incredibly versatile and has pretty much replaced couscous for us since we went gluten-free. Millet cooks up a lot like rice; I toast mine first and then add broth or water (2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of millet), salt, and a little butter or Earth Balance. Then you bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer covered for 15-18 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Since it triples in volume after cooking, for this falafel recipe, you'll start with about ⅓ cup dry millet.

    It may seem like a lot of effort, but trust me it is so worth it when you bite down into that beautiful golden falafel! I serve ours with hummus, guacamole, and tzatziki for dipping, homemade gluten-free naan for wrapping, and grilled veggies. It really is a family favorite around here!

    Recipe

    Sweet Potato & Millet Falafel

    Sweet Potato and Millet Falafel

    Serve this Sweet Potato & Millet Falafel with pitas or flatbread, hummus, tzatziki, and veggies. We've tested it deep-fried, pan-fried, and baked and it's delicious any way you make it!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Course: Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Keyword: falafel recipe, Sweet Potato and Millet Falafel
    Servings: 4 -6 servings
    Calories: 422kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dried chickpeas soaked for 24 hours (see note)
    • 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato about 1 medium
    • ½ cup chopped red onion
    • 2 cloves garlic quartered
    • ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 cup cooked millet at room temperature
    • Grapeseed oil for frying
    • 1-2 tablespoons chickpea flour and ¼ teaspoon baking soda if needed
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the chickpeas, sweet potato, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, coriander, salt, cumin, cayenne, and black pepper into the bowl of a food processor and alternate between pulsing and blending, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until all of the ingredients in the the falafel mixture are uniform in size, but still slightly grainy in texture. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and fold in the cooked millet.
    • Roll a small amount of the falafel mixture into a walnut sized ball or a small patty with your hands. It should hold together nicely and not fall apart. (If it seems too wet, sprinkle the mixture with a small amount of the chickpea flour, no more than a tablespoon at a time, and fold it in. Once texture is correct, sprinkle the baking soda over the falafel and stir the mixture until combined.) Repeat the shaping process with the rest of the falafel mixture and place the uncooked falafel on a large plate or baking sheet until ready to cook.

    To Deep-Fry (For Crispiest Falafel)

    • Pour the grapeseed oil into a high-sided skillet or saucepan to a depth of 3 inches or high enough to cover the falafel. Place a thermometer into the oil and heat on medium-high until the temperature reaches 360°-375°F.
    • While the oil is heating, place a flattened paper grocery bag onto a baking sheet and cover it with a few clean paper towels. This will help to collect the oil as it drains off of your falafel.
    • When the oil is ready, fry a test falafel. The oil should bubble up and sizzle all around it. The falafel itself should stay together in one piece and not break apart at all. It should take 2-3 minutes to fry to a beautiful golden brown. If your falafel is not completely submerged flip and cook the other side until it’s nice and browned all over. Remove the cooked falafel from the oil and drain on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt while the falafel is still hot, if desired. Fry the remaining falafel in batches, being careful not to over-crowd the pan and drop the temperature of the oil.

    To Pan-Fry (For Crispy Falafel)

    • Shape your falafel into patties, not balls. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of grape seed oil in the skillet and swirl to coat. Place the falafel patties in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until crispy and browned. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb the excess oil and sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired.

    To Bake (For Not-So-Crispy Falafel)

    • Shape your falafel into patties, not balls. Preheat the oven to 400ºF and spray a baking sheet with an oil mister filled with grapeseed oil. Place the falafel onto the baking sheet and spray the tops with additional oil; bake for about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time, or until golden brown on the outside.

    Notes

    To soak the chickpeas: Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and fill with water to cover them to a depth of 3 inches. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave on counter for 24 hours. The chickpeas will triple in size and absorb quite a bit of the water, so check a few times during soaking to see if you need to add more. Once the beans have soaked for 24 hours, drain and rinse well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 17gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 620mgPotassium: 739mgFiber: 15gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 5191IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 6mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « This Week's Meatless Meal Plan | 03.03.14
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    Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Appetizers, Vegetarian Main Dishes, Vegetarian Recipes, Vegetarian Side Dishes chickpeas, gluten-free, main dishes, millet, sweet potato

    Meg from Beard and Bonnett

    About Meg

    Meg van der Kruik is the blogger, photographer, and recipe developer behind This Mess is Ours, an omnivorous food blog with an incredible collection of gluten-free, vegetarian recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

      March 03, 2014 at 8:44 am

      Such a brilliant idea!!!!

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 03, 2014 at 12:41 pm

        Thanks Liz!

        Reply
    2. Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says

      March 03, 2014 at 9:39 am

      Yummmmmm! This looks so good! 🙂 One question, the chickpeas aren't supposed to be cooked? why is that?

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 03, 2014 at 12:44 pm

        The chickpeas soak up enough water to tenderize during the soaking process. They can swell up to three times their original size. When you cook these in the oil they will be super crisp on the outside almost like you dredged them in flour and breadcrumbs, but without having to do that.Making it this way the falafel has a completely different, more firm texture than if you used cooked or canned beans which I find make falafel mushy.

        Reply
    3. gillian says

      March 03, 2014 at 11:11 am

      you have an uncanny knack of posting recipes that use things i have languishing in my cupboards and fridge and don't know what to do with [sad looking sweet potatoes that were on sale] 🙂

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 03, 2014 at 12:45 pm

        Gillian, make falafel!! The pantry Gods are on your side;)

        Reply
    4. Elisa @ Insalata di Sillabe says

      March 03, 2014 at 11:26 am

      I've never had the chance to try falafel but always wanted to…these look delicious and I can't wait to use millet in a recipe for the first time, too!

      xo, Elisa

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 03, 2014 at 12:46 pm

        Elisa, I think that you will find you love millet. When i first tried it I loved it so much that I was actually bummed that I waited so long to use it. I cook it at least once or twice a week now.

        Reply
    5. Samantha @FerraroKitchen says

      March 03, 2014 at 11:51 am

      I love falafel so much and only make it the traditional way, which is silly because I am living in a bubble...lol And thank you for mentioned to sue DRIED beans...it won't work with canned. And LOVE the addition of sweet potato...my new addiction!

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 03, 2014 at 12:47 pm

        Samantha, it is so hard to break from traditional falafel because they are just SO good!! I often branch out like this, but we definitely eat more traditional falafel than any other kind.

        Reply
    6. dishing up the dirt says

      March 03, 2014 at 1:37 pm

      I could eat the whole batch in one sitting. These sound fabulous!

      Reply
    7. Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily says

      March 03, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      I adore falafel too! They're so cute even my kids will eat them 😉 I'll bet they'll gobble these up with the sweet potatoes in them, fabulous idea! Pinned to make asap!

      Reply
    8. Jenni @ Fitzala says

      March 03, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      These look wonderful! I love falafel too but have never made it at home. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    9. Sondi says

      March 03, 2014 at 10:32 pm

      I love falafel, too, but have always used cooked chickpeas to make it at home. This recipe looks very more-ish. Tell me the truth - which version tasted the best: the deep-fried, pan-fried or baked?

      Reply
      • Kiersten Frase says

        March 04, 2014 at 10:15 am

        Meg made it deep-fried and I made it baked and pan-fried. I'm sure the deep-fried version probably tasted the best, but it got a nice crispy crust when pan-fried too! The baked version was delicious, but the exterior didn't get as crispy and that's kind of the best thing about falafel. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Joanne says

      March 03, 2014 at 11:02 pm

      Hold up. You don't cook the chickpeas before using them?! Where has this concept been all my life! And to think, I thought I'd made falafel before...but OBVIOUSLY NOT.

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 06, 2014 at 9:42 pm

        Ha ha! Joanne, you must try it this way it is a total falafel game changer.

        Reply
    11. Kari@Loaves n Dishes says

      March 04, 2014 at 4:23 pm

      I'm adore falafel, and since Moaz is near me and makes them so wonderfully, I never make them. But Moaz doesn't make sweet potato falafel, so now I have the perfect excuse to make them! Yuuuuuuum!

      Reply
    12. Yasmeen | Wandering Spice says

      March 06, 2014 at 9:18 pm

      What a fantastic idea! Different from the original but in a way I can really get on board with (admittedly I'm a purist when it comes to falafel, tabbouleh, hummus as I'm Middle Eastern). This is something I can certainly see making at home, and pan frying.

      Reply
    13. Tyra says

      March 09, 2014 at 7:28 pm

      Looks great and I can't wait to try. Is it just me or is the millet missing from the instructions?

      Reply
      • Kiersten Frase says

        March 09, 2014 at 8:40 pm

        We talk about how to cook millet in the post itself or you can follow the package instructions. 🙂

        Reply
      • Janis on the Farmette says

        October 18, 2015 at 9:36 am

        Not just you! Millet is missing from the instructions, but since it looks like all the ingredients are tossed into the food processor together, that's what I'll be doing. Can't wait to try this recipe!

        Reply
    14. danielle says

      March 10, 2014 at 12:26 pm

      Hello!

      I have made felafel the traditional way on several occasions. Want to try with sweet potato. However, can Quinoa or cous cous be used instead of millet as I have any at this time?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Meg van der Kruik says

        March 10, 2014 at 1:38 pm

        Hi Danielle,

        I am confidemt that quinoa will work and I am honestly completely unsure about how couscous would react since we are gluten free and I have not cooked with it in years. I think it would work.

        Reply
        • danielle says

          March 12, 2014 at 4:22 pm

          Thank you for your response! I was able to purchase some millet and made these today! Because I cook in stages many times, I assembled all of the ingredients last night processed and mixed as instructed and then put in fridge until this morning. This gave the spices time to marinate .Used a. small ice cream scoop to form balls and deep fried in my wok using peanut oil! Did not have to add flour or baking soda. They held very well! I also made fresh whole wheat pita bread and sesame tahini to top it with!
          This recipe is definately a winner and will be making it again! My family really enjoyed ESPECIALLY my sister who tries very hard to eat clean and gluten free!

          Reply
    15. Caron says

      March 18, 2014 at 8:00 pm

      Made these tonight - pan fried in coconut oil. They were delicious! Thanks!

      Reply
    16. Sande says

      May 03, 2014 at 5:19 pm

      Can these be made and frozen to eat later?

      Reply
    17. Nadja says

      November 07, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Hello
      what kind of flour you recommend secondarily to the chick pea flour? Whenever I buy it it ends up going to waste because I don't use it enough.
      Thanks!

      Reply
    18. Megan Mercier says

      May 31, 2015 at 12:01 am

      Meg - can you share your standard falafel recipe? I would like to try both!

      Thank you!

      Reply
    19. Anicca says

      March 26, 2021 at 7:26 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for the great recipe the spices were spot on! I used my immersion blender and this worked fine, used dried spices instead of fresh and pan fried with and without oil just to test if I could get away with it (both were fine for a light crisp). Deep frying would be mind blowing I imagine 😉 I might actually use your spice ratios for my other lentil patty recipes

      Reply
    20. Rosemary says

      August 17, 2023 at 5:24 am

      5 stars
      I followed the recipe only leaving out the garlic as it is too strong for me ..and it was AMAZING!! Without a doubt the best falafel I’ve ever .made or bought and I’ve tried a lot ….with all the low allergen ingredients that I can eat … so happy !!
      … my mother hates falafel she says they taste like sand and salt … and some of them do .. I might make some for her and I bet she will change her mind ..
      Just a tip: millet can takes ages to cook …but you can cook large batches it in your pressure cooker or ( instant pot)
      takes 12 minutes then freeze in 1 cup bags ready for the next meal or for theses delicious falafel
      Thanks so much

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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