Air Fryer Falafel (Vegan, Oil-Free)
This Air Fryer Falafel recipe is the healthy, crispy, and oil-free version of the traditional falafel recipe you know and love, paired with a lemon tahini dressing.
Servings: 4
Calories: 207kcal
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer (oven-baking instructions are included in the Notes)
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried chickpeas/garbanzo beans NOT canned
- ½ cup fresh parsley roughly chopped
- ½ cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
- 6 to 7 fresh mint leaves
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp coconut or regular aminos
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- Pinch cayenne pepper optional, for heat
Instructions
- Use dry chickpeas and soak them overnight for at least 8 hours, ideally 12 to 24 hours. Do not use canned chickpeas. In a large bowl, soak dry chickpeas in plenty of water (about 2 inches above the chickpeas should be sufficient) for at least 8 hours, but ideally, 12 to 24 hours.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Add soaked chickpeas, chopped red onion, garlic, fresh herbs, and spices to the bowl of a food processor. For the best air fryer falafel, process until a coarse falafel mixture forms, being careful not to overprocess!
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the falafel mixture and form into falafel patties or balls with clean hands. You can use the back of a spoon or an ice cream scoop to flatten out the patties.
- Carefully place the falafel balls or patties in the air fryer basket with room in between them so they cook evenly. Cook them at 400°F (205°C) for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown and firm. If oven baking, bake the falafel in a preheated oven at 425°F (218°C) for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- This air fryer falafel should be crispy on the outside, and moist and tender on the inside. Serve on a salad or wrap topped with Tahini Lemon Sauce, or Garlic Hummus. Salt to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Preparation Tips: Don’t overblend or overprocess. The mixture should be coarse enough to just hold its shape but not too mushy. Avoid crowding the air fryer basket; cook in batches for best results.
- Serving Suggestions: Enjoy this tasty air fryer falafel on a salad topped with Epic Tahini Lemon Garlic Sauce, garlic hummus, or butter bean hummus. This falafel is also used on the vegan Mediterranean pizza.
- Leftovers/Meal Prep: Store leftover cooked falafel in the refrigerator for up to four days. Falafel keeps well in the freezer for about two months. To cook from frozen, place in the air fryer and cook at 400°F (205°C) for 12 to 14 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 811IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 4mg
