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Homemade air fryer falafel

Easy Homemade Air Fryer Falafel

Learn how to make homemade Air Fryer Falafel that's packed with wholesome ingredients like chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, and cumin and crisped perfectly in the air fryer.
4.9 from 30 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 25 Falafel
Calories 32 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Food processor
  • Kitchen Tongs
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (200 g) dried chickpeas not canned or cooked
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) baking soda
  • 1/2 cup (30 g) fresh parsley leaves stems removed
  • 1/2 cup (8 g) fresh cilantro leaves stems removed
  • 1/4 cup (12 g) fresh dill stems removed
  • 1/4 small onion chopped (about 1/3 cup)
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled
  • 2 teaspoons (4 g) cumin
  • 1 teaspoon (0.1 g) dried coriander
  • 3/4 teaspoon (5 g) salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon (4 g) toasted sesame seeds
  • Cooking spray
  • Pita tomatoes, cucumbers, tzatziki sauce, if desired

Instructions
 

  • Add the dried chickpeas and baking soda to a bowl of cold water, covering the chickpeas by at least 1 inch”. Soak overnight.
  • In a food processor, blend the chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, garlic, and spices until well blended. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides to make sure it all gets blended well.
  • Transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to overnight.
  • Mix in the baking powder and sesame seeds.
  • Scoop the mixture into balls (golf ball sized).
  • Set the balls into the air fryer. Spray with cooking oil.
  • Cook on 375º F(190°C) for 15 minutes, turning the balls and respraying with oil after 10 minutes.
  • Serve hot on its own or add to pita bread with tzatziki, lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers.

Notes

  • It's crucial to use dried chickpeas and soak them overnight. This helps them break down better and gives a more authentic texture.
  • Refrigerating the mixture helps solidify it, making it easier to handle during the air frying process.
  • You might feel like the mixture isn't going to hold together, but I found that most of mine did. Only a few fell apart and had to be squeezed back together.
  • Carefully transfer them to the air fryer and once they're in the basket, they'll stay together.
  • The whole exterior of the falafel needs to be sprayed with oil to get the exterior perfectly crispy. There's really no other way to do it than with a spray because brushing them with olive oil will likely cause them to fall apart.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 93mgPotassium: 89mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 167IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chickpeas, herbs, spices
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