Falafel is the ultimate finger food that you’re going to be craving on the reg after you make this recipe! It’s packed full of flavor but it isn’t just tasty; it’s also bursting with protein from hearty chickpeas and our air-fried twist keeps things light on the oil. It’s like a flavor-packed high-five for your taste buds.
Interested in a deep dive into the history of falafel? Check out our Deep Fried Falafel recipe.
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The Best Homemade Air Fryer Falafel
You might’ve had falafel, but we’re willing to bet you’ve never had falafel like this before! Made in
Even better, our
What is Falafel?
A staple Middle Eastern food, traditional falafel are deep-fried balls or patties. They contain chickpeas, fava beans, fresh herbs, and spices and are crisp on the outside yet soft in the center.
Is falafel a healthy recipe?
What we love about this falafel recipe is that it is healthy! Even our deep-fried falafel is healthy. Falafel is naturally packed with vitamins and nutrients and chickpeas, and fava beans are a solid source of plant-based protein.
One of the main benefits of using an
Ingredients You Need
- Dried Chickpeas and Dried Fava Beans – Be sure to use dried varieties, and soak them overnight. Do not substitute cooked chickpeas or beans!
- Green Onions – Use the white and green parts.
- Red Onion – Chop the onion finely to add a slight crunch and a tangy taste to every bite.
- Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic cloves provide the best flavor.
- Cilantro – Fresh cilantro adds a bright, almost peppery taste.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, ground coriander, and cumin create a bold, savory taste.
- Baking Soda – This helps soften the chickpeas and creates a crisp exterior. Do not substitute baking powder!
- Sesame Seeds – Technically optional, these add a slightly nutty taste and a satisfying crunch.
How to Make Falafel in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fry before you begin! The falafel won’t become crisp if it isn’t hot.
- Prepare the legumes. Soak the chickpeas and fave beans in water overnight.
- Create the falafel base. Add the soaked dried chickpeas, fava beans, green onion, red onion, garlic, and cilantro to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- Season. Add the salt, pepper, coriander, and cumin to the food processor. Pulse again to combine. Then, stir in the baking soda.
- Portion. Use an ice cream scooper to portion out balls of the falafel mixture.
- Top. Roll the balls in the sesame seeds.
- Cook. Arrange the falafel in the basket of an
air fryer lightly greased with olive oil or cooking spray. Air fry until they’re golden brown and cooked, flipping halfway through.
Tips for Success
- Work in batches. Avoid overcrowding your
air fryer basket! It’s crucial to leave a bit of space between each falafel patty. Work in batches as needed until they all cook through. - Avoid overcooking. Every
air fryer is different, and the exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the falafels. So, keep a close eye on the patties, and remove them as soon as they’re golden and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to serve falafel! Some of our favorite options include:
- As an appetizer with tahini sauce, tzatziki, or toum for dipping.
- As part of a mezze platter.
- In pita bread as a pita sandwich with cucumber and tomato salad and tahini sauce.
How to Make Ahead and Store
- Store cooked and cooled
air fryer falafel in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. - Freeze leftover falafel for up to for up to six months. To do so, arrange the patties on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Then, transfer the falafel to a sealable bag.
- Reheat thawed or frozen falafel in
the air fryer at 350 degrees, flipping every few minutes until heated through.
Common Questions About This Air Fryer Falafel Recipe
Perfectly done falafel will have a deep golden-brown color on the outside and a green-tinged interior that’s cooked through but still moist! When you break one open, it should be tender throughout with no raw taste, but not dry or crumbly.
Falafel falling apart usually means your mixture is either too wet or too dry! If it’s too wet (often from using canned chickpeas or too many wet ingredients), add chickpea flour as a binder. If it’s too dry, a splash of water or olive oil can help it stick together. Another trick is chilling the formed falafel in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before air frying – this helps them firm up and hold their shape during cooking.
Yes, soaking dried chickpeas is absolutely essential for authentic falafel texture in the air fryer! Canned chickpeas are too soft and wet, typically resulting in mushy falafel that falls apart. Soak dried chickpeas for 12-24 hours until they’re plump but still firm, then drain well – this creates that perfect balance of moisture that gives falafel its signature crispy exterior and tender interior.
Falafel mixture shouldn’t be a wet batter, but rather a coarse, moldable dough that holds its shape! Too wet a mixture will slide through the air fryer basket or create a mess. The perfect falafel mixture for an air fryer should be just moist enough to hold together when you squeeze it in your palm. If your mixture is too wet, add more chickpea flour or breadcrumbs a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Sesame Crusted Feta
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Nuggets
Falafel
Ingredients
- 1 cup chickpeas soaked overnight
- 2 cups fava beans soaked overnight
- 6 whole green onions
- 1 medium red onion
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 small bunch of cilantro stems removed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Sesame seeds for topping
Instructions
- Soak the chickpeas and fava beans overnight to rehydrate them.1 cup chickpeas soaked overnight, 2 cups fava beans soaked overnight
- Set up your food processor. Add chickpeas, fava beans, green onion, chopped onion, garlic cloves and cilantro to the food processor. Blend everything together.1 medium red onion, 6 whole green onions, 4 garlic cloves, 1 small bunch of cilantro
- Next, add salt, pepper, coriander, and cumin to the food processor. Pulse it together.1 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon cumin
- Remove the falafel dough mixture from the food processor and place it in a bowl.
- When you are ready to start frying the falafel, add the baking soda to the bowl and mix it all together.1 teaspoon baking soda
- Use an ice cream scooper to scoop out little balls of falafel dough. Release it into your hand and press in sesame seeds.Sesame seeds for topping
- Arrange them in the air fryer and cook for 15-18 minutes at 350. Flip the falafel halfway through the cook time to make sure they’re crunchy on both sides!
- Serve hot or at room temperature on it’s own or with tahini, hummus, pita bread, and salad.
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Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I found this so simple to do yet very nutritious..
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jin!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Hi Alia and Radwa! I was curious if I can use canned chickpeas and canned fuul beans for this recipe? I’m looking for an even quicker version and I usually forget to soak anything the night before!
Hi Nidda! That should be fine. Just be sure to rinse and drain them well!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa