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    El Mundo Eats » Vegan

    Published: Sep 17, 2022 · Updated: Sep 17, 2022 by Bea & Marco · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    Crispy Air-Fryer Falafel (Gluten Free & Vegan)

    Jump to Recipe

    Crispy and even healthier air-fryer falafel! And when I say crispy, I really meant it. The inside is fluffy and tender, flavoured with spices and fresh herbs. You will not miss anything from the deep-fried ones, I promise. Dip this falafel in my 5-minute tahini sauce with lemon and garlic, oh la la!

    Using an air-fryer is really a game changer. No more frying smell lingering in the house, and no need to handle (and throw!) the abundance of oil.

    Crispy air-fryer falafel in a plate view from top.

    I use my air-fryer almost every single day and have created recipes using air-fryer instead of deep-frying like my easy orange chicken, crispy soy sauce chicken and spicy ramen with chicken katsu. They're amazing!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How To Make Air-Fryer Falafel
    • Tips To Make This Recipe
    • How To Serve & Store
    • FAQs
    • Watch How To Make It
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients to make crispy air-fryer falafel.

    Dried chickpeas - Always use dried chickpeas as they will give you a wonderful texture and their starch will help keep the falafel together.

    Parsley and cilantro - They give a wonderful fresh touch to the falafel. I love to use this half-and-half combo for the flavour but you can just choose one and double that amount instead.

    Cumin and coriander powder - A must-have spices in amazing falafel! Again, I love to use these 2 combos but you can also just choose one and double that amount.

    Cayenne pepper powder - Adds a touch of heat to the falafel. If you know me by now, you'll know that I love spicy food! Omit this if you're not into spicy, no problem at all.

    Baking soda - Just a small amount helps in getting that golden brown colour when we cook the falafel in the air-fryer, without using an abundance of oil. Nobody can't tell these weren't deep-fried! *wink!*

    How To Make Air-Fryer Falafel

    Steps on how to make crispy air-fryer falafel.
    1. Ingredients - Soak dried chickpeas with water for 24 hours. Drain and pat them dry. Add them to a food processor together with the rest of the ingredients.
    2. Blend - Blend everything into a semi-fine paste. Don't over-blend until you get a hummus, alright?
    3. Chill - Pour mixture into a bowl, cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
    4. Scoop - Use a 1.5 tablespoon ice cream scoop so that the falafel are the same size and cook evenly.
    5. Shape - I find that tossing the patty from one hand to the other while shaping it into a ball avoids it falling apart.
    6. Cook - Spray the air-fryer basket with some oil, place the patties in and give them another spray of oil. Cook using "Air fry" function at 375ºF (190ºC) for 16-18 minutes. Flip them at minute 10.

    Tips To Make This Recipe

    Showing the inside texture of a half-eaten falafel.
    1. Soak - Make sure to soak the dried chickpeas for 24 hours before using. I've tried soaking them for only 20 hours and the falafel still came out great. Just letting you know.
    2. Dry the chickpeas - Make sure to drain and pat the chickpeas dry. This will prevent extra moisture and avoid the falafel from falling apart while cooking.
    3. Chill - Will give time for all the wonderful flavours to blend and the cold mixture also makes it easier to shape the patties later.

    How To Serve & Store

    Dipping a falafel in tahini sauce.

    Serve - Always serve immediately, hot! Dip in my tahini sauce with lemon and garlic, oh la la!

    Store - I'd recommend storing uncooked dough in the fridge, for up to 4 days, in an air-tight container. To freeze, just shape them into balls and place them on parchment paper, on a tray and freeze for 2 hours. Then place them in a Ziploc bag. They last up to 6 months. No need to thaw before cooking, just cook them a few minutes longer.

    FAQs

    Can I use canned chickpeas instead?

    I don't recommend it for this recipe as you'll get a very wet chickpea puree-like dough with no texture, and it'll fall apart as you cook it.

    Why is my falafel falling apart in the air-fryer?

    The culprit has to be the excess moisture. Make sure to drain the chickpeas good. Give them a pat with kitchen paper just to make sure.

    What do you eat falafel with?

    I love to dip them in my delicious tahini sauce! You can put some falafel in pita bread with fresh lettuce, red onion or anything you desire. Again, don't forget the tahini sauce!

    Can I freeze the falafel?

    Absolutely! I'd recommend you shape the raw patties first, place them on parchment paper on a tray and freeze them for 2 hours. Then place them in a Ziploc bag, and back in the freezer. Follow the instructions on how to cook them, with a few minutes extra cooking time. Easy!

    Watch How To Make It

    📖 Recipe

    Showing the inside texture of half-eaten air-fryer falafel.

    Crispy Air-Fryer Falafel

    Crispy and even healthier air-fryer falafel! The inside is fluffy and tender, flavoured with spices and fresh herbs. You will not miss anything from the deep-fried ones, I promise. Dip this falafel in my 5-minute tahini sauce with lemon and garlic, oh la la!
    Author: Bea & Marco
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Servings: 18 falafel
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time17 minutes mins
    Soak & Chill Time1 day d 1 hour hr

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    • Ice cream scoop (1.5 tbsp)

    Ingredients  

    • 1 cup dried chickpeas
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1 shallot
    • ½ cup fresh parsley , roughly chopped
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro , roughly chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
    • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • black pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Chickpeas

    • Soak chickpeas in a bowl with water for 24 hours. Drain and pat them dry before using.

    Falafel Mixture

    • Add chickpeas together with the rest of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until you get a semi-fine mixture. Pour into a bowl, cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
    • Using a 1.5 tablespoon ice cream scoop, scoop the mixture and form into a ball. Tossing the patty from one hand to the other helps shape it and prevent it from falling apart.

    Cook

    • Spray the air-fryer basket with some oil and plate the patties inside. Give it another spray of oil. Cook using the "Air fry" function at 375ºF (190ºC) for 16-18 minutes. Flip them at minute 10. Serve immediately with some tahini sauce!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 46.1kcal, Carbohydrates: 7.8g, Protein: 2.4g, Fat: 0.8g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 151mg, Potassium: 126.7mg, Fiber: 2.3g, Sugar: 1.4g, Calcium: 18.3mg, Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @elmundoeats and tag #elmundoeats!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Colin Gorman says

      September 06, 2023 at 12:34 am

      My dried chickpea packet instructions state only 12 hours to soak and simmer for 85 minutes to cook? This seems way out from 24 hours and 18 minutes? Please advise.

      Reply
      • Bea & Marco says

        September 07, 2023 at 9:24 am

        Hi Colin! You won't be cooking the chickpeas in the water first. You soak them for 24 hours, then make the balls using the uncooked soaked chickpeas, and then cook them in the air-fryer. Hope it helps!

        Reply
    2. Dianne says

      August 23, 2023 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      I use air fryer a lot and I'm happy that now I can make falafal with it.
      Thanks for sharing. The falafal was fantastic!

      Reply
      • Bea & Marco says

        August 23, 2023 at 11:18 am

        Me too, I use my air-fryer every day! I'm happy that you liked them, thank you, Dianne!

        Reply
    3. Danden T. says

      November 19, 2022 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      The recipe works. I didn't add the cayenne because I cannot eat spicy. LOL.
      Will try more of your recipes.
      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Bea says

        November 22, 2022 at 4:10 pm

        Oh, it's ok if you cannot take spicy you did well by omitting it. Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply

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    Bea and Marco from El Mundo Eats

    Hi! We're Bea & Marco, the married couple behind this food space. We both cook and take photos & videos. Malaysian & Argentine living in Spain. All eaters welcome!

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