Air Fryer Falafel

Name: Air Fryer Falafel
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), drained; 1 small onion, roughly chopped; 4 cloves garlic cloves; 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 2 tbsp chickpea flour or all-purpose flour; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup tahini sauce (for serving); 4 pita bread (for serving)

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside falafel balls made with chickpeas and aromatic herbs. Air-fried to golden perfection with minimal oil for a healthier take on this Middle Eastern classic.

30 minMediumServes 4225 cal/serving

Middle EasternAppetizerAir FryerVegetarianVeganLow CarbHalal-friendlyDairy-FreeEgg-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-Free

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Ingredients

1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), drained
1 small onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic cloves
1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp chickpea flour or all-purpose flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup tahini sauce (for serving)
4 pita bread (for serving)

Instructions

1

Important: This recipe requires 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight) that have been soaked in water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Canned chickpeas will not work as they're too soft.
2

Drain the soaked chickpeas and pat them dry with paper towels.
3

In a food processor, combine the soaked chickpeas, 1 roughly chopped small onion, 4 cloves garlic cloves, 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, and 1 tsp kosher salt.
4

Pulse the mixture until it's finely minced but not pureed, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. The texture should be like coarse sand.
5

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add 1/2 tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp chickpea flour or all-purpose flour. Mix well to combine.
6

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
7

Preheat your air fryer to 370°F (190°C).
8

Form the falafel mixture into about 16 small balls or patties, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
9

Lightly brush or spray the falafel with 2 tbsp olive oil.
10

Place the falafel in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch. Work in batches if needed.
11

Air fry for 12-15 minutes, gently flipping halfway through, until they're golden brown and crispy on the outside.
12

Serve hot with 1/2 cup tahini sauce (for serving) and 4 pita bread (for serving).

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Questions

What temperature does Air Fryer Falafel cook at?

For Air Fryer Falafel, the air fryer is set to 370 F (about 190 C) in step 7. The longest stretch at that heat is 15 minutes, in step 11. Air fryers run hot or cool by model, so check two minutes early the first time.

How do I know when Air Fryer Falafel is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 11: cook until they're golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Why pat it dry first in Air Fryer Falafel?

Step 2 reads: "Drain the soaked chickpeas and pat them dry with paper towels." Surface water has to boil off before anything can brown. Drying at step 2 means the food sears in the first minute instead of steaming.

What can I use instead of tahini in Air Fryer Falafel?

The entry for Air Fryer Falafel calls for 1/2 cup tahini sauce (for serving). In its place: Unsweetened sunflower seed butter or cashew butter is the closest. Smooth natural peanut butter works where its flavor will not fight the dish.

Is Air Fryer Falafel low-carb?

A serving of Air Fryer Falafel carries 20 g of carbohydrate, 4 g of it fiber. Against a strict 20 g keto day that is 100 percent of the budget; against a moderate 100 g low-carb day it is 20 percent.

Which part of Air Fryer Falafel can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 1. Step 1 is a built-in pause of overnight, or about 8 hours: "Important: This recipe requires 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight) that have been soaked in water for at least 8 hours or overnight." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 2 when you are ready to finish.

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