Healthy Falafel Recipes

FALAFEL

Steps:

• Drain chickpeas and transfer to a food processor. Add parsley, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, lemon juice, cumin, salt and baking soda; process, adding water as needed, until finely ground and the mixture just holds together. Using about 3 tablespoons per patty, shape into twelve 1 1/2-inch patties.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add the patties and cook until golden brown on the bottom, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn, swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and cook until golden, 2 to 4 minutes more.

HEALTHY AIR FRYER FALAFEL

Steps:

• For the falafel: Drain the chickpeas well and spread them out on a towel-lined baking sheet to dry completely.
• Pulse the parsley, cilantro, mint, garlic and scallions in a food processor until roughly chopped and combined. Add the chickpeas, flour, cumin, coriander, cayenne, lemon juice, egg white, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper and pulse until the mixture is a well-combined coarse meal but not smooth or mushy. Refrigerate 15 minutes, then stir in the baking powder.
• Spray your hands with olive oil cooking spray. Scoop the chickpea mixture into 18 balls (about 2 tablespoons each), flattening the balls slightly with your hands to create thick patties. Spray both sides of the patties with olive oil spray. Arrange the patties in a single layer in the basket of a 6-quart air fryer, in batches if necessary, and cook at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• For the tahini sauce: Whisk together the tahini, paprika, garlic, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of black pepper and 1/3 cup water. Adjust with additional water, if needed, for desired consistently.
• For serving: Cook the pitas in the air fryer at 300 degrees F until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Slice each pita in half and gently open up the pockets.
• Fill the pita halves with 3 falafel balls each, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, tahini sauce and a drizzle of harissa, if using.

HEALTHY BAKED FALAFEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Mash chickpeas in a bowl with fork until it's a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
• Add garlic, onion and parsley to food processor and process until finely chopped and combined.
• Next add the mashed chickpeas to food processor along with tahini, bread crumbs, coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper. Process until combined, adding the water 1-2 Tbsp of water as needed. You may need to scrape down the sides with a spatula in between processing.
• Once combined, empty into large bowl. Add the flour and mix, you should be able to form into large ball. If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add a Tbsp of water. If it's too wet, add an additional Tbsp of flour.
• Form into 10 small patties (approximately 2 inches). Place on baking sheet lighly greased with olive oil or cooking spray. Bake for 5-6 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.

EASY HEALTHY FALAFELS

Steps:

• Soak the chickpeas in cold water for 8 hrs, or overnight.
• Drain the chickpeas and pulse with the bicarb in a food processor until roughly chopped. Remove 3/4 of the mixture and set aside.
• Add the garlic, vegetables, spices and herbs to the remaining mixture in the processor and purée to a paste. Stir the paste into the rough purée of chickpeas, add the gram flour, season and mix well.
• Heat oven to 110C/90C fan/gas 1/4. Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add some of the oil. Use your hands to form the mixture into patties (there should be enough to make about 16). Fry for 2 mins each side until crisp. Keep in a warm oven while you fry the remainder of the mixture, continuing to add a little oil to the pan with each batch. Serve wrapped in flatbreads, if you like, alongside the houmous, tabbouleh and pickled red onion & radish.