Vegan Air Fryer Falafel Recipe
This Vegan and Gluten-free Air Fryer Falafel Recipe delivers perfectly crisp and incredibly flavorful falafels every time. They're affordable, freezer-friendly, and ideal for meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight in plenty of water with baking soda)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (for soaking the chickpeas)
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup fresh coriander leaves (roughly chopped)
- 1 small onion (roughly chopped)
- 1 green chili
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup chickpea flour (gram flour)
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp flaked chilli (pul biber) (adjust the amount to your taste)
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable, rapeseed, or sunflower oil
Instructions
Soaking the Chickpeas
- This easy step should be done a day before for the best texture and flavor. Put dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in a large bowl, add baking soda, and cover with plenty of room-temperature water.
- Let them soak overnight, or until they triple in size, for up to 2 days. Remember to change the water halfway through.
- When you're ready to make falafels, drain and rinse the chickpeas under running water.
Preparing the Falafel Mixture
- Put the soaked chickpeas, roughly chopped fresh herbs, onions, green chili, and garlic in a food processor bowl.
- Add lemon zest, juice, salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander powder, chickpea flour (gram flour), baking powder, and flaked chili.
- Pulse until it resembles a coarse sand texture. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir well to combine.
- Cover with a lid or cling film and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes until fully chilled.
Shaping and Air Frying
- After the falafel mixture has chilled completely, scoop out golf ball-sized portions and shape them into patties.
- Avoid flattening the patties too much if you want them to remain fluffy after cooking.
- Place the shaped falafels in your air fryer's basket in a single layer.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F (205°C) and lightly oil the falafels using a brush.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the falafels are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Notes
- Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when soaking the chickpeas to help them soften.
- Avoid using canned or cooked chickpeas. Soaked dry chickpeas are best for achieving the optimal texture and flavor. If you use cooked or canned chickpeas, your mixture may fall apart unless you add a significant amount of flour, which can alter the taste of the falafel.
- Refrigerate the falafel mixture before shaping to make the process easier.
- Avoid flattening the patties too much if you want them to remain fluffy after cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket too full. Giving the falafels some room helps them cook evenly.