We made air fryer falafel with canned chickpeas the other day and it was such an easy way to cook this Middle Eastern favorite dish. It can be served alone or in a wrap filled with veggies and Tzatziki sauce!
Have you tried making homemade falafel yet??!! It is my favorite dish at a local restaurant near our house but I couldn’t believe how simple they were to make ourselves. Full of flavor with a crunchy exterior and tender insides, we served our up as a wrap for dinner and now it’s a favorite easy air fryer recipe you’ll love too.
These balls are made with ground chickpeas or fava beans are traditionally eaten in the Middle East as street food. Served during Ramadan (and year round) they’re sort of seen as a sort of veggie burger. The easiest way is to buy them canned but you could cook dried chickpeas yourself.
We have used a can to make our hummus with canned chickpeas too and often make them together since it is a great duo with a lot of protein to boot! We have baked these however this is the best way to get a crispy outer texture (like deep fried) but still tender in the center.
Falafel Made with Canned Chickpeas
Falafel with canned chickpeas is easiest way to go. You just drain the liquid out and they are already tender enough to blend into a number of different dishes. You will want to lay on a few paper towels first to remove as much moisture as possible or your dough will be too loose.
As far as the seasonings I like to add I will go with just the traditional cumin and a bit of salt and pepper to taste. If you want a bit of color mixed in there go with some chopped parsley or diced chives.
Garlic is a must for us to add that great flavor to the dish. You can use a jar of it or roast air fryer garlic first and dice. If I have time it is a really great option to get a sort of smoky richness you can’t get any other way.
How do you get falafel balls to stick together?
All purpose flour is used to stiffen it up into a dough ball. I personally haven’t tried any other flour substitutes but I have heard that Bobs Red Mill gluten free 1:1 works quite well too.
Ninja Foodi Falafel
To make them in this machine the directions for Ninja Foodi recipes are the same except that you are going to use the lid that is attached. You will not need the other. Lay them inside the round basket with the holes at the bottom for the hot air to rotate. Temp and timing are the same as other machines.
They should turn out somewhat tender like air fryer cornbread texture on the inside. If too wet and hard to stay in tact when rolled into balls add a bit more flour.
How Long to Cook Falafel in Air Fryer
You are going to put balls into a preheated air fryer basket for about 15 minutes or until golden brown to your liking. This doesn’t count the 5 minutes it needs to preheat though so 20 minutes total is typical however larger sizes may need a little bit longer.
Cooked falafels are done when they are lightly golden brown on the outside and the center is no longer raw and wet inside. Similar to our air fryer hushpuppies I typically break one in half and look at the falafel mixture.
Tips
You may want a bit more salt, squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice in it. Love cilantro, add some of that. I mean it is all up to you as far as your tastebuds.
After 7 minutes turning them is an option but not entirely necessary. We left these falafel balls in for the full 15 minutes as is and they turned out just fine. BEST recommendation is to enjoy these immediately after they’re done.
Keep in mind that this method vs. if you were to use a deep fryer will yield a bit flatter than round shape almost like a cookie mound instead. I mean shape doesn’t change the way they taste but just so you know what to expect….
Air Fryer Falafel Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas, about 2.5 c. drained
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste
- 1 bunch parsley, diced
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour, about, may use less or a bit more
Instructions
- Drain chickpeas and lay on a few paper towels. Press to absorb any excess moisture. Pour into a food processor with seasonings and chopped parsley until roughly blended with some chunks still in it.
- Pour into a bowl. Add a couple Tbsp. of flour at a time until it reaches a dough consistency, firm enough to roll into balls that stay together.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Roll dough into 2" balls, slightly flatten. Spray inside of air fryer basket with non stick spray.
- Put into preheated air fryer for 15 minutes or until golden brown to your liking.
- Serve inside a wrap with tzatziki sauce and veggies.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is falafel served hot or cold?
HOT! Please don’t eat these cold, you probably won’t like them and wouldn’t make them again. Warm fresh out of the basket is best for these gluten free babies. You can see below how most people serve it, loaded up! Makes meal prep real fast if you have all these fixings laid out on the counter as soon as they’re done. Here is what usually is served:
Pita bread is used for the wrap, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, Tzatziki sauce is kinda’ a must if you ask me. You could try our bang bang sauce too if you want to switch things up a bit. 😉
What sides go well with falafel?
Lemon rice, kimchi (fermented air fryer cabbage), pickled onions, and stuffed grape leaves are a few favorites. I’ve never had them outside of a pita wrap with all the things inside myself. I think of it kinda’ like a gyro in a sense.
How do you store leftovers?
If you have leftovers, put them into a freezer bag and suck all the air out. Reheat within 24 hours for best results in the microwave in 30 second increments until warm. Then eat immediately for best results.
Can you freeze leftovers?
If you want to do some batch cooking and make double the recipe below, you can. It is recommended that instead of cooking and freezing that instead you make them into balls, freeze on a cookie sheet and then store those in a freezer bag once they are hard. They’ll last 6 months this way.
Want to try another goodie like this? Buy a few extra cans while you’re at it and make air fryer chickpeas too. Tossed with taco seasoning these are a great protein packed keto friendly snack y’all.
