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Homemade Falafel

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Homemade Falafel is a delicious and flavorful vegan and gluten free snack. Crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and full of fragrant herbs and spices. These bites can be pan fried, deep fried or baked. They are perfect on their own as a snack or appetizer, or in a pita topped with veggies. 

THIS POST AND STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS UPDATED MARCH 15, 2019
close up shot of finished Falafel in a parchment-paper lined bowl with lemon wedges on the side

Chickpeas are an integral part of Indian, West Indian, and Mediterranean cuisines. My parents are from Trinidad, so I’ve been eating chickpeas all my life. One of my favorite recipes is Curry Chicken and Chickpeas, and it was one of the first recipes I learned to make before I moved out of my parents’ house.

Chicken Chickpea Salad is light and healthy, and my go-to recipe when I can’t decide what to make for lunch.

“WHAT THE HECK IS A CHICKPEA”?

The first time I posted a chickpea recipe on the blog, that was a question from my friend Slim. Chickpeas are legumes (beans). Garbanzo beans is another name, and the name you’ll usually find in the grocery store.

Kabuli chickpeas are the most commonly found chickpeas in American grocery stores, but there are also several other varieties. Chickpeas are very nutritious and are high in protein and fiber.

In my quest to expand my collection of chickpea recipes, I decided to dive WAY out of my comfort zone, and make Falafel. I’ve eaten it many times in restaurants but never made them at home.

The origins of this Middle Eastern snack depends on who you talk to. Many people say Egypt, while others say Israel. Regardless, it is delicious.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
  • Falafel is gluten-free and vegan, so it’s perfect for a variety of dietary lifestyles
  • They freeze really well, so make a big batch
  • You can enjoy these as a snack, appetizer, or in pita sandwiches
close up shot of finished Falafel in a metal bowl, with one piece of Falafel cut open to see the inside
INGREDIENT TIPS FOR HOMEMADE FALAFEL

Make sure you use dry chickpeas. Canned chickpeas are too soft, and the result will be a mushy texture and the Falafel won’t stay together.

Fresh garlic and onion, plus cilantro and parsley, add a punch of fresh flavor. And lemon zest brightens up the Falafel.

You can find dry chickpeas in the packaged rice and beans aisle at the grocery store. Stores that have a dry bulk food section will carry chickpeas in bulk as well.

Use whole Cumin Seeds and Coriander Seeds. Toast the seeds in a dry skillet, and then grind them in a Spice Grinder before adding to the food processor

I use a Food Processor to mix all of the ingredients together. If you’re making the full recipe, you will need to grind the mixture in 2 batches, depending on the size of your processor bowl

The mixture needs to be a fine grind. I run the food processor for 30-60 seconds, and it looks almost like a fine crumb paste.

To keep these vegan and gluten-free, I don’t use anything as a binder. And as long as you grind the mixture fine enough, you won’t need a binder.

I use a 1 5/8″ Scoop (large cookie scoop), and get 36 Falafel

overhead shot of finished Falafel in a parchment-paper lined bowl, with cucumber wedges and Tzatziki sauce on the side
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Add dry chickpeas to a large bowl, and cover with cold water. After 24 hours, chickpeas will triple in size.

process pictures: dry chickpeas in a glass bowl on the left, hydrated chickpeas in a glass bowl on the right

Add coriander seeds and cumin seed to a dry skillet, and toast over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, until fragrant. Remove from heat and grind finely.

Add drained chickpeas, garlic, onion, parsley, cilantro, coriander & cumin, salt, pepper, lemon zest and cayenne pepper to food processor. Process for 30-60 seconds, stopping occasionally to scrape down the side of the bowl. It should look almost like a fine crumb paste.

process pictures: all ingredients in food processor on the left; mixture ground fine in the processor on the right

Form Falafel using a 1 5/8″ scoop.

overhead process shot of raw Falafel balls on a white plate
COOKING METHODS FOR HOMEMADE FALAFEL

This all boils down to personal preference.

  • Pan Fried: Add oil to a depth of about 1/3″ to a nonstick skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown
  • Deep Fried: Heat the oil to 365°. Carefully place Falafel into the fryer for about 4 minutes
  • Baked: Flatten the Falafel about halfway, and spray both sides with cooking spray. Place Falafel on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake in 375° oven for about 15 minutes
SERVING OPTIONS

Normally I eat Falafel by themselves, as a snack or an appetizer. Since I was in the zone, I also made Tzatziki Sauce. And absolutely loved it.

Another great option is to make Falafel sandwiches inside pita bread, topped with tomato, red onions, lettuce, and Tzatziki.

close up shot of finished Falafel, 2 pita pockets filled with Falafel, tomatoes, lettuce, onion & Tzatziki sauce
CAN YOU FREEZE FALAFEL?

Yes, you can! Form the balls, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and put in the freezer for about 4 hours, until frozen. Then store them in an airtight container.

TO COOK FROZEN FALAFEL: At least 12 hours before cooking, remove Falafel from the freezer and place it in the fridge. Once thawed, cook as normal.

MORE DELICIOUS CHICKPEA RECIPES
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Falafel - Karyl's Kulinary Krusade

Falafel (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Yield: 36
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Homemade Falafel is a delicious and flavorful vegan and gluten free snack. Crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and full of fragrant herbs and spices. These bites can be pan fried, deep fried or baked. They are perfect on their own as a snack or appetizer, or in a pita topped with veggies. 

Ingredients

FALAFEL

TZATZIKI SAUCE (optional, for dipping) (MAKES 1 CUP)

  • 1 cup fat free Greek Yogurt
  • 1/4 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons mint, minced
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • salt and fresh-cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. SOAK CHICKPEAS FOR 24 HOURS: Place dry chickpeas in a large bowl, and add enough water to cover by about 1". Check after 12 hours, as you may need to add more water. When done, drain and set aside
  2. In a bowl, add Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, mint, and lemon juice. Stir to combine, and add salt & black pepper to taste. Set in fridge to rest
  3. Add cumin and coriander to dry skillet over medium-low heat. Toast spices for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. Transfer to spice grinder and grind fine
  4. Add chickpeas, garlic, onion, parsley, cilantro, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper, lemon zest and cayenne pepper to food processor. You may need to do it in 2 batches, depending on the size of your processor bowl. 
  5. Process mixture for 30-60 seconds, stopping occasionally to scrape down the side of the bowl. Once ground, the mixture should like almost like a fine crumb paste.
  6. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Using a 1 5/8" scoop, form Falafel. I also use my hands to lightly press the balls together. The full recipe yields 36 Falafel.
  7. Add oil to large skillet, about 1/3" up the side of the skillet, and heat to 365°. Carefully add Falafel to oil. Make sure to not crowd the pan, or they won't brown properly. 
  8. Cook for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain, and immediately sprinkle with salt

Notes

Soak Dry Chickpeas for 24 hours in a large bowl of cold water, and the chickpeas will triple in size. Check chickpeas after 12 hours, as you may need to add more water

Use whole Cumin Seeds and Coriander Seeds. Toast the seeds in a dry skillet, and then grind them in a Spice Grinder before adding to the food processor

I use a Food Processor to mix all of the ingredients together. If you're making the full recipe, you will need to grind the mixture in 2 batches

The mixture needs to be a fine grind, or the Falafel will not stay together. I run the food processor for 30-60 seconds

Use a cookie scoop to form the Falafel, so they're all the same size. I use a 1 5/8" Cookie Scoop, and get 36 Falafel with this recipe

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 36 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 42Sodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
© Karyl @ Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
Cuisine: Mediterranean / Category: Appetizer

Comments

  4. Kari Heron says

    Karyl. First off. I LIVED in the Middle East. I had Falafel sandwiches daily from all sorts of authentic shops. Yours look like the real deal! The colour and texture on your falafels are perfect! Cant believe you freeformed these! And girl, I love that you toast your spices as well. Yum!

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      I’m more than a little jealous about that Kari! And thank you so much for the kind words!! I really appreciate it

      Reply

  5. Linda says

    Like you, I can snack on these all day! Glad you share the recipe because now I really want to try this at home. Do you think they work well with air fryer?

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      Thanks Linda! I’m probably the one person in the world who has never tried an air fryer 🙂 So unfortunately I can’t give you an opinion on if they would work in it. If you try it, I would love to hear how it turns out

      Reply

    • Karyl says

      Thanks Jacqueline! It does take a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to make them all the time 🙂

      Reply

  8. Stine Mari says

    I’ve made falafel a few times before, using canned chickpeas, I don’t think they are that loose, but I’m sure this is better. I will definitely try using dried next time!

    Reply

  9. Catherine Brown says

    I love chickpeas but have never made falafel before. So it sounds like you don’t actually cook the chickpeas, just soak them for 24 hours? I didn’t know there were different varieties of chickpeas either. I’d love to try others too. Gotta add dried chickpeas to the shopping list now so I can try making these falafel!

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      That is correct Catherine, you don’t cook the chickpeas. If you do, they become too soft and won’t hold together once you form the falafel balls. I hope you love these as much as I do!

      Reply

  11. Adriana Lopez Martin says

    Falafel is my guilty pleasure like the fact that you provide all the step to make it at home now I need to try your recipe. Seriously looks amazing. I see some falafel pitas in my future. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  13. Gloria says

    I really need to give this recipe a try. I love falafels, and buy them all the time. I know homemade would taste so much better. Love these stuffed in pitas!!

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      I admit, I was a little worried they would be dry, but they came out perfect. I hope you get a chance to try this recipe!

      Reply

  15. Pragati says

    Hi, Karyl.
    You seem to be perfect with falafel. They have turned pretty good it seems, crispy outside and soft inside. I love mediterranean food. Planning to falafel recipe looking at yours.

    Reply

  17. Shelly Langston says

    I made these by trying them on stove top first and then deep frying them. I used coconut oil… not a fry expert. They literally looked perfect when I dropped them in… they completely disintegrated into nothing ;(. So confused

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      Hmmm…did you use dry chickpeas or canned? Canned chickpeas won’t work, because they are too mushy. Dried (and soaked) chickpeas hold their shape much better. That’s the only thing that I can come up with

      Reply

    • Karyl says

      Pam, yes you can bake them. They will not get that beautiful golden brown color though. I recommend flattening them a little bit, so they are more disks than balls. Spray both sides with cooking spray, bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes, flipping them once about halfway through.

      Reply

  19. Mimi says

    This recipe took me by surprise! I haven’t seen a from-scratch falafel recipe since my hippy days! It sounds lovely. Have you ever tried using canned chick peas?

    Reply

    • Karyl says

      Thanks Mimi! I have not personally tried canned chickpeas, but from everything I’ve read and heard, canned chickpeas don’t work well, because they are too mushy. You get the better texture with dry, and the falafel balls will stay together.

      Reply

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