Easy Air Fryer Falafels + Oven Version

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These Easy Air Fryer Falafels are deliciously crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Healthier than the deep fried versions, air fryer falafels are perfect for serving up as snacks, appetizers, or as a satisfying meal.

Made with almond and chickpeas, this air fried falafel recipe is suitable for vegan and gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

blue rimmed plate filled with cooked air fryer falafel and a cup of tahini yogurt sauce

These Air Fryer Falafels. Yeap, these golden crisp falafels. Imagine tasty golden falafels, as crispy as you would expect on the outside but lovely and soft on the inside

What I love about these air fried falafels is they are packed full of awesome flavors and just as golden and crispy as you would expect, but with none of the deep frying. So they are much much healthier than regular falafels. Just like my Air Fryer Greek Chicken Souvlaki, These restaurant quality treats are healthier than takeout as you know exactly what is in them.

What Are Falafels?

Falafels are a street snack originating from the Middle East and made with ground chickpeas or fava beans or a mixture of both.

A versatile dish,  these easy falafels can be served as a tasty snack or appetizer, or in a lunchtime wrap with pita and hummus with a million garnishes like cucumbers, pickled onions, tomatoes and peppers. It is also frequently served as a falafel bowl or with a little bit of chili sauce.

plate filled with falafel air fryer

 

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Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.

How To Make Air Fryer Falafels

  1. Add the chickpeas, garlic, onions and coriander into a food processor and whiz until the mixture is coarsely ground.
  2. Then add in the oil and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped but not mushy.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and add in all the spices, salt, baking powder and ground almonds and mix well.
  4. Adjust seasoning before refrigerating for 1 hour.
  5. Wet your hands and roll about 2 tbsp of the falafel into a small ball and transfer to a tray. Repeat with the rest of the mixture until all done.
  6. Preheat the Air Fryer to 350F /180C.
  7. Cook the falafels for 10-15 minutes till golden crispy (time depending on how big your falafels are).
  8. Serve you Crispy Air Fryer Falafels with hummus, tzatziki sauce, and a salad. image collage showing the steps for making air fryer falafels

How To Make Baked Falafels

Prefer to make baked falafels instead? If that is the case then here is how:

  • Follow steps 1-5 above.
  • Preheat the oven to fan-assisted 170C / 190C / 375F / gas 5 and line a baking tray.
  • Spray the falafels with some olive oil and bake for about 25 mins until golden brown and done.

Air Fried Falafel Tips

  • It is important to let the falafel dough rest in the refrigerator before shaping into balls. If there is a lot of liquid you can squeeze it out.
  • You need to whiz carefully so that the mix is not mushy and completely pulsed. Leave a bit of texture which really makes a difference to your Air Fryer Falafels.
  • Although you can make these oil-free, you can spray the basket with olive oil spray so that they don’t stick.
  • You can make falafel patties instead if you prefer.
  • Make the balls (or patties) the same size so that they cook at the same rate.

 

  • Turn the falafels very carefully with the tongs as you can easily break them. Shaking them to let them roll round might be easier.
  • Feel free to substitute in other gluten-free flour instead when making your falafel in air fryer.
  • Always use dried soaked chickpeas, not canned chickpeas as these are way too soft for air fried falafels.
  • Vary the fresh herbs you use – I have used mint and parsley in this instead.
  • Add in some chili if you like some heat.hand taking one air fried falafel from a plate

How Long to Cook Falafel in Air Fryer?

Cook your falafel in the air fryer for 10 – 15 minutes at 370 F / 180 C. The exact time will depend on how their size. Your falafel will be done when they are golden brown and crispy.

Also, it is important to note that air fryer temperatures vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness and then adding time as needed.

glass meal prep container filled with air fryer falafel and a container of tahini yogurt sauce

Meal Prep and Prep Ahead

Prep Ahead – Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Freeze – You certainly can precook a batch of these air fryer falafels, wrap in plastic or foil and stash in the freezer. Follow the handy tips below on how to freeze this.

  • Let cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
  • Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
  • Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
  • Store in the freezer for 3 months.

Reheat- These are so easy to warm up.

  • Reheat them in the air fryer at 300F for a few minutes.  
  • If reheating from the refrigerator, then microwave on high for about 45 seconds in the microwave. But the falafels will be soft rather than crunchy.

 Serving Suggestions

close up of air fried falafel

More Air Fryer Recipes

 Weight Watchers Points

There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

falafel served on flatbread with pickled onions and tomatoes

Eating Falafels in Barcelona……

A few years back, I was lucky enough to go to Barcelona with one of my greatest friends. We stayed at the cutest ever bed and breakfast and spent hours wondering thought Barcelona taking in the all things Gaudi and the sights, sounds and tastes of Barcelona. And

It was one of the best holidays of my life. Not just because I absolutely loved Barcelona and want to go back again and again. But because I was also pregnant with my eldest which just added to the specialness of the occasion. What it also meant though was that I was rather tired in the evenings.

So I  would just stay in the hotel whilst my mate would head out and get lost whilst hunting out the best that Barcelona had to offer for our supper. This was how we managed to eat one of the best ever falafels of our entire lives. Seriously, seriously good. We loved them so much that we both headed out to try and find the shop the next day but no luck.

Thank you for reading my falafel air fryer recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

Get The Air Fryer Falafel Recipe:

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plate filled with falafel air fryer
Print Recipe
5 from 8 votes

Easy Air Fryer Falafels

Delicious golden air fried falafels made with almonds and chickpeas.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main, Snack
Cuisine: American, Middle Eastern, Western
Servings: 4
Calories: 366kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Air Fryer Falafels Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (250 g) dried chickpeas soaked over night
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 medium red onion roughly chopped
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro leaves (coriander)
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 allspice
  • 3/4 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3 tbsp almond flour ground almonds

Tahini Yoghurt Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (250 g) yoghurt
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp tahini paste

Instructions

Air Fryer Falafels Instructions:

  • Add the chickpeas, garlic, onion and cilantro leaves to a food processor and whiz until the mixture is coarsely ground.
  • Then stream in the olive oil and pulse until the mixture is finely chopped but not mushy.
  • Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add in all the spices, salt, baking powder and ground almonds and mix well.
  • Adjust seasoning before refrigerating for 1 hour.
  • Wet your hands and roll about 2 tbsp of the falafel into a small ball and transfer to a plate or baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the mixture until all falafel balls are formed.
  • Place the falafel in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not touch.
  • Cook at 370 F / 187 C for 10 - 15 mins, shaking air fryer basket halfway through the cook time. Falafel is done when crisp and golden brown.

Baked Falafel Instructions:

  • Follow steps 1-5 above.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 F / 170 C / Gas 5 and line a baking tray.
  • Spray the falafels with some olive oil and then bake for about 25 mins until golden brown and crisp.

Tahini Yoghurt Sauce Instructions:

  • Combine all the ingredients for the tahini yoghurt sauce in a bowl and mix until well combined.
  • Serve your Air Fryer Falafels with the tahini yoghurt sauce, flatbreads, pickled onions and salad.
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Notes

Slightly adapted from Chickpea and Almond Meal Falalels from The Whinery.

Air Fried Falafel Tips

  • It is important to let the falafel dough rest in the refrigerator before shaping into balls. If there is a lot of liquid you can squeeze it out.
  • You need to whiz carefully so that the falafel mix is not mushy and completely pulsed. Leave a bit of texture which really makes a difference to your Air Fryer Falafels.
  • Although you can make these oil-free, you can spray the basket with cooking spray so that they don't stick.
  • You can make falafel patties instead if you prefer.
  • Make the balls (or patties) the same size so that they cook at the same rate
  • Turn the falafels very carefully with the tongs as you can easily break them. Shaking them to let them roll round might be easier.
  • Feel free to substitute in other gluten-free flour instead when making your falafel in air fryer.
  • Always use dried soaked chickpeas, not canned cooked chickpeas as these are way too soft for air fried falafels.
  • Vary the fresh herbs you use - I have used mint and parsley in the falafels instead.
  • Add in some chili if you like some heat.

Air Fried Falafels Serving Suggestions

I serve the Air Fried falafels or baked falafels with some:
And pile high with pickled onions, tomatoes and this tahini yoghurt sauce for a truly delicious feast!

Air Fryer Falafel Weight Watchers Points

There are 5 FreeStyle SmartPoints in a serving of Air Fryer Falafels.

Nutrition

Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 6.1mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 3.9mg

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