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–+ servings
close up shot of falafel revealing inside texture
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Air Fryer Falafels

The crunch on these air fryer falafels is going to knock your socks off! Easy to prepare, full of flavor, and very little oil required to cook them.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
soak time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 826kcal
Author: Denise Bustard

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas soaked at least 12 hours; see note 1
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • spray oil

Instructions

  • Soak chickpeas overnight- Place 1 cup of dried chickpeas in a large bowl or measuring cup. Cover with 4-5 cups of water, then cover and let it sit overnight.
    The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas.
    dried chickpeas soaking in large measuring cup, covered with a plate
  • Blend- in the base of a 7 cup food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the chickpeas, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne, baking powder, black pepper, salt and egg. Pulse the mixture for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides with a spatula half way through.
    ingredients for air fryer falafels in food processor
  • Texture- When the mixture is coarse and mealy (as pictured above), use a cookie scoop to carefully form the falafels. They will be crumbly, but should hold together when patted gently. If they fall apart completely, return to the food processor and blend for longer.
    falafel mixture in food processor after blending
  • Form- Spray the trays of your air fryer with spray oil. Use the cookie scoop to press the mixture in tightly, and form the falafels on the tray. Pat gently to flatten and form into a smooth shape. (The recipe video shows you exactly how to do this).
    falafels on air fryer rack before cooking
  • Cook- Heat air fryer oven to 400°F for 5 minutes, then add the trays. Cook for 5-7 minutes, rotating trays as needed. Falafels are ready to come out when they're golden.
    falafels in the air fryer

Video

Notes

1- canned or cooked chickpeas do not work well in this recipe
2- this recipe is easiest to cook in an oven-style air fryer with removable trays. Make sure you spray or brush the trays with oil before forming the falafels.
3- if your air fryer has two racks, rotate them half way and play very close attention to the top rack to ensure they don't burn. Personally I preferred to cook them only on the bottom rack.
4- makes roughly 14 falafels
Storage
These falafels are best served fresh, as they dry out a touch after storing.
  • store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
  • reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through
 

Nutrition

Calories: 826kcal | Carbohydrates: 128g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 2447mg | Potassium: 2149mg | Fiber: 36g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 643IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 383mg | Iron: 16mg