This Homemade Falafel recipe is loaded with herbs and lots of flavors!
It is so easy to make with a can of chickpeas, some seasonings, and a food processor. It makes for a great wrap between pita bread or as a salad topper!
What is Falafel?
Falafel is made from ground chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) or fava beans, lots of fresh herbs, spices, onions all ground up to make a dough.
The dough is then formed into patties and pan-fried (or you can make them into balls and deep fry it).
It is commonly found at food trucks, food carts, and even some Shawarma and Middle Eastern restaurants in your neighborhood.
How to Make Falafel
To make homemade falafels:
- Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas. Add them to a food processor with remaining ingredients.
- Process the mixture until smooth but still coarse enough to shape into small patties, about 1 1/2″.
- Pan fry with a little vegetable oil until browned on both sides and fully cooked on the inside.
Let them drain on paper towels and serve warm.
How to Serve Falafel
This is the easy part! Falafel is so good in a sandwich, a wrap, or on its own. Make a sandwich or wrap with shredded lettuce, mayo (or a spicy mayo!), tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, tucked into pita bread or Naan bread! Top with hummus, tahini sauce, or tzatziki.
A lemon tahini sauce is traditional, but falafel tastes so good, it can be paired with any kind of sauce! Try placing a couple of balls of falafel or a patty of falafel over a bed of lettuce with dressing for a healthy, meat-free lunch!
Falafel is great with a side of marinated olives, some hummus for dipping, or a bright, crunchy salad!
More Delicious Mediterranean Recipes
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad – make ahead
- Chickpea Salad – perfect for potlucks
- Greek Salad – a classic
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad – so fresh
Did you enjoy these Homemade Falafels? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
5 from 27 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!
Homemade Falafel Recipe
This recipe uses fresh ingredients to create delicious homemade falafels!
Save
ReviewPrint
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 15 falafels patties
Author Holly Nilsson
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas (15 ounces) drained & rinsed
- ½ small red onion peeled & quartered
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- ⅓ cup fresh flat leaf parsley packed
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro packed
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
Zest and juice the lemon. In a large food processor add chickpeas, red onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, flour, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, baking powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
Pulse until the mixture is coarse but not mushy. Scoop out 2 tablespoon round balls and slightly flatten to form patties. If the mixture will not hold together stir in a little more flour.
Add vegetable oil to a large 12" skillet and set over medium-high heat.
When the oil is hot add the falafel patties to the oil and cook until golden brown, flip the falafel and cook until the other side is golden brown.
Remove from the oil and place onto a paper towel lined plate. Continue cooking until all your patties have been made.
If you run out of oil add a little more vegetable oil to the pan and finish making your falafel patties.
Video
Notes
This can be made with just parsley if you do not have cilantro. If I have fresh mint, I add a few leaves of mint into the mixture at the same time as the parsley.
Falafels can also be formed into balls and deep fried.
Serve with Tahini Sauce:
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, squeezed (about 2 tablespoons)
- salt to taste
Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl. Add water as needed to reach desired consistency.
5 from 27 votes
Nutrition Information
Calories: 37 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 206IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Middle Eastern
© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Categories:
Healthy Recipes, Main Dishes, Recipes
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
Recipes you'll love
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Slow Cooker
4 Ingredient Chicken Rice Casserole
Casseroles
Easy Hamburger Soup
Beef
Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole
Casseroles
Easy Homemade Lasagna
Pasta and Pizza Recipes
About the author
Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
See more posts by Holly
Follow Holly on social media:
Free eBook!
Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!
You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.
Latest & Greatest
CrockPot Beef Stew
Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Ham
Slow Cooker
Easy Corn Casserole
Side Dishes
Beef
Reuben Casserole
Recipes
Homemade Chicken Spaghetti
Pasta and Pizza Recipes
