Falafel Recipe (Baked or Fried)

baked falafel arranged on a white plate.

5 from 10 votes

Falafel Recipe (Baked or Fried)

Falafel are packed with chickpeas, tahini, jalapeño, garlic, and a burst of cilantro, making them a fantastic vegetarian treat. Serve them in wraps, pitas, or tossed in a salad.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Appetizer/Main

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: how to make falafel, middle eastern food, vegetarian dinner ideas, what is falafel

Servings:

Author: Katerina Petrovska

Ingredients

For the Falafel

15 ounces canned garbanzo beans, well rinsed and drained
1 small yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 small jalapeno, ribs and seeds removed, and roughly chopped
2 cups cilantro leaves, packed
2 tablespoons tahini
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup panko crumbs

For the Sauce

¼ cup tahini
¼ cup warm water
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

For Serving

pita bread, for serving
cucumber slices, for serving
tomatoes, for serving

Instructions

Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 450˚F with the baking sheet inside.
Meanwhile, in a food processor combine garbanzo beans, chopped onion, garlic cloves, jalapeno, cilantro leaves, tahini, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper; process until finely chopped and the mixture holds together.
Scrape the mixture into a mixing bowl and stir in the panko.
Pinch off from the mixture to make 12 balls or patties.
Using oven mitts, remove the baking sheet from the oven and liberally grease the baking sheet with cooking spray.
Arrange the falafel patties on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Flip over the falafel and continue to bake for 10 more minutes or until golden and crisp.
In the meantime, prepare the Tahini Sauce by combining tahini, warm water, and lemon juice in a bowl and whisk until creamy. Season with salt and pepper; taste and adjust with more salt if needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more warm water until you reach the desired consistency.
Remove falafel from oven and transfer to a serving plate.
Serve the falafel with warm pita bread, cucumber slices, and tahini sauce.

Notes

Deep Fryer Directions: Fill a pot with oil and heat it to 350˚F over medium heat. Add the falafel balls in batches, about 5 at a time, and fry them for about 1 to 2 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy.

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