I LOVE falafel. It’s one of those foods I occasionally grab from a food truck or takeout restaurant, always thinking, “I should make this at home.” After Craig and I enjoyed some falafel last weekend, he convinced me to create a healthier version. Challenge accepted!
Why Baked Falafel?
Falafel is an incredibly simple vegan recipe. Traditionally, it’s deep-fried, but I opted to bake them instead. This method still achieves a crisp exterior by baking and then broiling for a few minutes. The result is a delicious and healthier alternative.
Falafel can be enjoyed in numerous ways. Here are two of my favorites:
Falafel Pita Sandwich: Ingredients:
- Whole wheat pita
- 3 falafel balls
- 1 tbsp hummus
- Sprouts
- Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers
- Optional: Sriracha for spice
Falafel Salad: Ingredients:
- Mixed greens
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Olives
- Red onion
- Cilantro
- Sesame seeds
- Falafel balls
- Sesame dressing
The best part? Each serving of three falafel balls is only 153 calories! Plus, this recipe is quick and easy, taking about 25-30 minutes to prepare multiple servings.
Baked Falafel Recipe
| Baked Falafel | |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 10 mins |
| Cook time | 20 mins |
| Total time | 30 mins |
| Author | Dara |
| Recipe type | Takeout Makeover |
| Serves | 7 |
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of dry chickpeas, soaked or boiled (see note)
- ¼ cup chickpea water
- 1 medium onion, peeled and cut into chunks
- 4-5 cloves of garlic, peeled
- ½ cup fresh parsley, washed and chopped
- Zest and juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 1.5 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree.
- Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil spray.
- Carefully shape the mixture into golf ball-sized balls.
- Place on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Turn on the broil and broil for 5 minutes to crisp.
- Serve.
Notes :-
Preparing Chickpeas: You can either soak the chickpeas overnight or do a quick soak on the stove by bringing chickpeas and 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and let the chickpeas soak in the covered pot for an hour.
