These baked falafel are healthy and easy-to-make homemade Mediterranean recipes where the patties are crispy on the outside, soft, tender, and garlicky inside. This falafel recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
Check out the crispy authentic, and traditional deep-fried falafel and falafel wrap.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Falafel dough can be made in less than 10 minutes.
- A healthier vegan, gluten-free version that is baked instead of frying.
- This falafel is made using canned chickpeas, making it simpler than soaking the chickpeas.
- These falafel are freezer friendly—best protein-rich option to include for your wraps and salad bowl.
Ingredients
Chickpeas: Traditional and authentic falafel is made using dried chickpeas soaked overnight. For the simple version, I have used canned chickpeas.
For flavor: Use fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley with onion, garlic, cumin, and coriander.
Flour: This is to soak up the moisture and bind everything together.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Step-by-step instructions
Falafel dough
- Grind the oats to form a smooth powder, or use store-bought oat flour.
- In a blender or food processor, add chickpeas, garlic, cilantro, parsley, onion, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds and grind to a crumbly texture. Try not to add any water. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Transfer this to a bowl. Add cayenne powder, oats flour, salt, and pepper to taste and mix well to get dough texture. ( The dough should not be wet, and you should be able to form a nonsticky patty from this. If needed, you can add additional flour)
- Taste-check the dough and adjust salt and spices if needed.
Bake
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Form patties of desired shape and size from the dough. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush it with oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Then flip on the other side. Brush it again with oil and bake for another 10 minutes or until it is crisp outside and cooked inside.
Tips
- Flour is mainly used to soak up the moisture content and makes your falafel crispy. I have used oats today. You can use plain flour or even rice flour in the recipe.
- You can even coat your baking pan with oil. That way, you don't have to brush each patty with oil.
Pan fried falafel patties
Add 1 or 2 tablespoon of oil to your skillet and swirl to coat. Place 6 to 8 patties based on the size of the pan and cook on a medium flame for 6 to 8 minutes flipping it when the underside is golden brown.
Air fryer falafel
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the falafel patties on a single layer in your air fryer basket. Brush each patty with oil. Cook the falafel for a total of 15 minutes, flipping them at the 8-minute mark. Cook until they are crispy and brown on both sides.
Store and freeze
Unbaked falafel
Once you make the falafel dough, you can keep it in the refrigerator for a day.
If you are not making falafel right away, make the patties and separate each patty between the parchment paper and store it in an airtight conatiner for upto 1-month. Thaw and pan-fry or bake as instructed.
Cooked falafel
Falafel tastes best when served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to one month. Reheat them on a skillet or bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until heated through.
Serving suggestions
- Don't miss to check out our falafel pita sandwich—a healthy Mediterranean Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian meal.
- Falafel tastes great as an evening snack or appetizer, wrap it into your sandwiches or add it to your salad bowl to make it protein packed.
- Serve it with a simple Greek salad made with onion, tomato, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese.
- Sauces like tzatziki, and hummus, dill sauce all taste good.
Recipe FAQs
Falafel patties are made using chickpeas, herbs like cilantro and parsley, along with onion, garlic, coriander, and cumin. You can deep fry, air fry, pan fry, or even oven-bake them.
Yes. Baked falafel are healthier than deep-fried ones and one of the best protein-rich option that you can add to your daily meal, including salad bowls or wraps.
Two patties of baked falafel contain 66 calories with 2g of protein and 12g of carbs.
More Mediterranean Recipes
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Recipe card
Healthy Baked Falafel | Easy Homemade Falafel
Equipment
- Food processor
- Baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 can Canned Chickpeas or Garbanzo 16 oz, rinsed drained, pat dry
- 3 to 4 Garlic cloves
- ¼ cup Cilantro
- ¼ cup Parsley
- ½ Onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon Coriander seeds Can substitute with powder
- ½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds Can substitute with powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon Cayenne or Red chili powder
- ¼ cup Oats / Rice flour or Gluten-free oats
- Olive oil or Vegetable oil to brush the patties
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Falafel dough
- Grind the oats to form a smooth powder, or use store-bought oat flour.¼ cup Oats / Rice flour
- In a blender or food processor, add chickpeas, garlic, cilantro, parsley, onion, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds and grind to a crumbly texture. Try not to add any water. Scrape down the sides as needed.1 can Canned Chickpeas or Garbanzo, 3 to 4 Garlic cloves, ¼ cup Cilantro, ¼ cup Parsley, ½ Onion chopped, ½ teaspoon Coriander seeds, ½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- Transfer this to a bowl. Add cayenne powder, oats flour, salt, and pepper to taste and mix well to get dough texture. ( The dough should not be wet, and you should be able to form a nonsticky patty from this. If needed, you can add additional flour)½ to 1 teaspoon Cayenne or Red chili powder, Salt to taste, Black pepper to taste
- Taste-check the dough and adjust salt and spices if needed.
Oven Bake
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Form patties of desired shape and size from the dough. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush it with oil.Olive oil or Vegetable oil
- Bake for 15 minutes. Then flip on the other side. Brush it again with oil and bake for another 10 minutes or until it is crisp outside and cooked inside.
Pan fried falafel patties
- Add 1 or 2 tablespoon of oil to your skillet and swirl to coat. Place 6 to 8 patties based on the size of the pan and cook on a medium flame for 6 to 8 minutes flipping it when the underside is golden brown.
Air fryer falafel
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the falafel patties on a single layer in your air fryer basket. Brush each patty with oil. Cook the falafel for a total of 15 minutes, flipping them at the 8-minute mark. Cook until they are crispy and brown on both sides.
Notes
- Flour is mainly used to soak up the moisture content and makes your falafel crispy. I have used oats today. You can use plain flour or even rice flour in the recipe.
- You can even coat your baking pan with oil. That way, you don't have to brush each patty with oil.
Store and Freeze
Unbaked falafel Once you make the falafel dough, you can keep it in the refrigerator for a day.If you are not making falafel right away, make the patties and separate each patty between the parchment paper and store it in an airtight conatiner for upto 1-month. Thaw and pan-fry or bake as instructed. Cooked falafel Falafel tastes best when served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to one month. Reheat them on a skillet or bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition
Note: We originally posted this recipe in July 2015. It has now been modified in July 2023 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Recipe maker, Calories, Storage Instructions, etc.
Anju
Nice recipe..but it is not gluten free..oats contains gluten
Kushi
Oh Thank you and thanks for the info dear!