Air Fryer Falafel Recipe

If you've been on a never-ending journey to find the perfect falafel, you can rest easy knowing that your search is about to end. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn of YouCare-SelfCare concocted an air fryer falafel recipe that's not only delicious, but also provides a healthier spin on the classic falafel. "Many times, falafel is fried, but because these are air-fried, they are a much healthier option," Hahn notes. "They offer a great balance of protein, fat, and fiber. They also are an easy meal prep item. Sometimes, I double the batch and keep them in a glass container to use all week for meals."

This recipe makes two servings and can go from kitchen to table in under 30 minutes. Plus, this Middle Eastern dish can be paired with countless options. "I like serving them in a buddha bowl so I can include all kinds of other vegetables and grains," Hahn says. "They are also great stuffed into a pita pocket with any kind of dressing. You can serve them over rice or as a salad topper."

To make this air fryer falafel recipe, you'll need to gather a plethora of ingredients. You'll need onion, garlic, Italian parsley, cilantro, jalapeño, and garbanzo beans. You'll also need cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper. Finishing off the ingredients list, you'll want to grab flour, baking soda, lemon juice, and avocado oil spray. Optionally, you can use (more) cilantro, scallions, and lemon for garnishing. You can also take this time to cut and chop the vegetables.

Given the heat, we understand that jalapeños aren't for everyone. "You can control the spiciness by leaving the jalapeño out or just using a small amount," Hahn says.

Once the ingredients are ready, you'll add the onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, jalapeño, beans, and spices to the food processor, and then pulse until the mixture is blended, but still chunky. You'll then transfer the mixture to a bowl, and add the flour and baking soda. Then, stir to combine everything. Next, cover the uncooked mixture, and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. This is to ensure the mixture is firm for forming into patties. After all, the last thing you want is for the patties to break apart.

After 30 minutes have passed, you'll take the falafel mixture out of the fridge, and form said mixture into eight patties. Next, spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil. (Hahn says any cooking spray will work, yet avocado oil is preferred, since it has a high smoke point.) You'll then put the patties in the basket, making sure to leave room between each patty.

All eight patties should fit in the air fryer, but if you have a smaller machine, then you might need to cook in batches. Finally, you'll set the air fryer to 400 F and the time to 15 minutes. Every air fryer is different, so check the patties at 12 minutes to make sure they're not overcooked.

When the falafel patty timer has gone off, the patties should be golden brown. Ideally, they'll be crispy on the outside and still moist on the inside. If you desire, you can top the patties with cilantro, scallions, and lemon. Nevertheless, you can now serve and enjoy this tasty treat.

"Since falafel are just made with plants (versus animal products), there is no real need to have them reach a certain temperature," Hahn says. "You just want them cooked on the inside, but not overdone and dry. Here is where just checking them comes in to be sure." Pita bread and tzatziki sauce are excellent pairing options if you're craving a side dish.