falafel made with chickpeas

Falafel Recipe

By Swasthi on September 14, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Falafel Recipe – A detailed step by step photo guide to make delicious chickpea falafel at home. Known as a very popular street food in various parts of the world, falafel is a versatile and delicious vegetarian food that has its roots in the Middle East. Making falafel at home is extremely easy, much easier than you think. Once you try them am sure you will turn back to them time & again!

falafel made with chickpeas

In this post I share the traditional chickpea falafel with 3 cooking methods – deep frying, baking and air frying. These turn out crisp from outside, fluffy and moist inside.

About Falafel

Falafel is a round or patty shaped fritter made with chickpeas or broad beans (fav beans) that are ground with spices and herbs. Portions of the ground mixture is shaped and fried to golden perfection before serving. Falafel are commonly served inside a pita or wrapped in a soft flatbread accompanied by tahini sauce, vegetables and pickles which makes them a satisfying meal for lunch or dinner.

Alternatively, they make a wonderful Snack or appetizer that is sure to please both vegetarian and non-vegetarian guests, alike. These are naturally gluten-free and vegan.

You will find many variations of the traditional falafel like herb falafel, spinach falafel, veggie falafel and turmeric falafel. But we love the traditional classic version and this is what I have shared in this post. I have also shared 2 favorite dips – Tahini sauce and yogurt dip in the recipe card to serve with falafel.

Making Traditional Falafel

Making traditional falafel at home does require a bit of advanced preparation as the chickpeas require some inactive time soaking in water which is simple and yet, quite necessary. However, this should not dissuade you from making them from scratch. The key to the best, most authentic falafel is to start with dry chickpeas or fav beans.

After an overnight soak in water, they are then rinsed well and ground in a food processor or a grinder with onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cayenne or chili powder and parsley. Once the mixture is coarsely ground and uniformly mixed, add enough flour or chickpea flour (gluten-free version), to get it to adhere together.

You can test this by gathering a small amount in your hand to make sure it maintains its shape so that you can fry without the risk of them falling apart.

After you have achieved the proper consistency, you can shape them right away into small balls about 1½ inch in diameter. At this point you may find that refrigerating the mixture for about an hour will make them easier to handle and more likely to stay together when you fry them.

For further convenience, you can also keep them in the refrigerator for a few days uncooked. Just be sure to keep them covered so that they don’t dry out.

falafel recipe

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How to make Falafel (Stepwise Photos)

Preparation

1. Add 2 cups chickpeas to a large bowl and rinse them thoroughly at least thrice. Soak them for 12 hours in lots of water. Do not cover the bowl. You can use a mesh cover or a clean cloth. Chickpeas need some air circulation. Avoid keeping them covered.

soaking chickpeas in a bowl

2. Later drain the water and rinse them well with fresh water. Drain them completely to a colander. Then transfer to a grinder or a processor along with

  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • 4 to 6 garlic cloves
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoons ground cumin (or 1½ teaspoon seeds)
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper (add less for kids)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon cayenne or red chilli powder (add less for kids)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ to ½ cup chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or chickpea flour.
processing chickpeas herbs spices in a food processor

3. Process all of these until it reaches a coarse texture. No water is added. Take a small portion of this mixture to your pal. Try shaping it to a ball, by pressing with your fingers. The mixture should bind well and hold the shape.

If it does not bind and falls apart, process it a bit more until it passes this test. But the texture must still be coarse.

processed chickpeas and herbs

4. Refrigerating this for an hour ensures your falafels won’t fall apart while frying. If you intend to air fry or bake the falafels, add ½ to â…” teaspoon baking powder & mix well. I do not add it for frying. Take small portions, about 1½  to 2 tablespoons of the dough to your palm. Press down with your fingers to shape to balls. You may flatten them slightly but only if you have used flour while processing.

falafels getting ready to be fried

Fry or Bake Falafel

5. I use up half of the processed mixture and then refrigerated the rest for the next day. To bake them, place the falafels on a greased tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F or 200 C for 12 minutes on each side.

6. When you are ready to fry the falafel, heat a deep skillet over medium heat. Using vegetable oil, bring the temperature up to about 350 F degrees. If you do not have a thermometer, simply test by dropping a small portion of dough to the hot oil. It must come up slowly without turning brown. Gently lower the falafel balls into the oil. Regulate the heat to medium. Do not disturb them for 2 mins until they become slightly firm.

deep frying falafel in hot oil

7. Cook them on one side until golden brown, rotating them to achieve even color on all sides.

golden fried falafel

8. Carefully remove them from the pan and drain them well on a rack or towel to remove excess oil. Fry all of them in batches.

fried falafel

I have shared a quick Tahini sauce and an yogurt dip in the recipe card below which I make to go with these falafel. While the falafel are really delicious wrapped in a pita with vegetables and tahini sauce as they are traditionally served, they are a wonderful snack or appetizer too. Accompanied by a green salad, they are a perfect vegetarian lunch. A creamy yogurt dressing is a perfect counterpoint to their crisp exterior and aromatic flavor.

falafel

If it should happen that you have made more than you can eat, you can refrigerate and very easily reheat them in the oven. This will bring back some of the crispness that you achieved while frying.

Pro Tips

  1. Dry Chickpeas: For best results make the falafels from scratch using dry chickpeas. If using canned chickpeas, then use about ¾ to 1 cup flour for 1 can of chickpeas. To make it gluten free use chickpea flour.
  2. Processing: Process the mixture right for a good binding. The processed mixture has to be coarse like the couscous. Very coarse mixture tends to disintegrate the falafel in oil. Too much processing will make the falafel mixture pasty altering the texture of falafel.
  3. Flour: I do not use flour as I have never felt the need. But if you are making the falafel for the first time then you can add about 1 to 2 tbsp all-purpose flour for binding. For a gluten free version use chickpea flour.
  4. The ground falafel dough, balls or patties can be refrigerated for up to 2 days in an air tight container. Use them as required.
  5. To make herb falafel, add in more parsley or cilantro while processing.
  6. Feel free to wrap the bite sized pieces of falafels in rotis, tortillas or plain parathas with some fresh veggies and yogurt sauce. They taste yum. You can very easily bake these in the mornings for breakfast or lunch box. My kid’s love these plain with some garlic yogurt dip for their breakfast.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

chickpea falafel

Falafel Recipe with Chickpeas

Falafel are deep fried balls or patties made with ground chickpeas, herbs, spices & garlic. This recipe shares in detail how to make chickpea falafel from scratch. Serve them with tahini sauce.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time33 minutes
Servings30 falafels
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 2 cups dry chickpeas (garbanzo beans, uncooked/ raw)
  • oil as needed for frying
  • 1 medium onion cubed
  • 4 to 6 garlic cloves
  • ¼ to ½ cup parsley chopped (or coriander leaves)
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoon ground cumin or 1 ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoon ground coriander (powder)
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (powder)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chilli powder
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons chickpea flour or all-purpose flour (optional)
  • ½ to â…” teaspoon baking powder (optional, refer notes)


Instructions

Preparation

  • Add chickpeas to a large bowl and rinse them well at least thrice. Soak them in fresh water for at least 12 hours.
  • After the soak, discard the water and rinse them well with fresh water. Drain them to a colander.
  • Add chickpeas, cumin, coriander, pepper, cayenne, salt, onion, garlic, parsley and flour to a food processor or a grinder. Process to a coarse mixture without adding water.
  • The mixture must resemble the texture of wheat semolina or couscous and not like a smooth paste. If the mixture is not processed well the balls can fall apart while frying in the oil.
  • Test the processed dough by taking a small portion (1½ to 2 tbsps.) to your palm and press it down with your fingers and shape to a ball. The mixture should hold shape. If not process a little more until it passes this test.
  • Optionally refrigerate for an hour. This step helps the mixture to bind well. This mixture keeps good in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • When you are ready to fry the falafel, add baking powder. I use it only for the air fryer and baked versions and don't if frying.

Deep Fry Falafel

  • On a medium flame, heat oil in a deep pan just enough to partially immerse the falafel. Too much oil in the pan can sometimes disintegrate the falafel. (check the pictures)
  • Test 1: Drop a small portion of dough to the hot oil, it should come up to the surface steadily without turning brown. This means the oil is ready to fry.
  • Test 2: Shape 1½ to 2 tbsps. dough to a ball pressing it firmly with your fingers. Gently drop it in the hot oil & do not disturb until it becomes firm for about 2 mins. It should not fall apart, meaning your mixture is just right. 
  • Troubleshooting: If the falafel falls apart, add more flour or process the mixture a bit more.
  • Make lemon sized balls and press them gently with your fingers to bind the mixture well. If you want you may flatten them slightly. You should be able to make about 25 to 30 falafel.
  • Regulate the flame to medium, Gently slide them one after the other to the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Do not disturb them for a minute or two until they cook a bit and firm up. 
  • Later turn them to the other side and deep fry them on a medium flame until golden & crisp. Remove the falafel to a steel colander, rack or kitchen towel. 
  • Serve falafel with your Tahini sauce or yogurt dip. You can also stuff in halved pita bread along with pickled veggies, toum or tahini sauce.

Oven Baked

  • To bake in oven, flatten the falafels to shape like patties. Preheat the oven to 400F or 200 C for at least 15 to 20 mins. Place the falafels on a greased tray and spray them with oil generously.
  • Bake them for 12 mins and turn them to the other side gently. Continue to bake for another 12 mins until crisp and done. Over baking makes them dry.

Air frying

  • I prefer to flatten the balls to patties. Place them in the air fryer basket and air fry for 9 mins at 390F or 200 C. Turn them to the other side and fry for another 6 to 7 minutes until crisp.
  • If you air fry them too long they will become dry. I prefer to spray them with oil after air frying.

To Serve

  • To make tahini sauce – I use ¾ cup tahini, ¼ cup + 2 tbsp warm water, 2 large garlic cloves, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, salt as needed, 2 tsp finely chopped fresh parsley. Process all the ingredients in a processor until pale, creamy and thick.
  • To make a quick yogurt dip, use ¾ cup greek yogurt or hung curd, 1 tsp lemon juice, salt, 1 garlic clove, deseeded green chili (optional). Blend them and add parsley.


Notes

  • Chickpeas: If your chickpeas are too old, you need to soak them longer otherwise the dough will be drier and the falafel will be denser. Adding 1/4 to 1/2  teaspoon of baking soda to the chickpeas while soaking helps a bit.
  • Flour: I make falafel always without flour and it never disintegrates while frying. If you are keen to make them without flour, then you may need to experiment to get the correct texture of the dough (not very coarse and not fine). Too much flour in your dough will make denser falafel.
  • Baking Powder: If you intend to fry the falafel, you may skip the baking powder. I never use for the fried version. But adding it to the baked and air fryer version does make a huge difference. They turn out slightly lighter and it also prevents them being too dry inside.
  • Temperature of oil: Oil should be hot enough but not too hot else your falafel will turn brown on the outside too quickly without cooking inside.
  • Green or herb falafel: If you love lot of herbs, you can double the quantities of parsley and coriander.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Falafel Recipe with Chickpeas
Amount Per Serving
Calories 71 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 44mg2%
Potassium 143mg4%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 68IU1%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Falafel Recipe first published in July 2015. Updated & republished in February 2022.

Falafel Recipe

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
So delicious! I doubled the recipe and froze a lot for lunches! Thank you. Yom yom

5 stars
Very delicious, thank you very much! Made it into a wrap with a tahini sauce mentioned in the recipe, hummus, dill dip, and veggies. Definitely will make again!

Hi can I use kala channa?

5 stars
Great

Thank you swasthi. we stuck to the recipe bit pan fried in the end and they were very well received. Thank you

Thank you for sharing this recipe. Just wondering if potato base also works with this recipe (oven baked), to replace chickpeas? Sorry for this odd question, as I just love potato too much.

5 stars
Thank you so much for sharing this. Just wondering, will this recipe also works for potato base if oven baked, to replace chickpeas? Sorry for the odd question, as I just love potato.

Hi Swasthi
Am planning to fry these after baking it twice earlier. They turned out good.

How can I use up the used oil? Which oil did you fry yours in?

Thanks in advance

5 stars
Thanks for the prompt response Swasthi!

5 stars
Perfect! I only used 1tbsp of gram flour and refrigerated for 25 minutes but they came out exactly like the photo and tasted amazing. Thank you!

5 stars
Thankyou for sharing this amazing recepie 🙂

hello

in your recipes 1 cup is 240ml, does that mean fill a 240ml cup to full amount with the ingredients you state in recipe?

e.g. 1 cup chick pea means fill a 240ml cup with chick peas, or if recipe states 1 cup semolina flour, fill a 240ml cup with semolina, 1 cup rice, fill the 240ml cup with rice etc

please explain
thanks

I don’t have a food processor right now. So, I bought some chickpea flour and plan to mix just enough water in the recipe to make it bind. Do you think it will work?

4 stars
Your recipes are eye catching… planning to try a few.

A wonderful presentation and easy to understand and cook

Swathi, I am in love with your recipes. I have tried many of them. Specially south Indian food like Dal wada, Rassam. Today I tried this Falafal and turned out awesome.
Thanks for sharing such amazing, mouth watering recipes.

???

4 stars
It’s wonderful presentation to understand and make

5 stars
Thanks so much for sharing. Your recipe writing exudes the confidence of experience and I really appreciate it’s thorough straightforwardness. Looking forward to reading more of your recipes!

what is the best oil to fry with? I do not use corn oil-

I am the mfg of vegsnacks for starters for event purpose can u suggest good recipe

And also i dnt find parsley where i stay…can i dhaniya leaves instead?