Oil Free Baked Falafel
Falafel is a delicious traditional Middle Eastern food that is usually served with hummus and tahini sauce. These hearty, earthy fritters typically are fried in oil but we have adapted the recipe so that they are just as delicious baked. Our favorite way to eat them is tucked into a wrap stuffed with veggies and topped with our hummus and tahini sauce.
Ingredients
Falafels
- 2 cups dry chickpeas soaked overnight
- 1 small onion chopped
- ½ cup parsley chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons chickpea flour
- 2 tablespoons flax meal
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 ½ teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoon cracked pepper
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons Bragg liquid aminos
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Tahini Sauce
- 3 tablespoons tahini
- ½ lemon juiced, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Bragg liquid aminos
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add all ingredients to food processor and pulse until it is completely ground but not to a paste.
- Roll into 30 small balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Press each ball flat into about a 1/2 inch thick disk.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Flip falafels and bake another 10 minutes.
- Stir together the tahini sauce ingredients.
- Serve falafels with the tahini sauce.
- Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 12gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 126mgPotassium: 556mgFiber: 10gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 363IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 142mgIron: 4mg
Falafel balls smell so good but when I put them on the baking sheet they crumble. Did I do something wrong?
You might have to blend them a little longer. It does take a little work to get them to stick together.
What can be the substitute for white wine vinegar?
apple cider vinegar
Hallelujah! We love falafel and I have tried numerous recipes over the last two years. Finally got it down to just the right seasoning mix for us but could never get them the right texture for dipping. We used your recipe with our spice blend and they are perfect…no more crumbling falafel. Thanks ?
Can you make these with canned chickpeas?
It will work but the texture to me is a little pasty.
First time making falafels, as well as first time using dried chickpeas! (But not the last. ) ?
So good!! They are so tender and flavourful. I baked them all and put most in the freezer for future meals. Looking forward to eating these. Yum!
Made these for the first time last night; a double batch and they were sooo good. Flavorful and savory and perfect for a texture “fix”. Have been eating them “as-is” but also as crumbles into my salad. Also, I used the leftover tahini sauce as salad dressing…a nice break from vinegar. My tip – I found it was helpful to use wet hands to shape the balls. Also, while there are a fair amount of ingredients involved, the recipe was very easy to follow. Thank you, Jill!
Are raw chick peas healthy? Are they a legume or a pea? Just wondering because a peanut is not a pea or a nut.
Do you think I could substitute the Braggs liquid aminos with salt reduced Soy sauce?
yes
These were fantastic. I used cassava flour because that’s what I had on hand. I also added fresh garlic,fresh cilantro, pinch of turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and coriander to make it spicier. I used a cookie scoop to scoop them onto a silicon mat and pat them into disks, worked perfectly. These will be made regularly in my home! Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Do you need to cook the Chickpeas after soaking?
no
What brand of Tahini do you use? I am looking for a good Tahini to use in this receipe!
I use either Simply Organic or 365 Brand
Jill, ur falafels are like crack(or at least how i imagine crack to be ha ha)! So good! Thanks!
I love your recipes, I just discovered these and I am anxious to try them. At the bottom of your instructions you have a Nutrition facts guide. You indicate the calories – for how many falafels is that? How many falafels do you consider to make up a serving? Also, in your video you said that you made 24 (6×4) but when I look at the tray it is 6×5=30. I only mention this to see if that will affect your nutrition facts. Thanks
There were 30, you are right. That was the third show we filmed that day and I think my brain was shot. =) The nutrition info is a just a template we use and there isn’t a serving size option. I believe it calculates each falafel. I would say a good serving is 2-3
can i use a blender instead of a food processor?
That would be challenging
I love all your recipes! I use your cookbook regularly. But, I do have a question regarding the falafel recipe. I made it today and it was delicious! Can I freeze them? If so, what’s the best way to reheat them? Should I defrost first, then reheat in the oven or air fryer? How long should I reheat? I’m afraid of drying them out.
Hmmm Mary, that is a great question. They will freeze well. I would defrost them and then airfry them for just a few minutes. They will be a little dry but I don’t really have a remedy other that reheating them in a covered baking dish in the oven.
Hi Jill, I’m going to make this lovely looking recipe but I have a question. I bought some brown whole linseeds and don’t know what to do with them, probably a silly question – can I grind them successfuly in a small ninja grinder?
Yes, it does a great job grinding them
Love these! They are the best I ever had!! Thank you! ?????