Easy Homemade Baked Falafel (without Canned Beans)
Easy Homemade Baked Falafel is a delicious vegan and gluten-free appetizer for your parties. It is golden brown and crisp on the outside and soft from inside. Bursting with fresh flavours from parsley and different spices, it is a healthy alternative to the regular fried falafel.
What is Falafel?
Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty shaped fritter made using chickpeas or fava beans or at times both. It is a traditional Middle Easter Street food typically served in a Pita Bread.
This can also be wrapped in a flatbread and referred to as a wrapped sandwich. This Easy homemade Baked Falafels can also be served as a snack all alone or served as a part of the Mezze.
Salads, pickles, vegetables, tahini sauces are added to the pita pocket to make a filling Falafel Sandwich.
The main Ingredient Chickpeas
Chickpeas are a good source of fibre and protein and hence it is a good filling snack for your evening hunger pangs. As these falafel are baked they are a healthy finger food for kids.
Recipes with Chickpeas
Chickpeas are economical and taste great when added to a variety of recipes. I prefer to buy dry chickpeas, soak and use them. I love to make these addictive Herb Roasted Chickpeas for my tea time snack.
For my lunch, I prefer Chickpea Salad and for the main course or parties, I love to make the Indian Chole (Indian Chickpeas Curry) or this Brown Rice Chickpea Pulav.
Easy Golden Turmeric Hummus or this Beetroot Hummus goes well as a dip with tomato, celery or even flatbreads.
Recipe process of Baked Falafel
The recipe is really easy and straight forward. All the ingredients are added to the blender and minced. It just needs some 10-15 minutes of your time to assemble and the rest is baking time. You would have some delicious and crunchy falafel to be enjoyed with some wraps or Pita Bread. We recently enjoyed this with my Homemade Manakish Za'atar (Levantine Flatbread)
To make the perfect falafel, you will need
- To Soak the chickpeas well.
- You need a good food processor or a powerful blender, as we are trying to mince the uncooked Chickpeas.
- Chickpeas are hard and to get the perfect texture it needs to be processed well.
- Fresh parsley is another main ingredient. But if you cannot source it, you can use dry as well
Soaking Chickpeas
I am using soaked and uncooked chickpeas to make my falafel. The chickpeas need to be soaked properly in enough water. It is best to soak them for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight. Once they are soaked they fluff up to almost three times.
Can we use canned chickpeas?
I never use canned chickpeas so I would not be able to comment on this. But I have heard that using canned chickpeas for falafel or hummus does not yield good results. It is difficult to bind and even the taste differs.
Can we Bake Falafel
Yes, you definitely can and this is what today's recipe is all about. I prefer baking falafel then frying. First due to health reasons. It cuts down all the extra fats. Secondly, baking falafel takes around 25-30 minutes excluding the time to make them. It does not need babysitting as in frying and comes out nice and crisp. Of course, there would be a difference between fried and baked versions, but I bet you will not miss the fried version after trying my easy Baked Falafel recipe.
Can we freeze cooked Falafel?
Yes, you can definitely freeze this falafel. Cool them completely once baked and then store them in a ziplock.
How to defrost falafel in the microwave
If using a microwave one can microwave for 1-2 mins. Do keep a small cup of water along while microwaving. This helps the falafel not get dried up while reheating in the microwave.
How to defrost falafel in Oven
If using the oven, pop them in a preheated oven for 5-10 mins at 180 Deg C until soft.
How to defrost falafel on a skillet/pan
If using a skillet, defrost the frozen ones completely. Then on a skillet/pan, warm them on low for 5-10 minutes.
How to reheat leftover falafel
Follow the same above methods as for defrosting.
Side dish with Falafel or Accompaniments with Falafel
- Falafel can be enjoyed as is as a snack with Easy Golden Turmeric Hummus Beetroot, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush (Creamy Eggplant dip)
- They can be enjoyed as a sandwich in Pita Pockets, along with salads, hummus and tahini sauce
- Can be wrapped in a flatbread again to make a sandwich along with salads, hummus and tahini sauce
- A great addition to your Mezze Platter.
- Along with some Manakish Za'atar (Levantine Flatbread) and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.
So here goes the recipe of Baked Falafel:
Easy Homemade Baked Falafel (No Canned Beans)
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cup Soaked Chick peas (Kabuli Chana)
- 1-1.5 cup Parsley
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon Coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- ½ teaspoon Crushed black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Olive oil
- 1 small medium size Red onion
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (Replace with Red chili powder, if you do not have)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt
- Oil for brushing/spraying.
Instructions
- Line a tray with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 180 Deg C
- Soaked Chickpeas, double in size. So if you want 2 Cups of Soaked, use 1 cup of dry.
- In a food processor put all the ingredients and grind it.
- It will be like a coarse mixture.
- Take a gooseberry size or like 2 tablespoon of the mix and make small balls from it, by gently pressing it between your palms.
- Line it evenly on a baking tray. Lightly brush them with oil.
- Let them bake for 20-30 minutes turning in between. (Half baked Pic)
- Bake them until they are golden brown on all the sides.
- Serve it with Tahini dip, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush or as a sandwich in Pita bread or a wrap.
Video
Notes
- 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, 1 tablespoon=15 ml, 1 Cup=235 ml
- Ingredients can be adjusted as per taste.
- One can definitely fry this instead of baking.
- One can make a fine powder of coriander and cumin seeds and add to it, I just added all at one go.
YouTube Channel
Updates
The recipe first appeared on Cook with Renu on 5th December 2018. Today, 3rd April 2021, I have updated a few pics and content.
and "MLLA #123, Hosted by The Mad Scientist's Kitchen, conceptualized by Susan and hosted by Lisa."
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It has been a while since I deep fried food. Baking is the best way to get the crispy texture even without frying. These falafel looks so yum and that manakish has turned out perfect.
Thank you Gayathri
Baked falafel looks absolutely prefect to much without any guilt. Even am keeping myself from deep frying am sure this baked version looks super crispy as much as like the deep fried ones.
Thank you Priya
Asked version looks stunning. I am sure it tasted great too. What a healthy version to enjoy.
Thank You
Guilt free falafel and turned out so perfect.
Thank You
We hardly deep fry , but We definitely do . I won’t deny on it , we also enjoy it , but if there’s a option to use a oven or a airfryer I prefer to do the same . The baked falafel is a wonderful way to indulge into some nice crunchy munchies . Good share Renu .
Thank You
Baked falafel is the best and a much healthier version. Your baked version looks perfect.
Thank You
I am putting my head down in shame, that despite being a breeze, I have never tried falafels! My kids aren't very fond of it, so I also never wanted to make it... but this baked version looks so tempting, they taste yum when accompanied with a garlic dip...
It's ok Rafeeda, we many a times do not do some recipes and some we do a lot and I know you do a lot. Thank you for your lovely comments
I made these a few years ago, and since then its been homemade, and yes no canned beans, baked Falafel. I love the colour from your recipe and that Manakeesh , hummus and this sounds like a perfect meal to dig into
Thank you Kalyani
Falafels are a favourite in my family and your's are looking delicious and perfectly baked. Along the delicious bread, these are a perfect treat!! Wholesome and yummy!!
Thank you so much
We love falafel in our home, but like you I hardly make them at home because they are deep fried. Your baked version sounds guilt free way to eat falafel. Will have to try your recipe soon.
Sure do, Thank You
Such a healthy protein rich treat!!! Looks very inviting and love the beautiful color you have got on these cuties!
Thank you 🙂
I tried baked falafel for the first time last year, and I haven't eaten fried since! It's so delicious and very easy to make. All these ingredients sound delicious together.
Thank you
Falafel looks very healthy and delicious. Loved the baked method instead of oil frying. Thanks for explaining in detail.
Thank you
Indeed such a healthy version of falafel.. Love this .. Such can try so many versions of this!!
Thank you
I love falafel and this baked version is so much healthier. Looks amazing
Thank you
I adore homemade falafel, especially baked versions. Your recipe I am sure is delicious and hard to resist. Thanks for sharing with MLLA.
Guiltfree delicious treat! I love the pics and of course will prefer to bake my falafel too. Thanks a lot for linking to MLLA.
Thank You
Tasty,beautiful,make ahead and healthy!!! Oh my goodness these are fabulous! Perfect party food too. Thank you for bringing these to #BakingCrumbs
Thank You
Baking makes many dishes which are otherwise fried, guilt free. The baked version falafel looks inviting.
I love falafel and have always baked them - they are healthier this way and just as delicious. Your look fab!
I love falafel and so do my kids. Perfect finger/party food. I have never made it using uncooked chickpeas though and am really curious to try this method. They look and sound delicious! Thank you for sharing with #BakingCrumbs 🙂
I have made the deep fried version of this long back. The baked ones look so good and such a guilt free snack!
Thank You 🙂
Baked falafels look scrumptious. Such a delicious snack That can be gorged on guilt free. I am tempted to bake them soon. Baked version is so much healthier.
These are a perfect meal prep I will love some of these in my wrap as well. Look at the colour, that beautiful green will carry me through the meanest days for sure.
I soaked a batch of chickpeas just today, and voila this is a godsend as we LOVE baked falafels.. these look so good, Renu...
Renu, I still haven't managed to make the tempting mezze platter, but one day it will be a reality. As for the baked falafel, they look so good. Love how crispy and crunchy they look even though they are baked and not fried. I once tried making falafel with cooked chickpeas and they didn't turn out as crunchy and crispy as falafels should. It was more like a patties ! So yes best to use soaked and uncooked chickpeas.
These baked falafels look absolutely amazing, Renu. They are one of my favourite snacks ever. I've never tried baking them, so I shall definitely be trying your baking method.
Hope you like it. Thank You