Air-Frying Falafel: A Healthy, Crunchy Delight

Yes, you can cook falafel in an air fryer! Falafel is a Middle Eastern street food that has become increasingly popular, especially among those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. It is traditionally made by deep-frying balls or discs of spiced chickpeas and/or fava beans. However, cooking falafel in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, yielding falafel with a tender centre and crispy outer shell.

How to make falafel in an air fryer

Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that has become popular worldwide. While it is typically deep-fried, using an air fryer is a healthier alternative that still yields delicious results. Here is a step-by-step guide to making falafel in an air fryer.

Ingredients

You will need dried chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans), fresh herbs (such as dill, parsley, and cilantro), onion, garlic, spices (like cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper), and olive oil. Some recipes also call for baking powder, sesame seeds, and flour (either all-purpose, gluten-free, chickpea, or almond flour).

Soaking the Chickpeas

Start by soaking the dried chickpeas in a bowl of water with a little baking soda for 18 to 24 hours. This helps to soften them. Make sure the water covers the chickpeas by a few inches, as they will swell during soaking.

Preparing the Falafel Mixture

After soaking, drain the chickpeas and add them to a food processor along with the fresh herbs, onion, garlic, and spices. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground and has the texture of a coarse meal. You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your food processor.

Chilling the Mixture

Transfer the mixture to a bowl, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour or overnight. Chilling helps the falafel hold its shape and stay together during cooking.

Shaping the Falafel

When ready to cook, stir in some baking powder and sesame seeds (if using) into the chilled mixture. Use a scoop or spoon to portion out the mixture, then shape it into balls or slightly flattened discs. Discs tend to work better in the air fryer as they lay flat and cook more evenly.

Air Frying the Falafel

Lightly brush or spray the falafel with olive oil, then place them in the air fryer basket, being careful not to crowd them. Cook at 375-400°F for 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The falafel is ready when it is crispy and lightly browned on the outside. You may need to cook the falafel in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Serving Suggestions

Falafel is delicious served on its own or stuffed into a warm pita with tzatziki, tahini, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. It also goes well with a side of tzatziki or tahini sauce for dipping. You can also add it to salads, rice bowls, or mezze platters.

Storage and Reheating

Falafel can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, place the cooked falafel on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes, or in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.

How to shape falafel for the air fryer

Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern street food, usually made with a mixture of chickpeas, garlic, onion, herbs, and spices. It is typically formed into balls or disks and deep-fried, but can also be cooked in an air fryer or oven.

When shaping falafel for the air fryer, it is recommended to form the mixture into slightly flatter disks or patties, as this will allow them to lay flat in the air fryer basket and cook more evenly. This shape also prevents the falafel from rolling around in the basket. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket, as the falafel needs room to get crispy. Work in batches if necessary.

• Use an ice cream scooper or spoon to scoop a couple of tablespoonfuls of the falafel mixture.
• Form the mixture into a ball using your hands.
• Flatten the ball slightly to create a disk or patty shape. The falafel should be about 1/2-inch thick.
• Repeat this process with the remaining falafel mixture.
• Lightly brush or spray the falafel disks with olive oil.
• Place the falafel disks in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
• Air fry at 350-400°F for 15 minutes, flipping the falafel halfway through.

By following these steps, you can achieve crispy and flavorful falafel that is cooked evenly and ready to be enjoyed in a pita, salad, or on its own!

Ingredients for air fryer falafel

Making falafel in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, and the results are still delicious! Here is a list of ingredients you can use to make falafel in an air fryer:

• Chickpeas: Use dried chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) and avoid canned chickpeas as they contain a lot of moisture, which can make your falafel mushy. Soak the dried chickpeas in water for 18-24 hours before use.
• Fresh Herbs: Use a combination of fresh dill, parsley, and cilantro. Remove the stems and add them to the food processor along with the other ingredients.
• Onion: Yellow, white, or red onions work well. Roughly chop the onion before adding it to the food processor.
• Garlic: You'll need several peeled garlic cloves. There is no need to chop or mince the garlic as it will be processed with the other ingredients.
• Spices: Cumin, coriander, and a small amount of cayenne pepper (optional) for a little kick. You can also add some red pepper flakes or black pepper.
• Baking Powder: This ingredient is essential for making the falafel fluffy. Add it to the mixture just before shaping and cooking the falafel.
• Sesame Seeds (optional): Toasted sesame seeds add a nutty flavour to the falafel.
• Flour (optional): If your mixture is too wet, you can add some flour to help bind it together. Chickpea flour, regular flour, or cornstarch are good options.
• Olive Oil: Lightly brush or spray the falafel with olive oil before placing them in the air fryer to help them crisp up.

Once you have your ingredients, follow these steps: soak the chickpeas, make the falafel mixture, chill the mixture, form the patties, and finally, air-fry to perfection!

How to make falafel crispy

Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern street food that has become popular around the world, particularly as a vegetarian option. It is made from chickpeas and/or fava beans, garlic, onion, and various herbs and spices. It is usually formed into balls or disks and deep-fried, resulting in a crispy outer shell and a tender centre.

While traditional falafel is deep-fried, it is possible to achieve a similar texture and taste by using an air fryer. Here are some tips on how to make falafel crispy:

Use dried chickpeas

Canned chickpeas are precooked and too mushy to hold their shape, so it is best to use dried chickpeas and soak them in water for at least 12 hours, or even up to 24 hours. This will help achieve the perfect crumbly, coarse texture. Soaking the chickpeas also helps to reduce cooking time.

Toast your spices

Falafel is tastier with freshly toasted and ground spices. Toasting the spices in a dry frying pan and grinding them into a rough powder will add a smoky flavour to your falafel.

Dry the soaked chickpeas

As with most fried foods, moisture is the enemy of crispiness. After soaking your chickpeas, spread them out on a tea towel or kitchen roll and gently rub them to dry. Leave them uncovered while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Shape your falafel

For air frying, it is best to shape your falafel into slightly flatter disks or patties. This shape will allow the falafel to lay flat in the air fryer basket and cook more evenly. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket and work in batches if needed.

Use a binder

To help your falafel hold together and not crumble apart while cooking, use a binder such as flour or cornstarch. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or chickpea flour to your mixture if it seems too wet.

Add baking powder

Adding a little baking powder to the falafel mixture will make it lighter and airier, resulting in a tender falafel. Add the baking powder just before frying, rather than mixing it into the mixture beforehand and chilling it in the fridge.

Spray with oil

Before placing your falafel in the air fryer, lightly spray them with cooking spray or brush them with olive oil. This will help them crisp up and gain a golden colour.

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket

To ensure the best texture, arrange the falafel patties so that they are not touching. Work in batches if necessary.

Reheat in the oven or air fryer

If you have leftover falafel, you can store them in the fridge for a few days or freeze them for longer storage. To reheat, place them in a 350°F oven or air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through and crispy again.

How to serve falafel

There are many ways to serve falafel, a Middle Eastern staple food. Here are some suggestions:

• As an appetiser with dips such as tahini sauce, vegan tzatziki, hummus, or vegan mayo.
• In a falafel pita pocket with salad vegetables.
• As a falafel sandwich in a flatbread wrap with salad vegetables and extras like coleslaw.
• In a lettuce wrap.
• As part of a Mediterranean mezze or plate, with hummus, olives, pita chips, and more.
• As a burger by forming larger patties.
• Crumbled on top of a pizza with grilled vegetables like eggplant and zucchini.
• As a crunchy addition to a vegetarian salad.
• As part of a mezze platter with dips like baba ghanoush or hummus, and small nibbles like tomatoes with feta, roasted eggplant, or tabouli.
• In a pita sandwich with a cucumber and tomato tahini salad.
• In a falafel bowl with hummus, fresh vegetables, olives, and pickles.
• As a sandwich in warm pita bread with pickled onions, tahini or tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
• In a falafel salad with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta.

Frequently asked questions