Marianne Martinez
Falafel is a staple food in the Middle East and Egypt, traditionally made by deep frying balls or patties of chickpeas, herbs, and spices. However, air frying has emerged as a healthier alternative to deep frying, reducing the amount of oil needed and making cleanup easier. While air-fried falafel may not be quite as crispy as deep-fried falafel, it still has a wonderfully crispy shell and tender middle. Falafel in an air fryer is usually cooked at temperatures between 350°F and 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the desired level of crispiness.
How long to cook falafel in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 350°F - 400°F |
| Time | 8-15 minutes |
| Flip falafel | After 5-10 minutes |
| Reheating | 2-3 minutes at 350°F |
| Freeze falafel | Up to 3 months |
| Reheat frozen falafel | 15-20 minutes at 375°F |
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What You'll Learn
How to shape falafel for air frying
Shaping falafel for air frying is a crucial step to ensure even cooking and the desired crispy texture. Here is a detailed guide on how to shape falafel for optimal air frying results:
Preparing the Falafel Mixture:
Before shaping the falafel, it is essential to prepare the falafel mixture. The base of the mixture typically consists of dried chickpeas that have been soaked in water for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. This soaking process ensures the chickpeas are softened and ready for processing. It is recommended to use dried chickpeas instead of canned ones, as canned chickpeas tend to be too wet and can affect the texture of the falafel.
Additionally, the mixture includes fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and green onions, as well as garlic and various spices like cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. All the ingredients are processed together in a food processor until a uniform consistency is achieved.
Using an Ice Cream Scooper or Spoon:
Once the falafel mixture is ready, you can begin shaping the falafel for air frying. A helpful tool for this process is an ice cream scooper or a small cookie scoop. Use the scooper to measure out portions of the falafel mixture, scooping about 1 to 2 tablespoons worth of mixture each time. This ensures uniform sizing among the falafel.
Shaping into Discs or Patties:
After scooping, use your hands to gently shape the falafel mixture into discs or patties. This step is crucial for air frying. Forming the falafel into slightly flattened shapes allows them to lay flat in the air fryer basket, preventing them from rolling around and ensuring even cooking. The discs or patties should be about 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
Arranging in the Air Fryer Basket:
When placing the shaped falafel into the air fryer basket, it is important not to overcrowd them. Leave some space between each falafel to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the falafel in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Brushing with Oil:
Before air frying, lightly brush the falafel discs or patties with olive oil. This step helps to enhance the crispiness of the exterior and gives the falafel a beautiful golden colour. It also prevents the falafel from sticking to the air fryer basket.
By following these steps, you will be able to shape falafel optimally for air frying, resulting in crispy, delicious falafel that cooks evenly and efficiently.
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The best temperature to cook falafel in an air fryer
Falafel is traditionally made from a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices, formed into balls or patties, and deep-fried. However, air frying falafel is a healthier alternative to deep frying, as it uses little to no oil. It is important to ensure that the falafel mixture is not too wet and that the falafel is shaped into disks or patties, as this shape allows them to cook more evenly in the air fryer.
When cooking falafel in an air fryer, it is also important to ensure that the falafel is not overcrowded in the basket, as this will prevent them from cooking evenly and getting crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the falafel in batches. Additionally, preheating the air fryer before adding the falafel is recommended to ensure even cooking.
By following these tips and cooking falafel at the recommended temperature and time, you can achieve crispy and flavorful falafel using an air fryer.
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How long to cook frozen falafel in an air fryer
Cooking falafel in an air fryer is a great way to make this Middle Eastern staple with less oil and easier clean-up. While traditional falafel is deep-fried, air-fried falafel can get deliciously crispy, with a tender middle.
Falafel can be cooked from frozen in an air fryer, and the process is very similar to cooking fresh falafel. First, spray the air fryer basket with vegetable spray and preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the frozen falafel in the basket and cook for 5–7 minutes, until heated through. You will need to remove the basket at least once during cooking and shake it to turn the falafel.
Falafel can be made with dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight, or with canned chickpeas. If using dried chickpeas, soak them in water for 18-24 hours, adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to help soften them. If using canned chickpeas, simply process them with your herbs, garlic, and spices, then shape them into discs or balls. For air frying, discs tend to work better as they don't roll around in the basket and cook more evenly.
Whether cooking fresh or frozen falafel, it's a good idea to spray the falafel with a little olive oil or vegetable spray to help them crisp up. However, this step is optional if you want to make your falafel oil-free.
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Oil or spray for falafel in an air fryer
Falafel is a staple food in the Middle East and Egypt, traditionally made of a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and warm spices, formed into balls or patties, and deep-fried. While air-fried falafel may not turn out to be quite as crispy as deep-fried versions, the easy cleanup and use of less oil make it a tempting alternative.
When cooking falafel in an air fryer, it is recommended to brush or spray the falafel lightly with olive oil or cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer basket. This helps to ensure that the falafel will crisp up well during cooking. It is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, so the falafel should be arranged in a single layer with room between them, working in batches if necessary.
Some recipes suggest brushing both sides of the falafel patties with olive oil, while others recommend spraying the falafel with cooking spray or olive oil spray. The choice between brushing and spraying may depend on personal preference and the desired level of crispness. It is worth noting that some sources emphasize the importance of using dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight rather than canned chickpeas to achieve the best texture and results.
After spraying or brushing the falafel with oil, they are placed in the air fryer basket, which has also been sprayed with oil to prevent sticking. The falafel are then cooked at a temperature between 350°F and 400°F for 8 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking process. The falafel are cooked in batches until they are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender and airy on the inside.
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Reheating falafel in an air fryer
To reheat the falafel, set your air fryer to 350°F. Place the falafel patties in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded and have some space around them. Reheat for 2-3 minutes if they are fresh or previously chilled. If you are reheating frozen falafel, cook for 15-20 minutes, turning them once.
Falafel can also be reheated in a 350°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes until warmed through and crispy again.
If you are cooking the falafel from frozen, simply cook them in the air fryer with an extra few minutes added to the cooking time.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you cook falafel in an air fryer for 15 minutes at 375°F (190°C), flipping them over after 10 minutes. However, you can also cook them for 8 minutes on one side, then 6-7 minutes on the other side at 350°F.
Firstly, soak the dried chickpeas in water for 18-24 hours. Then, drain and dry the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas to a food processor with onion, garlic, herbs, and spices. Pulse until combined but do not overprocess. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 45 minutes to 2 hours, then add baking powder and flour. Form the mixture into balls or slightly flattened disks/patties.
Lightly brush or spray the falafel with olive oil or cooking spray. Place the falafel in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded and have room to crisp up. Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes and cook in batches if necessary.
