Emilie Meyer
Falafel is a staple food in the Middle East and Egypt, traditionally made with a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices, formed into balls or patties, and deep-fried. However, cooking falafel in an air fryer is a healthier and easier alternative that still achieves a crispy texture. This method is also less messy and reduces the amount of oil used. To make falafel in an air fryer, you'll need to soak dried chickpeas overnight, combine them with herbs, spices, and other ingredients like onion and garlic, form the mixture into balls or disks, and then cook them in the air fryer for a crispy, golden finish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried chickpeas, onion, garlic, fresh herbs (dill, parsley, cilantro), spices, flour, baking powder, olive oil |
| Preparation | Soak chickpeas in water for 18-24 hours, drain and dry, blend ingredients, form into balls or disks, spray with oil |
| Cooking Method | Air fryer at 350-375°F for 7-15 minutes |
| Serving Suggestions | Tahini sauce, hummus, tzatziki, vegan mayo, wraps, pitas, salads, bowls |
| Storage | Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days, freeze for up to 3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Soaking the chickpeas
Firstly, it's important to use dried chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Avoid using canned or cooked chickpeas, as they have a higher moisture content, which can lead to mushy falafel. So, start by measuring out 2 cups of dried chickpeas for your recipe.
Next, you'll want to prepare the soaking liquid. In a large bowl, add plenty of water—enough to cover the chickpeas by at least 3 inches. This ensures that the chickpeas remain submerged during the soaking process. To aid in softening the chickpeas, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the water. The baking soda will help to break down the chickpeas' outer skin, making them softer and easier to work with.
Now, simply add the dried chickpeas to the bowl of water and let them soak. It's important to allow for enough soaking time—aim for at least 18 hours, but preferably the full 24 hours. This lengthy soaking time ensures that the chickpeas absorb enough water and become nice and soft, which is key to achieving the right texture in your falafel.
Once the chickpeas have soaked sufficiently, drain them thoroughly and give them a quick rinse. You can then use a paper towel to pat them dry if they're still too wet. Now your chickpeas are ready to be used in your falafel recipe!
Remember, this step of soaking the chickpeas is crucial to achieving the perfect crunchy texture in your air-fried falafel. It may require some forward planning, but it's well worth the effort for delicious results.
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Shaping the falafel
To shape the falafel, you can use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop or a spoon to divide the mixture into equal portions. If you are making balls, roll the mixture between your palms to form uniform balls. For patties or disks, flatten the mixture with your palms or use the back of a spoon to create a uniform thickness.
If you are making balls, it is important to ensure that they are not too big, as this may affect their ability to cook evenly. Similarly, if you are making patties, be sure to not make them too thick, as this may affect cooking time.
Once you have shaped the falafel, you can place them on a baking sheet or large flat surface. If you plan to freeze the falafel for later use, it is important to par-freeze them at this stage to prevent them from sticking together. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
When shaping the falafel, you may find that the mixture is sticking to your hands or utensils. To prevent this, you can spray your hands or utensils with a little olive oil or cooking spray. This will also help to create a crispy exterior on the falafel when cooked.
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Air fryer temperature
The ideal temperature for cooking falafel in an air fryer is around 350–375 °F (180–190 °C).
Falafel is traditionally deep-fried in oil, but using an air fryer is a healthier alternative that still yields a crispy texture. To cook falafel in an air fryer, first prepare the falafel mixture and shape it into balls or slightly flattened disks/patties. The patties should be sprayed with cooking spray or olive oil spray to help them crisp up.
Once prepared, the falafel can be placed in the air fryer basket and cooked for around 10–15 minutes at 350–375 °F (180–190 °C). They should be flipped halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. The falafel is ready when it is crispy and lightly browned on the outside, with a tender middle.
The exact cooking time and temperature may vary slightly depending on the specific air fryer model and the size of the falafel balls. It is important to work in batches to ensure even cooking and allow space for the hot air to circulate.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for falafel in an air fryer depends on the shape of the falafel and the temperature of the air fryer. If you shape your falafel into balls, they will take around 12-15 minutes to cook at 350°F (180°C). If you shape them into patties or disks, they will take around 10-15 minutes to cook at 375°F (190°C).
Falafel should be cooked until they are crispy and lightly browned on the outside. For this reason, it is important to flip them halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking on all sides. If you are cooking frozen falafel, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
The cooking time will also depend on the size of your air fryer basket and the number of falafel you are cooking at once. It is important to not overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will affect the cooking time and the falafel's ability to get crispy. Work in batches as needed.
Additionally, the cooking time can be affected by the type of chickpeas used. Canned chickpeas are not suitable for air fryer falafel as they contain too much moisture, which can make the falafel mushy. Instead, dried chickpeas that have been soaked for 18-24 hours are recommended. This allows the starches to soak, helping the falafel hold together and preventing them from crumbling apart during cooking.
By following these guidelines and adjusting the cooking time as needed, you can ensure that your air fryer falafel turns out crispy and delicious.
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Serving suggestions
There are many ways to serve air-fried falafel. You can serve them as an appetizer with a side of dips such as tahini sauce, vegan tzatziki, hummus, or even vegan mayo. You can also serve them as a falafel pita pocket with salad vegetables, or as a falafel sandwich in a flatbread wrap with traditional salad vegetables and extras like keto coleslaw.
Falafel also works well in a Mediterranean mezze or on a plate with hummus, olives, pita chips, and more. You can also toss them on a bed of greens as a salad and use the tahini sauce as a salad dressing. They can be served as a side dish alongside roasted vegetables, quinoa, or rice.
Leftover falafels can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-6 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage. To reheat, you can put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes, or heat them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you soak the chickpeas for 18-24 hours.
You can form the falafel mixture into balls or disks/patties. However, it is recommended that you shape them into slightly flatter disks or patties as this shape will allow the falafel to lay flat and they won’t roll around the air fryer basket.
Set the air fryer to 350-375°Fahrenheit (190°Celsius).
Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, cook the falafel for 7-15 minutes at 350°Fahrenheit, or 10-12 minutes at 375°Fahrenheit. Flip the falafel balls/patties halfway through the cooking time.
Falafel can be served in a wrap, pita pocket, or with a dip such as tahini sauce, hummus, or tzatziki.
