Falafel are always a good idea – don’t you think?
Oven-baked falafel is a delicious and healthy twist on the classic Middle Eastern dish. Falafel is typically made from chickpeas, mixed with herbs and spices, formed into balls or patties, and then deep-fried until crispy. However, by baking them in the oven, you can achieve a similar crispy texture and make the delicious chickpea ball at home.
Baking falafel makes it much quicker to cook, too!
Baking falafel also makes it much easier to cook. All you have to do it combine all ingredients in a food processor, shape the mass into balls and your oven will do the rest. This makes this a great recipe for easy weeknight dinners or meal prep for the week. Plus, it’s a great way to add more plant-based protein to your diet, since chickpeas are a rich source of protein and fiber.
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Make sure to use fresh herbs for extra flavour
It’s best to use fresh parsley and cilantro as it brings more color, flavor and moisture to your falafel. Although you can use dried herbs, please be aware that your falafel will land on the drier side.
You can enjoy these falafels with a simple tahini sauce, our 5-minute hummus or wrap them up in a tortilla with some fresh veggies. Are you hungry yet? Go ahead and soak some chickpeas now to enjoy as a snack or dinner tomorrow.
Oven-baked Crispy Falafel
Ingredients
- 200 g dry chickpeas, soaked over night (do not use canned)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- ½ red onion (roughly chopped)
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro
- 1 bunch fresh parsley
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin (heaped)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp flour (heaped)
Instructions
- The day before, soak 200g dry chickpeas in water. Make sure they are well covered as the chickpeas will at least double in size.
- The next day, pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees. Prepare a baking tray with baking paper and spread 2 tbsp of oil across.
- Drain and rinse chickpeas. Then, throw all ingredients (including the remaining tbsp of oil) in a food processor. Blend for 4-5 minutes until everything is combined and crushed; the texture should resemble that of coarse sand.
- Using your hand, gently press into plum-sized balls and place on the oiled tray. You should get about 12 Falafel out of this.
- Bake for 30 minutes, but flip them over after 15 minutes so that both sides are crispy. Enjoy with our super easy hummus or a simple tahini!
