This baked falafel recipe uses canned chickpeas to give you easier, healthier homemade falafel (in less time!) With helpful tips and step-by-step photos and video, this is a foolproof vegetarian falafel that's sure to be a hit.
Course Appetizers, Main Dishes, Sandwiches and Wraps, Snacks
To serve: pita pockets, fresh veggies, hummus or tzatziki
Instructions
Prep: Drain the cans of chickpeas well, then pat them dry with paper towels.
Blitz: Add onion and garlic to a food processor and blitz until broken down. Add chickpeas and blitz again briefly. Add herbs and blitz again briefly.
Flavor & Chill: Stir or pulse in all remaining ingredients. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least an hour (up to 24 hours).
Shape Balls: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment, then spray well with cooking oil. Use a small ice scream scooper or spoon to portion falafel dough into golfball sized rounds. Place each ball on the sheet. Spray the tops with cooking oil. *See notes for muffin tin method.
Flatten: Use a spatula to gently press down each ball into a puck. If edges aren't perfectly round, invert a drinking glass over the falafel puck. Move the glass in a circular motion on the pan around the dough for a few seconds. This will reshape the edges into a perfect circle.
Bake: Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, carefully flipping each after about 20 minutes (if falafels are still too soft to flip at this point, don't flip them). They're finished when they're brown and a bit crispy.
Video
Notes
*Muffin Tin Method: You can also cook your falafel in a muffin tin. Grease each well, then portion a small scoop of dough into each. Compress the falafel slightly with a glass or measuring cup, then bake as directed, flipping the falafels during cooking.