An easy-to-follow Middle Eastern falafel recipe. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, homemade falafel are an absolute delight!
Soak the chickpeas in water (1:3) for at least 12 hours, better for 20-24 hours.
Drain the soaked chickpeas in a colander and rinse with cold water.
Peel a garlic clove. Roughly chop. Add to the blender.
Roughly chop fresh cilantro and parsley and add to the blender. Dispose of the stems.
Blend for about 4-5 minutes until all the ingredients are finely blended.
Transfer into a mixing bowl. Add cumin, coriander powder, salt and baking soda. Mix well with your hands. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and shape into a round ball.
Heat oil in a pan. Add the falafel and fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from the oil. Serve with fresh pita bread, hummus or as part of a colorful salad.
Notes
Middle Eastern falafel are traditionally fried in oil. That's what makes them so crunchy and tasty. Nevertheless, you can also prepare falafel in the oven or in the airfryer. Check out my tips above for information on oven-baked falafel in this article.
The nutritional values are rough indications. They can vary according to the exact weight, type and brand of your ingredients.