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    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Vegan Falafel

    Published: Jul 20, 2021 · Updated: Jul 22, 2021 · by Nicole · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    vegan falafel
    vegan falafel
    vegan falafel

    Vegan Falafel is a Mediterranean dish that is bursting with flavor. This falafel is pan seared for a crispy outside and contains a tender, flavorful center. Serve your falafel on pita, in a bowl, etc. 

    vegan falafels in a bowl with salad
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Vegan Falafel 
    • Tips & Tricks for Perfect Vegan Falafel 
    • Variations to Vegan Falafels
    • Vegan Falafel FAQs
    • Recipe

    You only need 7 ingredients to make these chickpea falafels! I love using chickpeas for homemade falafels, but you will find that some recipes use fava beans.

    Falafels are so delicious, but you'll probably want to pair them with other foods. A tasty tabbouleh or pasta salad on the side is a great option to pair with these Vegan Falafels. Alternatively, I especially love this Mediterranean phyllo flatbread paired with falafels!

    This Vegan Falafel recipe is...

    • Made with 7 ingredients
    • Affordable 
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian 
    • Naturally gluten-free
    • Freezer-friendly
    • Made from dried chickpeas

    How to Make Vegan Falafel 

    how to make vegan falafel collage
    1. Soak your dried chickpeas overnight.
    2. Combine the garlic, onion, and parsley in a food processor.
    3. Drain your chickpeas and add them to the food processor along with the cumin, salt, and pepper. Pulse until the mixture is thick and granulated. 
    4. In a bowl, stir together the mixture with the chickpea flour. Then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. 
    5. Shape into balls, and pan fry falafel balls in olive oil in a skillet. 
    6. Place falafels on a paper towel-lined plate, and then serve. 

    Full directions on how to make Vegan Falafel are in the printable recipe card below.

    Tips & Tricks for Perfect Vegan Falafel 

    top view vegan falafel in a bowl with salad

    Texture of Mixture 

    After you let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, if you find the mixture is still too wet, add another tablespoon of chickpea flour. Mix, and then let the mixture sit for another 5 minutes. This should help your mixture thicken up. 

    Heavy-Duty Pan

    I find using a heavy-duty, high-quality pan for frying helps you to cook your falafels evenly. High-quality pans will heat up evenly, but low-quality pans can have hot spots. 

    Cookie Scoop 

    Consider using a cookie scoop for measuring out your falafel balls. Using a cookie scoop will give you similar-sized falafels, which will help them all cook the same. Make your falafel balls as large or small as you would like!

    Variations to Vegan Falafels

    chickpeas in food processor for vegan falafels

    Fava Beans 

    Fava beans are a common ingredient in falafels. You can easily swap the chickpeas with fava beans. I find that chickpeas work best for me, but feel free to swap them out if you prefer.

    Flavoring 

    I used fresh parsley, garlic, an onions for flavoring in this recipe. But, you can swap out the spices and garnishes to alter the overall flavor.

    Baking

    If you don't want to pan fry your falafels, you can bake them in the oven. Just place your falafels on a greased pan, and then bake them at 425°F. Make sure to flip your falafels halfway through! Additionally, spritzing your falafels with cooking spray will give them a nice golden crust. 

    Vegan Falafel FAQs

    close up vegan falafels in a bowl with salad

    What is falafel? 

    Falafel is a Mediterranean dish made with fava beans or chickpeas. The beans or chickpeas are mashed with spices, formed into round balls, and fried to crispy perfection. 

    How do you serve falafel? 

    Falafel tends to be served on pita bread with tzatziki sauce. Alternatively, you can serve your falafels in a falafel bowl with greens, veggies, etc. And don't forget the homemade vegan feta cheese!

    For a side dish, try a classic cucumber tomato salad or these Greek-inspired stuffed mushrooms.

    Can you freeze leftover falafels? 

    Absolutely! To save your falafels for later, place them in a freezer bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for 3–4 months. When you're ready to eat them, warm them up in the microwave or oven. 

    If you love vegan cooking, make sure you grab a copy of my free vegan cheat sheet while you’re here. It’s packed with all my favorite plant-based substitutions to help you vegan-ize any recipe!

    If you love this recipe, be sure to check out our other Greek-inspired dishes. Here are a few of my favorites:

    • Easy Hummus Bowls
    • Vegan Baklava
    • Vegan Moussaka

    Recipe

    vegan falafel

    Vegan Falafel

    Vegan Falafel is a Mediterranean dish that is bursting with flavor. This falafel is pan seared for a crispy outside and contains a tender, flavorful center. Serve your falafel on pita, in a bowl, etc.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: vegan falafel
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Calories: 81kcal
    Author: Delicious Everyday
    14 falafel balls

    Ingredients

    • 1 cups dry chickpeas soaked for at least 12 hours
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • ⅓ cup chickpea flour
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley
    • ⅓ cup oil for frying
    • ½ red onion medium, roughly chopped
    • ¼ tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp salt
    • ½ tsp ground pepper
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the onion, garlic cloves, and parsley in a food processor.
      falafel bowl
    • Pulse a few times.
      falafel bowl
    • Add the previously soaked and drained chickpeas, cumin, salt, and ground pepper to the food processor and blend again.
      falafel bowl
    • Blend ingredients until the mixture has a thick, granulated texture.
      falafel bowl
    • Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the chickpea flour. Stir very well and let the mixture rest for 5 minutes. You should now be able to form the dough into balls. If the mixture is still too moist, add one more tablespoon of chickpea flour, then let the dough sit for 5 more minutes.
      falafel bowl
    • Pressing with your hands, roll falafel mixture into 14–16 falafel balls.
    • To fry your falafels, add olive oil to a hot skillet. Add the falafel balls, turning them over occasionally, until they are golden brown on all sides.
      falafel bowl
    • Place the fried falafels on a clean paper towel to drain the excess oil.

    Nutrition (Estimated)

    Calories: 81kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 170mgPotassium: 74mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 96IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
    Shop our Cookbooks!Check out our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks for more tasty meatless recipe ideas.

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    Nicole - Vegetarian Food Blogger

    Nicole is a 25+ year vegetarian, and author of a vegan cookbook. She shares her recipes on Delicious Everyday, an award-winning vegetarian and vegan food blog.  About Nicole

    the one pot vegan cookbook, by nicole malik
    5 day vegetarian challenge

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