Air Fryer Falafel

Name: Air Fryer Falafel
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 44 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 1.5 cups (300 g) dried chickpeas, soaked 12-24 hours, drained; 1 small onion, roughly chopped; 3 garlic cloves; 1 packed cup parsley and cilantro leaves; 1.5 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp cayenne; 1.5 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 2 tbsp chickpea flour or all-purpose, if the mix is wet; Neutral oil spray; Tahini sauce, pickles and pita, to serve

Herb-green falafel from soaked dried chickpeas (never canned). The basket gives a crust while the center stays steamed and soft. Pita, tahini, pickles: lunch that tastes like a counter, not a freezer box.

44 min total
375°F / 190°C
4 servings
30 min prep

Jump to recipe See steps

Dried chickpeas only

Canned chickpeas make paste that collapses. Soak dried chickpeas overnight; they grind coarse and hold shape.

Pulse, do not puree

You want flecks of chickpea and herb, not hummus dough. Over-blending turns them dense.

Chill the mix

Thirty minutes in the fridge helps the balls stay round in the basket.

Air Fryer Falafel

Prep 30 min · Cook 14 min · Total 44 min · 4 servings

Air Fryer375°F / 190°C

Basket time14 min

Flip / shakeat 8 min

Tested onCosori 5.8 qt, 1700W

Crowding. They need space to dry. Two batches.

From frozen. Freeze shaped raw balls. Cook from frozen at 375°F for 16-18 minutes.

Step-by-step instructions

Follow each step in order. Photos show what to look for so the basket finish matches the plate.

Grind

Drain the soaked chickpeas well. Pulse them in a food processor with onion, garlic, herbs, cumin, coriander, baking powder and salt until the mix looks coarse and sticky, with visible flecks. Do not puree it into hummus. If a squeezed handful will not hold, add a spoon of chickpea flour.
Chill the mixture 30 minutes. Shape into 12-14 balls or small patties with damp hands. Mist all over with oil.
Shaped falafel balls ready for the air fryer

Air fry

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Arrange with space between each piece.
Cook 8 minutes, turn gently and cook 5-6 minutes more until the crust is chestnut brown, not pale khaki.
Falafel browning in the air fryer basket
Serve in warm pita with tahini, pickles, tomato and cucumber while they are still hot and crisp.