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Home / Dinner

Falafel - Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe

By 8 Comments

When was the last time you made falafel? When was the last time you ENJOYED falafel? The answer is now! This falafel recipe makes a perfect lunch or a light dinner. Great recipe to whip up for your vegetarian guests, but delicious enough for everyone!

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Falafel

How to make falafel

Seriously, throwing this falafel recipe together couldn't be easier. Just put all your ingredients into your food processor and process until finely chopped. Then scoop into balls. I like to use this scoop (same one I use for cookies) to keep everything nice and uniform. And I love the grip on this scoop! So comfy! Read below for more specific instructions.

  • In a food processor, add all ingredients. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down sides a few times until finely chopped.
  • Scoop into cookie-sized balls or about 2 tablespoons each. Flatten slightly in the palm of your hands to form a "puck".
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick skillet on medium heat for 3 minutes.
  • Add falafel to skillet, careful not to crowd so you have enough room to flip. 
  • Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add olive oil when you flip if the pan gets dry.
  • When lightly browned on each side and warmed through, remove from pan and rest on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
  • Enjoy warm in a pita or allow to cool and add to your favorite salad.
Falafel

Simple ingredients for falafel

  • Garbanzo Beans — this gives the falafel that delicious creaminess and protein.
  • Garlic — a flavor kick and a health kick in one tiny ingredient.
  • Red Onion — use more or less to taste.
  • Lemon Juice — to life and balance the flavor.
  • Fresh Parsley — another way to pack a major health punch in one tiny ingredient.
  • Bread Crumbs — or gluten free bread crumbs.
  • Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes and Salt — flavor, flavor, flavor!

Falafel is full of good protein

Falafels fulfills all the lunch requirements; filling but not heavy, protein to fill me up and last me until dinner, and something new and exciting to take me out of my mundane lunch trend.

The best thing of all is it lets me enjoy salad which is quite a feat in itself since I usually avoid salad, on principle. This particular salad is one of my go-to's with avocado, tomato, red onion on a bed of spinach with whatever dressing I have on hand.

Now when I make this for dinner, it needs to be a little more filling so I serve it in a pita pocket with tzatziki, or with a side of naan.

Falafel

Keep lunch interesting this week with falafel

Now my husband can eat the same thing for lunch everyday for years. YEARS! Once he finds something that he enjoys, he sticks with it. I cannot do this. I may like it for a day or two but by day three, I am over it.

Last week I made this curry chicken salad on romaine with slivered almonds, and I made enough for a week so that way I didn't have to think about it, it was already ready.

Way to go me! Meal prep! By day two I couldn't eat it. Its not that it wasn't good, I have just found with lunch, in particular, I need to have a rotating schedule, otherwise I am burned out and I end up eating a bowl of cereal with some cookies and chips. Not my most shining moment.

So now this little beauty has made it into the rotation. And it will make it into yours too!

More vegetarian meals

Mediterranean Vegetable Pie — Filled with vegetables, mediterranean spices and cheese.

Greek Pizza — Made simply on naan or pita bread and topped with hummus and delicious Greek toppings.

Broccoli Potato Soup — Creamy without the actual cream.

Italian Stuffed Peppers — tomatoes, feta and basil warmed inside a red pepper for a fantastic Italian appetizer.

Falafel

Simple Healthy Falafel

Make falafel your whole family will love. No one will miss the meat!
4.60 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 10 oz can of garbanzo beans drained
  • 4 cloves of garlic peeled
  • ½ red onion
  • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup parsley
  • ¼ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a food processor, add all ingredients. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down sides a few times. 
  • Scoop into cookie-sized balls (about 2 Tbsp)
  • Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in skillet on medium heat for 3 minutes.
  • Add falafel to skillet, careful not to crowd so you have enough room to flip. 
  • Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add olive oil when you flip if the pan gets dry.

Notes

Tastes great with pita bread and tzatziki, or in a mediterranean salad. Enjoy!
Super Quick Make Ahead Falafel. Add to salad or make it a meal in a gyro. So delicious however you eat it! #falafel #vegetarian #healthy

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claire

    March 12, 2018 at 6:56 am

    Ooh, these do look easy and yummy - must try!

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 12, 2018 at 11:05 am

      Yes! Start to finish we were done in about 15 minutes! And so yummy!

      Reply
    • Bekah E.

      August 03, 2020 at 8:00 pm

      3 stars
      I followed the recipe and the mix was very thin/loose and came apart in the oil. Is it possible I blended too long? I added more breadcrumbs and that made them barely firm enough to bake. The baked are good but the inside is still pretty soft

      Reply
      • Amy

        August 13, 2020 at 3:20 pm

        I'm so sorry they didn't work right for you! I haven't had that same problem. To keep the mixture firm, be sure to completely drain the garbanzo beans or perhaps cut back on the lemon.

        Reply
        • Michael

          September 01, 2020 at 11:31 pm

          You can add an egg too, right, Amy?

          Reply
          • Amy

            September 02, 2020 at 1:18 pm

            Hi Michael. Yes! If your falafel is not holding together well, an egg could be helpful. I haven't tried it this way, but it should work just fine.

  2. Jasmit

    November 22, 2020 at 6:56 am

    5 stars
    Hi Rachel, I gotta say for a foodie like myself, this is my favorite to-go-to recipe! The recipe is so easy, the flavor is soooooo delish, I add a lil extra spice, and everyone loves this, my hubby is always asking for seconds. Thank you soooo much!

    Reply
    • Amy

      November 22, 2020 at 9:02 pm

      I'm so glad you love it as much as we do!

      Reply

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Rachel and Amy

 

Here at The Oven Light, we are always looking for ways to cut cooking time in half (or more!). We use shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor, we’re just getting smarter with our time. You won’t find “dump” meals here, but rather an approach to cooking that is mindful and intentional with time AND taste. 

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