Baked Falafel
Comments(28) 
I was so looking forward to pigging out at my favorite Mediterranean cafe but they were closed for the holidays. So I decided to make my own falafels, baked not fried, as part of my healthier 2009 eating initiative.
I thought they came out pretty good. They’re different than the ones I’ve gotten at restaurants, probably because 1. I used canned garbanzo beans instead of dried, 2. I didn’t use a food processor to combine everything and 3. It’s not fried.
Next time I’m going to try using dry garbanzos and a food processor but I’ll leave the frying for eating out as a treat. Besides, I’m much too lazy to clean up a big, fried mess. What? Did you really think I was going to stop being lazy in the new year?
Baked Falafel
Makes about 21 balls
1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans
1 small onion, finely chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans. Put in a medium sized bowl and smash with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Form into small balls, about 1 1/2″ in diameter and slightly flatten. Place onto an oiled baking pan.
Bake for 15 minutes on each side, until nicely browned (since it’s baked, only the part actually touching the pan will be browned and crispy).
Serve with mini pita pockets, hummus, tahini sauce, tomatoes, lettuce and/or cucumber.
I found your blog via Foodgawker. This recipe looks wonderful! While a food processor would make the combining job easier, I actually like the texture that you’ve created here through fork smashing. My kids would enjoy these. YUM!
Thanks for this recipe! I saw a recipe for falafel months ago in the NY Times but it was fried and I didn’t want to bother. I will definitely use your recipe! I think my two-year-old will appreciate the bite-sized pieces.
I’ve never had falafel, and this recipe looks so tasty. I love “healthing” up recipes. Thanks, and I love your site!
Hi, I actually made a fried version of falafel two days ago. They didn’t turn out as great as I would have liked, and were pretty greasy; not something I would want to eat often. These look like a better alternative to fried falafel that I can eat more often. And I do love falafel! Thanks for sharing this recipe and I’ll be making it soon (:
Also, I wonder how you could bake these up to get the whole outside crispy? Because I think the crisp outer shell is what makes good falafel. Another thing I would do is seriously up the cilantro. Falafel mix should be green from it.
I make baked falafel all the time where I work- It’s our best seller! That picture look so amazing though, I would happily whip up another batch right now…
I love falafel, but don’t make it because I don’t want the mess of frying. This will definitely work for me. I don’t think I knew you could bake them. They look delicious, and I’m sure they will taste the same. Thanks.
No frying required when they turn out as golden and lovely as your falafel! They really do look great and I look for any excuse to eat hummus.
Best,
Emily
http://www.justeatfood.com
Yours look lovely. I’ve fried as well but they were a little too dry for my liking.
you can still be lazy just keep up the mouth watering photos! Looks delish.
Those falafels look good!
All your food looks so gorgeous!!! Makes me drool.
LOVE falafel. I had it first time in Israel in a pita filled with Israeli salad and French Fries.
The recipe looks great, and I do like the idea of not having hot oil all over the kitchne.
Wow, I love falafel but I hate to fry. I’ll have to try this one.
Yum! I love falafels but hate the fact that it’s fried, so this looks perfect!
Ooh, those look incredible! All crispy and nicely browned.
My favorite falafel place is Falafel’s Drive-in in San Jose whenever I’m driving through there before they close, but I’m curious — where is your favorite Mediterranean cafe? Is it delectable?
I want that Right Now, it looks so delicous!!!
I have yet to have success with baked falafel, I’ll have to try your version – the picture is beautiful!
This looks so tasty. I live alone, so 21 little falafels would take me a while to eat. Do you know if they freeze well?
I love falafel but sometimes the oil from frying makes my belly unhappy. I can’t wait to try these!
I get an upset stomach everytime I eat fried foods, not to mention how bad it is for you! What I like to do with falafel mix is shape it into patties and pan fry them with very little olive oil in a non stick pan. Since it cooks faster than in the oven, it has less time to dry out :) Your recipe sounds delicious!
Thanks everyone for your comments! I had no idea falafels are so popular.
Jo – I’m not sure you can get the whole outside crispy by baking. Maybe if they’re flattened more, like patties, so there’s more surface area touching the pan.
I thought the mix should have been green too, that’s why I think a food processor would blend it all together better.
Emily – The place is Jaffa Cafe in San Luis Obispo, I was down there for the holidays. On the peninsula, I like Mediterranean Delite in San Carlos. I’ll have to check out Falafel’s Drive-In (love the name) next time I’m down in SJ.
Valerie – I haven’t tried freezing falafels before so I can’t help you there. But you can probably just make half a recipe pretty easy.
Ooh, yum! My single attempt at baked falafel was not-so-great, but I’ll have to give these a try!
I made these last night for my husband and myself and Loved them! I posted about them on my blog.
http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com/2009/01/baked-chickpea-falafel.html
I will make these again and again!
Arika
My Yummy Life
um. YUM. :)
Melisser – Baked falafel is worth another try. :-)
Arika – Glad you loved them, yours looks great!
tofufreak – It sure is. :-)
Your falafel looks so appetizing I like the chunkiness. It seems wherever I go they are made a bit different.
I made these for dinner tonight. They were super easy and so yummy! I think these will be a staple in our house. Thank you for this great recipe!
These were SOOO good! We had them in whole wheat pitas with homemade hummus and vegan sour cream and romaine lettuce, and it was just incredible. I think we’ll be making these weekly! Thanks for the awesome recipe :)