This Baked Falafel recipe is as easy as it gets! It uses canned chickpeas, so there’s no soaking required, and it tastes just as delicious as the traditional fried version, only with less oil. It’s a win-win!
Why You’ll Love This Falafel Recipe
- No soaking required. Yes, you can make falafel from canned chickpeas instead of dry ones that you have to soak ahead of time. It’s a huge time saver!
- Baked, not fried. This recipe uses significantly less oil, and they bake all at once for maximum efficiency. No need to stand by the stove!
- Gluten-free & Vegan. There are no specialty ingredients are required to make this recipe, and it’s perfect for those on a special diet.
- Bakes in less than 30 minutes. No flipping required to help these keep their shape, so you can be productive around your house while they bake.
- They’re totally delicious. Add them to your favorite salad or wrap for an extra punch of flavor and plant-based protein in each bite.
Why aren’t canned chickpeas usually used in falafel recipes? Traditional falafel is typically made dry chickpeas that are soaked, so that the chickpeas don’t get too hydrated. Canned chickpeas are cooked, so they are definitely “over hydrated” in that sense, but this recipe balances that out by adding in some ground walnuts to help loosen-up the texture.
The resulting recipe is lightly crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. Are you ready to try it?
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make baked falafel, you’ll need just a handful of kitchen staples.
- Canned chickpeas. Yes, you can use canned chickpeas in this recipe! Normally you’d have to use dry chickpeas that are soaked for hours, but I’m too impatient for that, so I figured out a way to make canned beans work.
- Fresh herbs. Fresh parsley and cilantro make this recipe taste more authentic, which is important since we’re taking shortcuts elsewhere. Feel free to use just one or the other if you don’t have both herbs on hand.
- Shallot. I like the mild flavor and small size of a shallot, but you can also swap this for a 1/2 cup of diced red onion, or a few chopped green onions.
- Seasonings. A mix of ground cumin and coriander give this baked falafel recipe its signature flavor. You’ll also need a good pinch of salt! I use Real Salt brand, if you want to use the same one I do.
- Walnuts. Adding walnuts to the mix helps prevent a “mushy” texture from using canned chickpeas. I find this works better than using flour as a binder, but if you need a nut-free recipe, I’ve also used 2 tablespoons of chickpea flour as a swap.
- Olive oil. A little olive oil helps prevent the centers from drying out as the falafel bake (water doesn’t work quite as well, FYI, because I tried that first), and I also like to brush the outside with oil to help them crisp up in the oven.
These nutrient-dense patties are naturally gluten-free, vegan, and grain-free, and they make the perfect topping for salads and bowls, or a hearty pita filling.
How to Bake Falafel
- Process the ingredients. You’ll pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the mixture sticks together between your fingers. Don’t over-mix, or you’ll wind up with a bean puree.
- Form Balls. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it between your hands to make a ball. Then flatten the ball into a small patty, about 1-inch thick.
- Bake. Arrange the falafel patties on a lined baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and bake until firm to the touch, about 25 minutes. There’s no need to flip them!
- Serve! Let the falafel cool on the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve warm as a pita filling or as a salad topper.
Falafel Serving Suggestions
Wondering what goes with falafel for dinner? You can make your own “falafel bowls” with the following ideas.
- Quinoa Salad
- Homemade Hummus
- Tahini Dill Dressing
- Cucumber Tahini Dressing
- Creamy Tahini Dressing
- Quinoa & Black Bean Salad
Curious about pan-frying the falafel? This recipe is too fragile to pan-fry as written, but if you refrigerate the dough ahead of time, it might hold together better for pan-frying. Feel free to experiment with it if you have your heart set on a crispier (and slightly greasier) result.
Baked Falafel
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup walnuts (53 grams)
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro (15 grams)
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley (15 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (1 gram)
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander (3 grams)
- 1 (14.5 oz) can chickpeas , rinsed and drained
- 1 shallot , diced (~1/2 cup diced; 41 grams)
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves , minced (7 grams)
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (6 grams)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (13 grams), plus more for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade (mine is 12 cups) add the walnuts, cumin, coriander, cilantro, and parsley. Process briefly, just until they are broken down into smaller pieces.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas well, then pat them dry so they aren't too wet. Add the chickpeas to the food processor, along with the chopped shallot, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Process again, stopping to scrape down the sides, just until the mixture will stick together when pressed between your fingers. Don't over-process it into a puree.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop 2 tablespoons worth of the filling into your hands. Roll into a ball, then flatten it slightly to create a small patty. Repeat with the remainin filling, making roughly 12 pieces. Arrange them on the lined baking sheet, and brush both sides with olive oil, to help prevent them from drying out in the oven. (Note: Only the top really needs to be brushed with olive oil, if you'd like to keep this as low-oil as possible.)
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 400ºF, or until the tops look dryer and feel firm to the touch. (No need to flip!) Remove the falafel from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before serving. The bottom side will look the most golden and crisp, so I like to serve that side facing up. These are best served right away, but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in a greased skillet for 3 minutes on each side to warm them up again.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this Baked Falafel recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too.
Can any other but besides walnuts be substituted? I have a walnut and pecan allergy. Would almonds work?
I think almonds should work, too! I’d love to hear if you give it a try.
Hi. This is a good recipe. I substituted the walnuts with pistachios an I used fresh parsley and mint for the herbs.
Baking falafel is a great idea! I’d like to try this, but my falafel loving teen is allergic to walnuts and pecans, so I’ll have to figure out what else could give them that good texture? Seems like chickpea flour would leave them still mushy?
The flour does leave them slightly more mushy in the middle. Can you use almonds or another nut/seed? I think a couple tablespoons of ground flax might work, too.
Yes we could try those. Thank you!
I made these today and they were delicious. The modification I made was I used a little bit of chickpea flour.
Looks good! Can you freeze these to prep for a future date?
I haven’t tested that yet, but I do think it will work! You might even be able to pan-fry them in that case, as I think the batter will hold together better once chilled.
Delicious and very tender. I’m looking forward to making these again and serving them I with hummus, quinoa and salad in a bowl or in pita bread
I love this recipe! Hit all the flavors I love of falafel. I served it in a pita pocket with cucumber Tahiti dressing. My falafel were a little crumbly. The recipe says preheat oven to 400 then later says bake at 350. Not sure if this affected coming out a little crumbly. Will be making this again.
I made these with homemade chickpeas from your IP recipe and it was the BEST FALAFEL I ever had!! I had to stop myself from eating them and immediately shared the recipe with those I know who also like falafel. I agree with another comment that there are two different oven temps listed in the recipe (400 & 350) that made it a little confusing. I ended up doing 400 degrees for 20 mins and they came out PERFECT.
Thank you for sharing, Brenda! I’m so glad you enjoyed the falafel, and sorry for the confusion– my fingers are SO used to typing 350ºF that they did it on autopilot. LOL. I’ve corrected the recipe to 400ºF now!
Made these and they were amazing!! So yummy 😋! They came out very crumbly, what did I do wrong? Still tasted great with the bowl and hummus. Thanks!
What can I substitute for the cilantro , im allergic. Thank you
I’d use parsley, I guess, if I wouldn’t or couldn’t use cilantro…
I used onion powder. I was too lazy to chop the onions. 😆 Tasted great!
I am excited to try this recipe. I have been experimenting with falafels recipes for a long time and most of the time they came out too dry for my family.! I also like it is baked in the oven!!!
These are so good!! I love how you don’t call for flour, so they don’t dry out. The flavor is spot-on.
I made these 3 days ago. They are so easy to make. The most delicious falafel I’ve ever tasted. Such a good flavor, very light and delicate texture, but rich and no greasy after taste, My husband loves them. He is now eating the left overs as an early am snack. I’ll be making more this week. Thanks for this recipes!
I made the dill tahini dressing to serve with them and served them on a bed of greens and a side of sliced cucumbers.
I baked this falafel today. They hit all the flavors. My hubby said they were better than many falafel we have bought in restaurants. Definitely more crumbly but so delicious. Another keeper recipe. thanks Megan
I made these tonight. They were fabulous! Great texture, flavor and consistency. Next time I will use 1/2 teaspoon salt though.
delicious I used a yogurt dill dip with them But they fell apart. What happened.
This is the best falafel recipe I’ve ever tried! Plus my kids love it so that’s a big win.
These were very tasty! I served them with a creamy tahini sauce made with fage 0% greek yogurt, lemon and sriracha. They came out a bit crumbly, which wasn’t bad. I might have over-processed.
Very good, the flavour was awesome. A friend, who’s never been a fan of falafels, really enjoyed these. I found then to be a bit crumbly, any suggestions of what I could add to hold them together?
Your recipes are life-changing and I am ever so grateful for everything you do. I have been searching for a simple falafel recipe that would be vegan and gluten-free. Many things for this exceptional recipe. You have done it again!