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Super Crispy Air Fryer Falafel

A stack of golden brown, crispy air fryer falafel piled high on a small white plate, backlit by a window.
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Make genuinely crispy falafel using your air fryer with this straightforward recipe. This method focuses on texture without deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and thoroughly dried
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, packed
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, packed
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour or chickpea flour
  • Cooking spray (oil-based or avocado oil)

Instructions

  1. Place the rinsed and dried chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, and garlic into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely ground. Do not over-process into a paste.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Add the cumin, coriander, baking soda, salt, pepper, and flour. Mix well with a fork until just combined.
  3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps the falafel hold its shape during air frying.
  4. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C) for 5 minutes.
  5. Shape the chilled mixture into small balls or small patties, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  6. Lightly spray the falafel balls on all sides with cooking spray. This promotes crispiness.
  7. Place the falafel in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch. Work in batches if necessary.
  8. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
  9. Continue cooking until the exterior is deep golden brown and crispy.
  10. Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Drying the chickpeas completely before processing is key to preventing a soggy interior. Pat them dry with paper towels.
  • For extra crispiness, you can lightly dust the sprayed falafel with a tiny bit of extra flour before cooking.
  • If you prefer a slightly softer interior, reduce the cooking time by one minute.
  • Serve with tahini sauce, wrapped in pita bread, or over a fresh salad.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonswirl.com/crispy-air-fryer-falafel-recipe/