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+ servings
5 vegan falafel stacked high
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4.75 stars (20 ratings)

Easy Vegan Falafel

Easy Vegan Falafel- made with just 7 ingredients! A simple, hearty classic Mediterranean inspired plant based meal. Serve in flatbread with Vegan Tzatziki and hummus. Pan fry or Bake options!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 12 falafel
Calories: 99kcal
Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

  • 2 15-oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed OR 3 cups cooked
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 4 tablespoons raw cashews
  • 3/4 cup fresh parsely
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3-6 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 3-4 tablespoons oil for cooking, optional

For serving

Instructions

  • Drain and rinse the chickpeas, and pat them dry with paper towels or a clean tea towel. 
  • Add the garlic and cashews to a food processor and pulse a few times to chop them. Do not blend them up, you just want them chopped. Now, add the chickpeas, parsley, cumin and salt and pulse a few more times, scraping the sides as needed until combined. You want a crumbly dough, not a smooth paste.
  • Now, add in 3 tablespoons of flour and pulse again until combined. You should have a dough at this point that you can shape into balls without it sticking to your hands. If it's still too sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Scoop out about 2 tablespoons at a time and shape into a ball, then slightly flatten into a disc. Repeat until all the dough is used; you will have about 12 discs. 
  • To pan fry: Heat a large, non-stick skillet to medium heat and add the oil (or omit for oil free). Add the falafel discs and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip, and cook for 3-4 minutes more. Remove and serve. 
  • To bake: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the falafel discs and bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake 10 minutes more.
  • Serve in pita or flatbread with fresh tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, lettuce, hummus and vegan tzatziki sauce. 

Notes

  1. May use gluten-free flour in place of the all purpose flour with varied results.
  2. FREEZER MEAL: The uncooked falafel patties freeze well. Simply shape them into discs, and lay them on a parchment paper lined pan or plate and stick it in the freezer. Once frozen (a few hours later or overnight), transfer the falafel to a freezer bag or container. To cook, remove from the freezer and bake or pan fry until cooked through, no need to let thaw.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg