How to Make Perfectly Crispy Falafel
- PREP 8hrs 20min
- COOK 10min
- TOTAL 8hrs 30min
How to make delicious and crispy falafel at home rivaling your favorite restaurants. After lots of kitchen tests, this falafel recipe has become our favorite way to make falafel. The recipe is straightforward, 100% plant-based (vegan), and the falafel tastes incredible.
In addition to the active prep and cook time, you will need to soak dried chickpeas overnight. This can be done a couple days in advance, simply drain and pat dry the soaked beans, and then store, covered in the fridge until ready to make the falafel mix.
Note on using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas: Canned chickpeas are cooked chickpeas. After testing, we have determined that canned or cooked chickpeas do not work as a direct substitute for soaked dried beans in this recipe. The falafel will fall apart in the oil. Recipe adaptations for using canned chickpeas or cooked chickpeas are shared in the article above.
You Will Need
8 ounces (225 grams) dried chickpeas (1 heaping cup) *not canned chickpeas
1 bunch scallions (85 grams) scallions, trimmed (5 to 6), see notes
2 to 4 medium garlic cloves, depending on how much you like garlic
2 cups packed fresh cilantro, parsley, or mint leaves, we prefer to use a mixture of all three
1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon baking powder, optional, see notes
2 to 3 cups (480 to 720ml) vegetable oil, for frying
Directions
Rinse the dried chickpeas then place into a large bowl and cover with cool water by about 4 inches. Cover and soak overnight or until the beans triple in size. Drain the soaked chickpeas, rinse, and then pat dry or add to a salad spinner to spin dry.
Add chickpeas, scallions, garlic, herbs, salt, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cayenne, black pepper, and the baking powder to a bowl of a food processor. Pulse the mixture until very finely minced, but not pureed, scraping the bowl down as necessary. You should be able to press a handful together and have it hold it’s shape (it will be loose and a little crumbly). See our video and photos above for reference.
Transfer the falafel mix to a bowl and cover. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to help the balls hold together when cooking. If making ahead, you can refrigerate the mixture for a few days.
Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of the falafel mix then gently shape it into a ball and place onto a clean plate. Repeat with as many falafel as you plan to cook. The mix will not act like dough, but will hold its shape. Watch the video to see how we do this. Optional step: As an extra fail-safe for preventing the balls from falling apart when they hit the oil, rest the falafel balls in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before cooking.
Add at least 3/4 inch of oil to a deep saucepan, cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. The smaller the pan, the less oil you will need. The wider the pan, the more falafel you can cook at one time).
Turn the heat to medium-high and heat the oil to between 350 degrees and 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fry the falafel in batches, placing them gently into the oil and without crowding in the pan, until they are browned on the bottom sides. Using two forks, carefully flip the falafel to brown the other side, 3 1/2 minutes to 4 minutes total.
Transfer the cooked falafel to a plate lined with paper towel, sprinkle with a little salt, and then repeat with the remaining falafel balls. Serve immediately.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- 8 ounces of dried chickpeas equals about 3 cups (500 grams) soaked chickpeas
- Scallions: Substitute half a medium sweet white onion (like Walla Walla sweets and Vidalia) or 1 large shallot for the scallions. If your onion is especially strong, rinsing it with cool water for 10 seconds or so will tone down the raw onion flavor.
- Baking powder is optional and helps to make the most tender, fluffy falafel. You can leave it out and still make incredibly delicious falafel.
- Baked or pan-fried falafel instructions are shared in the article above.
- Using Canned Chickpeas: After testing, we have determined that canned chickpeas do not work as a direct substitute for soaked dried beans in this recipe. The falafel will fall apart in the oil. Recipe adaptations for using canned chickpeas are shared in the article above.
- Falafel recipe inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimiwith, Sharon Salloum, and J. Kenji López-Alt of Serious Eats.
- Nutritional Facts: The nutrition data for this recipe was very difficult to accuratley calculate. We use the USDA database to calculate nutrition facts, but without proper equipment and a lab, we are unable to calculate how much oil will be absorbed by each falafel when fried. The data provided below is for the falafel mix only (before cooking).
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