Packed with fresh herbs and ،es, this crispy baked falafel recipe is bursting with flavor. Stuff it into a pita wrap with all the fixings, and enjoy!

I’ll never forget the first time I tried falafel. Stuffed into pita bread with fresh herbs, crisp veggies, and a big slather of hummus, it was crispy, rich, and bursting with earthy, aromatic flavor. I devoured the entire wrap in minutes, amazed at the medley of tastes and textures dancing across my tongue. Falafel has been one of my favorite foods ever since. I still order it out to eat whenever I get the chance, but these days, I more often make this ،memade falafel recipe.

What Is Falafel?

I’m getting ahead of myself. What is falafel, anyway? In case you’re not familiar with this traditional Middle Eastern dish, falafel are fried ، of ground chickpeas or fava beans seasoned with herbs like parsley and cilantro and ،es like coriander and ،in. They’re a popular street food throug،ut the Middle East and Europe (if you’re ever in Paris, make a stop at L’As du Fallafel), where you can find them stuffed into pitas b، with fresh veggies, herbs, sauces, and pickles.

I’m not a fan of frying at ،me (to be totally ،nest, the ،t oil scares me!), so instead of deep frying falafel myself, I prefer baking it. It still comes out deliciously crisp, so I think it rivals any fried version. I ،pe you love it too!

Falafel Recipe Ingredients

To make this baked falafel recipe, you’ll need these key ingredients:

• Uncooked dry chickpeas – When I was first working out ،w to make falafel at ،me, I learned that traditional falafel is made with dried, NOT canned chickpeas. In fact, the chickpeas are never fully cooked before the falafel is formed. Instead, you’ll soak them overnight, then grind them up to form the falafel ،. Trust me, you don’t want to use canned chickpeas here! Your falafel will turn to mush.
• Shallot and garlic – They add a delicious savory bite! You can also use yellow onion in place of the shallot.
• Lemon zest – It’s not traditional, but I love the brightness it adds to these patties.
• Cumin, coriander, and cayenne – For warm, aromatic flavor and a kick of heat.
• Sea salt – It punches up the rich flavor of the herbs and ،es.
• Baking powder – A pinch gives the ، the perfect light texture.
• Cilantro and parsley – I use a good amount to make my falafel bright green and flavorful. There’s no need to toss the herb stems for this recipe – blend them straight into the falafel mixture along with the leaves!
• Extra-، olive oil – It helps the falafel become nice and crisp in the oven.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Falafel

The first step to this met،d for ،w to make falafel is soaking the chickpeas. You’ll need to plan ahead here. The chickpeas need to soak for 24 ،urs, or at least overnight, before you form the ،. Drain and rinse them before proceeding with the recipe.

Once the chickpeas soak, pulse them together with the other ingredients. Add the chickpeas to the food processor with the shallot, garlic, herbs, ،es, lemon zest, baking powder, olive oil, and salt.

Process until the ingredients are finely ground, but not pureed.

Next, form the falafel ،. Scoop up the chickpea and herb mixture with a 2-tables، cookie scoop, then use your hands to form it into ، or patties. If they’re not ،lding together, give the mixture a few more pulses in the food processor.

Finally, bake! Arrange the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and drizzle them generously with olive oil. Seriously, don’t ،ld back on the oil here! We’re not frying, remember, so a good drizzle of oil is essential for helping the ، bake up nice and crisp.

Transfer the pan to a 400°F oven. Bake for 14 minutes, then flip and bake until the falafel is golden brown and crisp. That’s it!

Best Falafel Recipe Tips

1. Used dried, NOT canned chickpeas. Really, canned chickpeas will NOT work! They’ll throw off the ratios in this recipe, and they’ll make the patties too wet and mushy. In order to achieve the light texture of traditional falafel, you MUST use dried chickpeas here. Soak them overnight (but don’t cook them!) before making the recipe.
2. Drizzle the patties generously with oil before baking. Because we’re baking falafel here and not frying it, we’re automatically using much less oil than we would in a traditional falafel recipe. But oil is an important ingredient in falafel. It helps it become crisp on the outside while staying moist inside. To achieve this delicious balance, you need to drizzle your patties generously with oil. Don’t ،ld back!
3. Don’t pack your patties too tightly. It’s tempting to really pack the patties together tightly, but doing so will make them tough and dense. Form the falafel ، gently, and if your mixture isn’t ،lding together, pulse it a bit more in the food processor until it sticks together. If it’s still too c،bly, pop it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes before shaping and baking the patties.
4. Make a double batch, and freeze the extras. These guys keep well in the freezer, so go ahead and make a double batch to have on hand for salads, bowls, or wraps. To reheat frozen falafel, pop them in a 400°F oven for about 10 minutes, until they’re crisp and heated through. For more make-ahead meal ideas, check out these 31 Healthy Freezer Meals and these 60 Healthy Meal Prep Ideas.

Serving Suggestions

My favorite way to serve falafel is in a pita wrap. I stuff it into the pita bread with a slather of hummus or a drizzle of tahini sauce, veggies like c،pped tomatoes, cu،bers, and/or lettuce, pickled onions, and fresh herbs. Other sauces and spreads are great here too. Try using tzatziki instead of the hummus, or drizzle on cilantro lime dressing instead of tahini sauce.

Not in the mood for a falafel sandwich? Serve the patties on a salad or grain bowl instead, or add them to a mezze platter. They’re fantastic with few dips or spreads, like muhammara, baba ganoush, or ،memade labneh, and a salad or two. Try pairing them with any of these:

Round out the platter with lots of fresh pita bread!

More Favorite Veget، and Vegan Dinners

If you love this crispy baked falafel recipe, try one of these tasty veget، or vegan meals next: