I love falafel, but no matter how healthy the ingredients are, when you fry it, it is full of fat. So, I came up with a method for baking or “oven frying” that uses much less oil. Honestly, it is not quite as good as the full fat version, but it is really close, and I don’t feel guilty eating it. This is my favorite falafel recipe that I adapted from Vegetarian Times. In addition to my original changes, this time I changed the cooking method. And, don’t forget the yogurt sauce. It is so good that I could eat it right by itself!
Baked Falafel
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 3
Ingredients
Sauce
- 6 oz. yogurt
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. cilantro
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ cup grated cucumber
- 2 tsps. lemon juice
- Falafel
- 2 cups chick peas
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 2 tsps. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp coriander
- 1 egg
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsps. flour
- ¼ tsp. baking powder
- salt to taste
- cooking spray
- pita bread and vegetables of your choice for serving (I used lettuce, cucumbers, and avocado)
Instructions
Sauce
- Stir together first five ingredients. Refrigerate until serving.
Falafel
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a large cookie sheet with foil.
- Put remaining ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Using the knife blade, process until well combined and chick peas are almost smooth.
- Spray foil lined cookie sheet with cooking spray.
- Form chick pea mixture into 6 patties and place on foil lined cookie sheet. Spray the tops of the patties with cooking spray.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Turn patties over and cook on the other side for about 20 minutes, again until golden brown.
- Serve with yogurt sauce, pita bread, and vegetables.
Courses Entree
Source: Adapted from Vegetarian Times.
hmmm. They don’t turn out too dry? I’ve been looking for a recipe like this but I’m always worried they will be too dry. I love falafels dipped in hummus or tzatziki. I have to try this it sounds great. Thanks for sharing. (pinned)
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Well, they are dryer than when they are made with oil for sure. There is no real way around that I don’t think. But, personally, I hate missing my falafel because of the fat and these are close enough.