Easy Authentic Middle Eastern Falafel

This easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel recipe is the only falafel recipe you’ll ever need! I grew up eating falafel and have been making falafel for years, this is the best version I’ve made, so I decided it finally needs its own blog post. 

Falafel have been part of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries, with its origins traced back to ancient Egypt. It has since spread across the region and become a staple food in countries like Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan. As well as in Iraq, where I grew up. 

Falafel is often associated with street food culture in the Middle East. Street vendors and small eateries serve freshly fried falafel balls or sandwiches, making it a convenient and affordable meal option for people on the go. You’ll undoubtably find falafel on every Middle Eastern restaurant/takeaway menu here in the UK. 

Why these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel are so special:

Growing up in the Middle East you couldn’t go through life without eating lots and lots of falafel! Not that I would complain about it, they’re AMAZING! Not only are they delicious and easy to make, but they’re good for you! Consisting of mainly chickpeas, which are high in magnesium, manganese, zinc, folate, B vitamins and Iron. They’re also a great source of protein and fibre. 

In a region where meat can be expensive or less accessible, falafel serves as a nutritious and filling vegetarian option. Made primarily from chickpeas (some countries use fava beans, or a mixture of the two), falafel provides a good source of protein, making it a popular choice for vegetarians and vegans.

My mum usually made them for dinner, but they’re also enjoyed for breakfast, lunch of even as a snack. They’re so versatile and you can serve them in many different ways. I love serving them with a hearty salad and some hummus or baba ganoush on the side. They’re great as a handy grab-and-go snack too. 

Why I love making these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel:

Aside from falafel being so easy to make, they’re also really cheap. The most expensive ingredients used being fresh parsley and coriander, but you can add as much or as little as you like to make them even more cost affective. I do think that the fresh herbs is the difference between an ok and a great falafel! You know a falafel will taste good when you break one open and see the vibrant green centre. The greener the better as far as I’m concerned. I love the earthy freshness the herbs add.

Falafel are usually deep fired, but I shallow fried them in some olive oil to make them healthier and a little lighter. You can deep fry them if you want to keep to the authentic method of preparation. I’ve also tried air frying them, and they taste good too, but obviously the olive oil does add to the taste, but also makes them a little crisper and more moist.

How to serve these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel:

Falafel can be enjoyed in various forms, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, and mezze platters. Its versatility allows for creativity in culinary presentations and accommodates different taste preferences.

In Iraq they’re served in a special Iraqi bread called samoon – with some salad and amba (a type of pickled mango sauce). In other Middle Eastern countries they’re usually served in pitta bread with salad and tahini sauce. 

You can serve them with a salad, roast vegetables or on the side of any meal really if you’re looking for another source of protein and fibre. I LOVE snacking on leftovers. I simply place them in my air-fryer for 5 minutes to reheat – they make such a satisfying and hearty snack! 

Can I make these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the falafel mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. I sometimes make a big batch, fry half for dinner, then refrigerate the other half to make a couple of days after for lunch.

Can I freeze these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel ahead of time?

Yes! You can place the uncooked falafel on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and freeze for up to 3 months. Once fully frozen, you can transfer them into a freezer bag to free up space in your freezer. 

How to make these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel:

You MUST use dried chickpeas for this recipe. Canned chickpeas won’t work. They won’t hold their shape and break up as you fry them. You can buy dried chickpeas in most major supermarkets in the canned food section or in the world foods isle. 

Soaking the chickpeas is the only ‘difficult’ part. I say difficult because if you forget to soak them, you can’t make your falafel! I usually soak mine before I go to bed when I decide to make falafel the next day. Once soaked, all you need to do is rinse, drain then add all your falafel ingredients to a food processor. 

Shape into patties, then shallow fry. That’s all to it!

Here is the step-by-step method:

• Add the chickpeas to a large bowl and cover with water. Leave to soak for at least 12 hours.
• Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then add to a food processor along with the garlic, onion and fresh herbs. Blend until you have a crumb like consistency (don’t over blend or your falafel will turn out chewy and dense).
• Add the spices, baking powder and salt & pepper. Pulse again until everything is combined.
• Shape into balls, I used an ice cream scoop to scoop out even amounts per falafel.
• Gently flatten into patties on the palm of your hand. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat.
• Carefully add the falafel to your pan and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes. Remove once golden brown on both sides.
• Best served warm!
• Air fryer option – air fry for 20 minutes, turning half way through, or until golden brown on both sides.

How to store these easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel:

You can store any leftover cooked falafel in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the oven or air fryer until heated through. 

These easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel are:

• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Nut-free
• Healthy
• Easy to make
• Cheap to make
• Made with only a handful of ingredients
• Versatile
• Great as a main, snack or appetiser
• Packed with flavour
• A great source of protein
• A great source of nutrients & fibre

Easy Authentic Middle Eastern Falafel

This easy authentic Middle Eastern Falafel is the only falafel recipe you'll ever need! I grew up eating falafel and have been making them for years, this is the best version I've made, so I decided it finally needs its own blog post.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Soak time 12 hours hrs

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine middle eastern

Servings 14

Calories 98 kcal

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

• 250g dried chickpeas*
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1/2 onion quartered
• 30g fresh coriander
• 30g fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 3-4 tbsp Olive oil for frying

Instructions

 

• Add the chickpeas to a large bowl and cover with water. Leave to soak for at least 12 hours.
• Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then add to a food processor along with the garlic, onion and fresh herbs. Blend until you have a crumb like consistency (don't over blend or your falafel will turn out chewy and dense).
• Add the spices, baking powder and salt & pepper. Pulse again until everything is combined.
• Shape into balls, I used an ice cream scoop to scoop out even amounts per falafel.
• Gently flatten into patties on the palm of your hand. Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat.
• Carefully add the falafel to your pan and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes. Remove once golden brown on both sides.
• Best served warm!
• Air fryer option - air fry for 20 minutes, turning half way through, or until golden brown on both sides.

Notes

* Canned chickpeas WON'T work for this recipe. 

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 199mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 383IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg

Keyword chickpeas, easy meals, easy snack, healthy snack, middle eastern recipes, vegan food, vegan main meals

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