My family’s secret recipe for the Best Authentic Falafel, made with chickpeas, fresh herb, and the right spices! And, I’m sharing my complete step-by-step tutorial and important tips for baking or frying falafel. Be sure to also watch the video to see how I make it!
What’s your favorite way to enjoy falafel? I love them in warm pita sandwiches with tahini sauce or hummus, along with my lazy Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad. But you can enjoy it alongside other plates or as part of a mezze spread (lots of ideas below!)
Growing up in Port Said, Egypt, one of my favorite foods ever was falafel!
My father’s friend owned a small falafel shop that was located in the heart of the souq (market). Our weekends often involved a trip to see Mr. Bishay and partake of his fragrant falafels. You could smell them from miles away!
Over the years I have learned how to make my own authentic falafel and I am super excited to share my recipe with you! It’s as authentic and delicious as you’d find on the streets of the middle east. And easier to make than you think!
What is Falafel?
Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas (or fava beans), fresh herbs, and spices that are formed into a small patties or balls. It’s thought that falafel originated in Egypt as Coptic Christians looked for a hearty replacement for meat during long seasons of fasting or lent. It has also become a popular vegan food in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.
Falafel continues to be the people’s daily grub in Egypt and you can find it from street vendors in almost every neighborhood. It’s often served in sandwich form with a generous drizzle of tahini and loads of Mediterranean salad, along with slices of roasted or fried eggplant.
This vegan dish is made with simple, everyday ingredients and you won’t believe how easy it is. Great ingredients are key to great falafel so be sure to purchase high quality spices like cumin and coriander for your falafel mixture. I’ve got a few more tips for you below…
What I love about this recipe
– No canned chickpeas (very important!) If you’re after the best texture and flavor, you need to start with dry chickpeas. Many falafel recipes use canned chickpeas which is not authentic and will cause the falafel patties disintegrate in the hot cooking oil.
– Hearty and flavorful. Falafel patties are packed with plant-power and protein from the chickpeas that will leave you feeling full and satisfied. My recipe also uses the perfect blend of spices —cumin, coriander, and a hit of cayenne–and fresh herbs to give them bold authentic flavor.
– Make ahead and freezer friendly. I love that this recipe can be prepped ahead of time, and you can freeze uncooked falafel patties for later use.
Ingredients
– Dried chickpeas: AVOID using canned chickpeas! Dried chickpeas (that have been soaked in water for 24 hours) are an important ingredient that will give your falafel the right consistency and taste. (Tip: I usually add about 1/2 tsp of baking soda to the soaking water to help soften the dry chickpeas.)
– Fresh herbs: fresh parsley, cilantro, and dill are key to this authentic recipe.
– Onion: I typically use yellow onions, but white or red onions would work.
– Garlic: for best flavor, use fresh garlic cloves.
– Kosher salt and pepper: to taste.
– Spices: cumin, coriander, and a little cayenne pepper. Along with the fresh herbs, this trio of spices is what gives falafel it’s bold authentic taste.
– Baking powder: this is what gives falafel an airy, fluffy texture (many recipes skip this, causing the falafel to come out too dense.)
– Sesame seeds: these are optional here, but I do like the added nuttiness.
How to Make Falafel: Step-by-Step
1. Soak chickpeas for 24 hours. Cover them in plenty of water and add baking soda to help soften them as they soak. The chickpeas will at least double in size as they soak. Drain very well.
2. Make mixture. Add chickpeas, fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, and dill), garlic, onion, and spices to food processor and pulse a little bit at a time until the mixture is finely ground. You’ll know it’s ready when the texture is more like coarse meal.
& Refrigerate (important.) Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. The chilled mixture will hold together better, making it easier to form the falafel patties.
3. Form patties or balls. Once the falafel mixture has been plenty chilled, stir in baking powder and toasted sesame seeds, then scoop golf ball-sized balls and form into balls or patties (if you go the patties route, do not flatten them too much, you want them to still be nice and fluffy when they’re cooked.)
4. Fry. Frying is the traditional way to cook falafel and yields the most authentic and best result. Heat the oil on medium-high until it bubbles softly (your oil should be hot enough around 375 degrees F, but not too hot that it causes the falafel to fall apart.)
Carefully drop the falafel in the oil, using a slotted spoon, and fry for 3-5 minutes until medium brown on the outside. Avoid over-crowding the falafel; fry them in batches if necessary.
Tip: it’s always a good idea to fry one falafel first to make sure the oil temperature does not need to be adjusted.
You can serve falafel for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Most Egyptians, and others throughout the Middle East actually start their day with falafel, much like many here in the States start with a bowl of cereal.
Important Tips
I shared some of these earlier in the post, but just in case you missed them:
1. Always use dry chickpeas. Dry chickpeas, that have been soaked in water for 24 hours, will give you the best texture and flavor. Dry chickpeas are naturally starchy and will help your falafels to stay well formed. If you use canned chickpeas, your falafel will disintegrate in the frying oil.
2. Chill the falafel mixture. Chilling for at least 1 hour helps with the shaping. And good news is, you can make the falafel mixture one night in advance and chill overnight.
3. Add baking powder to the falafel mixture before forming into balls/patties. As a raising agent, baking powder here helps make the falafel on the fluffy side.
4. Fry in bubbling oil, and do not crowd the saucepan. For perfectly crispy falafel, sadly, the best option is deep frying. The cooking oil should be hot and gently bubbling, but not too hot that the falafel disintegrate. If you need to, use a deep fry-safe thermometer (affiliate link); it should read around 375 degrees F (for my stove, that is medium-high heat.)
5- Once cooked, falafel should be crispy and medium brown on the outside, fluffy and light green on the inside.
For baked falafel
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and lightly oil a baking sheet. Give each patty a quick brush of extra virgin olive oil before baking; bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, turning the falafel patties over halfway through baking.
Make ahead and freezing
To make ahead: Prepared falafel mixture will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days ahead of time. Form it into patties when ready to fry.
To freeze: Place uncooked falafel patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 1 hour. Once hardened, transfer the patties into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month. Falafel can be cooked from frozen by frying or baking.
Choose how to serve falafel
Middle Eastern Style: On the streets of the Middle East, falafel are typically served hot with a generous amount of tahini sauce.
As a Sandwich: To make a mean falafel sandwich, garb some warm pita pockets, load them with falafel, drizzle with tahini and add fresh greens (like arugula), fresh diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickles.
On a brunch board: Serve your flalafel with an array of fresh veggies, cheese, and dips like I have don’t on my brunch board.
As a side: serve falafel next to small plates like Turkish-inspired fried eggplant, tabouli salad, or Balela Salad.
Dip it: If you’re looking to dip your falafel, definitely try my Classic Creamy Hummus or Baba Ganoush!
Watch video for this authentic falafel recipe
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How to Make Falafel
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 24 Patties 1x
Description
Ready to learn how to make authentic falafel from scratch? My family’s secret recipe for the Best Authentic Falafel, made with chickpeas, fresh herb, and spices is all you need!
Be sure to check out the complete step-by-step tutorial, important tips for baking or frying falafel. And watch the video just above.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy falafel? I love them in warm pita sandwiches with tahini sauce or hummus, along with my lazy Mediterranean tomato and cucumber salad. But you can enjoy it alongside other plates or as part of a mezze spread (lots of ideas below!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried chickpeas (Do NOT use canned or cooked chickpeas)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, stems removed
- 3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
- 1/2 cup fresh dill, stems removed
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 7–8 garlic cloves, peeled
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Oil for frying
Falafel Sauce
Fixings for falafel sandwich (optional)
- Pita pockets
- English cucumbers, chopped or diced
- Tomatoes, chopped or diced
- Baby Arugula
- Pickles
Instructions
- (One day in advance) Place the dried chickpeas and baking soda in a large bowl filled with water to cover the chickpeas by at least 2 inches. Soak overnight for 18 hours (longer if the chickpeas are still too hard). When ready, drain the chickpeas completely and pat them dry.
- Add the chickpeas, herbs, onions, garlic and spices to the large bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. Run the food processor 40 seconds at a time until all is well combined forming a the falafel mixture.
- Transfer the falafel mixture to a container and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or (up to one whole night) until ready to cook.
- Just before frying, add the baking powder and sesame seeds to the falafel mixture and stir with a spoon.
- Scoop tablespoonfuls of the falafel mixture and form into patties (1/2 inch in thickness each). It helps to have wet hands as you form the patties.
- Fill a medium saucepan 3 inches up with oil. Heat the oil on medium-high until it bubbles softly. Carefully drop the falafel patties in the oil, let them fry for about 3 to 5 minutes or so until crispy and medium brown on the outside. Avoid crowding the falafel in the saucepan, fry them in batches if necessary.
- Place the fried falafel patties in a colander or plate lined with paper towels to drain.
- Serve falafel hot next to other small plates; or assemble the falafel patties in pita bread with tahini or hummus, arugula, tomato and cucumbers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cook’s Tip: You need to start with dry chickpeas, do not use canned chickpeas here. You will need to begin soaking the chickpeas overnight, allow up to 24 hours.
- Falafel Recipe variations: Variations of this recipe may call for flour or eggs. If you prefer, you can add 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp of flour to the falafel mix or 1 egg. I did not use either, and the falafel mixture stayed well together.
- Pro Tip for Frying: When you fry the falafel patties, you want to achieve a deep golden brown color on the outside. More importantly, the patties need to be fully done on the inside. Your frying oil needs to be at 375 degrees F, for my stove, that was at a medium-high temp. Be sure to test your first batch and adjust the frying time as needed.
- Have an air fryer? Try this air fryer falafel recipe.
- Popular falafel sauce: tahini sauce is what is traditionally used with falafel. I use organic tahini paste by Soom, and here is my tahini sauce recipe.
- Baked Falafel Option: If you prefer, you can bake the falafel patties in a 350 degree F heated oven for about 15-20 minutes, turning them over midway through. Use a lightly oiled sheet pan, and you might like to give the patties a quick brush of extra virgin olive oil before baking.
- Pro-Tip for Make-Ahead: To make ahead and freeze, prepare the falafel mixture and divide into patties (up to step #6). Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. When they harden, you can transfer the falafel patties into a freezer bag. They will keep well in the freezer for a month or so. You can fry or bake them from frozen.
- Visit our online shop to browse all-natural and organic spices, including cumin and coriander; organic tahini paste; extra virgin olive oils and more!
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Entree
- Method: Fried or Baked
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
*This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2015 and has been recently updated with new information and media for readers’ benefit.
I made your falafel recipe yesterday for dinner…It was very good but after sitting in fridge for hours they didn’t want to stick together…I had added a egg white after reading some reviews…but that didn’t help either…I was planning on baking them anyways because they would have never held together frying…I also added a little flour to the remaining batch that I didn’t try to form together, but that also didn’t help… I followed the recipe exactly…used dry chick peas and soaked over night…on another note your tzatziki sauce is outstanding…
Made these for the first time today.
AWESOME!! As usual…
They are time consuming, so be prepared.
Resist the urge to add a little water because the mixture looks too dry. I learned this the hard way when I could not form patties. Fortunately, a little flour and egg whites helped bind things together for me.
Using 2 cups dry chickpeas makes about 48 falafels.
I tried 3 cooking methods:
Frying – delicious but needed more oil than I care to consume.
Used my oven’s air fry tray – brushing a bit of oil on the top and bottom of each. Then turned on convection to 375. Nice and crispy but a touch dry.
Spread some oil on a sheet pan, added my Pattie’s and brushed tops with a bit more oil. Convection baked at 375 for 10 mins then flipped and baked 10 mins more. As good as frying, using less oil.
One more awesome recipe from the Mediterranean Dish
Thanks so much for such a great review, Eva!
Oh my goodness, delish!!! We’re new to making Mediterranean and loving it so much. Thanks for all the great videos and recipes 😊
Thank you for this article/recipe. Before I read this my falafels always broke up when cooking. Your tips on putting the mix in the refrigerator overnight and heating the oil to 375 degrees resulted in perfect falafels with nor breakage. My best result ever. I added tzatziki to the pita sandwich but otherwise followed your recipe to a t.
Thank you for the excellent advice.
Go glad you found it helpful, Sean!
Suzy, can Falafel be made in the air fryer? If so, what temperature and how long for? How different does the baked version taste from the authentic fried version?
I love watching your cooking videos on FB. You make it look so easy. Thank you!
Thelma
Hi, Thelma. It sure can! Check out our “BEST Air Fryer Falafel Recipe” for all of the details. I think air-fried falafels taste pretty much the same as authentically fried falafel. The authentically fried falafel just gets a better outer crust, in my opinion.
I have made falafel using this recipe so many times and it is absolutely delicious every single time.
Thank you.
I always thought chickpeas need cooking to get rid of any toxins that dry chickpeas have. But this recipe sounds like I am wrong?
Do you know anything about this topic to let me get rid of my concerns? I would love to try this recipe as the ones with cooked chickpeas doesn’t have the right taste somehow (the ones I tried)
Best
Jule
Hi, Jule. I have never heard that before. But the chickpeas here are actually cooked in the end… when the falafel is fried.
Ok, thank you.
Yeah when I learned about how to cook dried chickpeas I read everywhere that they need to be cooked to get rid of toxins (lectin) and are hard to digest. So I wasn’t sure if baking or frying is enough – I always thought they needed to get cooked in water.
Thanks for the quick reply
Hi. Did this this recipe 3 times it is a winner. Thank you so much
These are fried that is the cooking process.
Great to know! Thank you 🙏
I never leave comments but this FALAFEL beats any other recipe. OMFG in love
Yay! Thanks, Linda!
Over a few years I have made Falefel with varying results.. But THIS recipe is The best!!.. great guidance and tips..I now know where I went wrong.
Never use tinned and add lots of Fresh herbs and Baking Powder 💚👍
So glad you found this recipe helpful, Trevor! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
My husband and I are big fans of falafel! We love your recipe and bring them to potlucks! Your falafel is the best and is always a big hit! Thank you!!
Awww! Thank you so much, Frances!
Why dried chickpeas?! Took over 3 days to soften, 18 hours wasn’t even close!
Hi, Roy. After soaking for 18-24 hours, the chickpeas won’t be soft. They will still have a crunch/bite, and that is the way they are supposed to be. We always recommend dried chickpeas as they make falafel that holds together better during the frying process.
Love it! Though I may cut the recipe in half the next time I make it because it’s only me. The good news is I currently have plenty in the freezer right now!
Flavour great – but you definitely need the egg or similar for a binding agent. Just fell apart in freezer and during baking.
Hi Suzy, I love you and all your recipes. So appreciate the many meatless ones!
I followed the falafel recipe to a T but they were very moist and I couldn’t fully get them to form into balls or patties. I baked them as well as I could and they taste wonderful, but they are still falling apart. Help, Jo
Hi, Jo. I saw you mentioned above that you kept adding more baking powder. That’s not what is recommended to help falafel stay together. Next time, if this happens, you can try adding some flour or an egg.
I just made my falafel up last night and had it in the fridge since then and went to make the patties and the mixture is really wet and I added 1 tablespoon of flour and it still won’t stay together what did I do wrong ? I was wondering if I could still save this batch because I really want to try it. Thank you in advance
Hi, Tammy. Not being there, it’s really hard to say what may have gone wrong. You may need to add a bit more flour to save it, or even an egg.
Hi Tammy, I had the same problem and kept adding the baking powder. I did bake them, but they are still falling apart. I’m waiting for a reply from the Suzy team. They do taste delicious anyway.
10 million stars! I made this, first time. Just so delicious! I was surprised how easy and user friendly the recipe is. Have to admit I have been hesitant to try. Turn out light, crispy delightful! Served with recommended tahini sauce and cucumber, red onion, tomato on pita. Also on lettuce wrap. I you are hesitant to try go for it! Best falafel I have ever eaten! And I made it!!!
10 million stars!! What an honor! Thanks so much, Carol!