Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (2024)

By 8 Comments

When was the last time you made falafel? When was the last time you ENJOYED falafel? The answer is now! This falafel recipe makes a perfect lunch or a light dinner. Great recipe to whip up for your vegetarian guests, but delicious enough for everyone!

Jump to Recipe

Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (1)

How to make falafel

Seriously, throwing this falafel recipe together couldn't be easier. Just put all your ingredients into your food processor and process until finely chopped. Then scoop into balls. I like to use this scoop (same one I use for cookies) to keep everything nice and uniform. And I love the grip on this scoop! So comfy! Read below for more specific instructions.

  • In a food processor, add all ingredients. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down sides a few times until finely chopped.
  • Scoop into cookie-sized balls or about 2 tablespoons each. Flatten slightly in the palm of your hands to form a "puck".
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick skillet on medium heat for 3 minutes.
  • Add falafel to skillet, careful not to crowd so you have enough room to flip.
  • Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add olive oil when you flip if the pan gets dry.
  • When lightly browned on each side and warmed through, remove from pan and rest on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
  • Enjoy warm in a pita or allow to cool and add to your favorite salad.
Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (2)

Simple ingredients for falafel

  • Garbanzo Beans— this gives the falafel that delicious creaminess and protein.
  • Garlic— a flavor kick and a health kick in one tiny ingredient.
  • Red Onion — use more or less to taste.
  • Lemon Juice — to life and balance the flavor.
  • Fresh Parsley — another way to pack a major health punch in one tiny ingredient.
  • Bread Crumbs — or gluten free bread crumbs.
  • Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes and Salt — flavor, flavor, flavor!

Falafel is full of good protein

Falafels fulfills all the lunch requirements; filling but not heavy, protein to fill me up and last me until dinner, and something new and exciting to take me out of my mundane lunch trend.

The best thing of all is it lets me enjoy salad which is quite a feat in itself since I usually avoid salad, on principle. This particular salad is one of my go-to's with avocado, tomato, red onion on a bed of spinach with whatever dressing I have on hand.

Now when I make this for dinner, it needs to be a little more filling so I serve it in a pita pocket with tzatziki, or with a side of naan.

Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (3)

Keep lunch interesting this week with falafel

Now my husband can eat the same thing for lunch everyday for years. YEARS! Once he finds something that he enjoys, he sticks with it. I cannot do this. I may like it for a day or two but by day three, I am over it.

Last week I made this curry chicken salad on romaine with slivered almonds, and I made enough for a week so that way I didn't have to think about it, it was already ready.

Way to go me! Meal prep! By day two I couldn't eat it. Its not that it wasn't good, I have just found with lunch, in particular, I need to have a rotating schedule, otherwise I am burned out and I end up eating a bowl of cereal with some cookies and chips. Not my most shining moment.

So now this little beauty has made it into the rotation. And it will make it into yours too!

More vegetarian meals

Mediterranean Vegetable Pie — Filled with vegetables, mediterranean spices and cheese.

Greek Pizza — Made simply on naan or pita bread and topped with hummus and delicious Greek toppings.

Broccoli Potato Soup — Creamy without the actual cream.

Italian Stuffed Peppers — tomatoes, feta and basil warmed inside a red pepper for a fantastic Italian appetizer.

Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (4)

Simple Healthy Falafel

Make falafel your whole family will love. No one will miss the meat!

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 1 10 oz can of garbanzo beans drained, rinsed and patted dry
  • 4 cloves of garlic peeled
  • ½ red onion
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • cup parsley
  • ¼ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a food processor, add all ingredients. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down sides a few times.

  • Scoop into cookie-sized balls (about 2 Tbsp)

  • Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in skillet on medium heat for 3 minutes.

  • Add falafel to skillet, careful not to crowd so you have enough room to flip.

  • Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add olive oil when you flip if the pan gets dry.

Notes

Tastes great with pita bread and tzatziki, or in a mediterranean salad. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 0g | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg

Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (5)

More Dinner Recipes

  • Dairy Free Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Korean BBQ Nachos
  • Pumpkin Sweet Potato Soup
  • Mediterranean Chicken Wrap with Yogurt Marinade and Sauce

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jasmit

    Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (10)
    Hi Rachel, I gotta say for a foodie like myself, this is my favorite to-go-to recipe! The recipe is so easy, the flavor is soooooo delish, I add a lil extra spice, and everyone loves this, my hubby is always asking for seconds. Thank you soooo much!

    Reply

    • Amy

      I'm so glad you love it as much as we do!

      Reply

  2. Claire

    Ooh, these do look easy and yummy - must try!

    Reply

    • Amy

      Yes! Start to finish we were done in about 15 minutes! And so yummy!

      Reply

    • Bekah E.

      Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (11)
      I followed the recipe and the mix was very thin/loose and came apart in the oil. Is it possible I blended too long? I added more breadcrumbs and that made them barely firm enough to bake. The baked are good but the inside is still pretty soft

      Reply

      • Amy

        I'm so sorry they didn't work right for you! I haven't had that same problem. To keep the mixture firm, be sure to completely drain the garbanzo beans or perhaps cut back on the lemon.

        Reply

        • Michael

          You can add an egg too, right, Amy?

          Reply

          • Amy

            Hi Michael. Yes! If your falafel is not holding together well, an egg could be helpful. I haven't tried it this way, but it should work just fine.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Falafel | Simple, Healthy and Delicious Recipe | The Oven Light Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Is falafel healthy for weight loss? ›

May Help Control Weight

With its high protein and fiber content, falafel may aid weight control by inducing feelings of fullness. Eating low-GI foods like chickpeas can also help manage blood sugar levels.

What to eat with falafel for dinner? ›

Side Dishes
  1. Vermicelli Rice. A bowl of steaming vermicelli rice pairs so well with a variety of foods – but in my opinion, there's nothing better to serve it with than falafel! ...
  2. Mujadara. ...
  3. Fried Potatoes and Onions. ...
  4. Crispy Roasted Chickpeas. ...
  5. Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra) ...
  6. Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
Jul 29, 2023

Is baked falafel good for you? ›

Is baked falafel healthy? Yes! Baking instead of frying reduces the amount of fat and calories in this healthy falafel recipe! With protein and fiber rich chickpeas and loads of fresh herbs, these baked falafels are a great healthy meal!

Is falafel healthy for diabetics? ›

Falafel has a good amount of micronutrients plus it is a good source of protein and fiber. This helps in curbing one's appetite, lowers one's risk of chronic disease, and supports healthy blood sugar. All these qualities put Falafel in the diabetes-friendly category.

Is falafel a carb or protein? ›

Falafel contains high amounts of protein and carbohydrates from chickpeas; it also has significant amounts of soluble fiber that helps to reduce the bad cholesterol from your body. Chickpeas are also rich in calcium, iron & potassium, making falafel a superb vegetarian food to replace meat.

Is falafel healthier than meat? ›

In some ways, falafel's nutritional profile stacks up to red meat, since it's also full of nutrients like iron, folate, magnesium and vitamin B, Zozos says. To make falafel, ingredients are usually put into a food processor until the result is a gritty blend.

Is falafel good for bowels? ›

Falafel can help improve support normal bowel function

A lack of fibre in the diet can cause constipation, which affects around 20% of people each year. The dietary fibre in falafel cannot be digested, but it helps to make stools bigger and softer. This allows them to pass through the gut more quickly and easily.

What are the 2 types of falafel? ›

There are three types of falafel--Traditional falafel, baked falafel and lemon falafel. “Where the traditional falafel is the basic fried falafel comprising a mix of chickpeas, onions, garlic, herbs and spices, baked falafels are made using fresh herbs in the chickpea mixture,” says Chef Sati from Ophelia.

What is a good binder for falafel? ›

A binding ingredient can help keep it together, especially if you are using canned beans instead of dried. And the perfect binding ingredient for falafel is flour. Nothing fancy, just plain all-purpose flour. Add a few tablespoons at a time to your mixture, until you can press it easily into balls or patties.

Can you live on falafel? ›

In order to survive, you need to eat a variety of foods that provide you with all of the nutrients that your body needs. These nutrients include carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Falafel is a good source of some of these nutrients, but it is not a complete food.

Is falafel or chicken healthier? ›

In essence, the ingredient profile of falafel is in the least unhealthy. In fact, compared to other counterparts of the food, including chicken shawarma, falafel tops the list to contain the healthiest amount of all ingredients that are required by the body.

Is falafel or gyro healthier? ›

Go with the falafel The gyro has more saturated fat, more calories, and (usually) more sodium than the falafel —or chicken or vegetable sandwich fillings—on most menus. Take Daphne's, a “California-fresh” West Coast chain with 56 restaurants that lists calories on its menus and Nutrition Facts on its Web site.

What is the healthiest protein to eat? ›

Generally, poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) and a variety of seafood (fish, crustaceans, mollusks) are your best bet. Eggs can be a good choice, too.

How to get blood sugar down in a hurry without insulin? ›

These tips may be helpful for people who do not use insulin.
  1. Double-check your medications. In some cases, your blood sugar may be high because of a missed dose of diabetes medication or insulin. ...
  2. Exercise. ...
  3. Drink water. ...
  4. Eat foods low on the glycemic index. ...
  5. Apple cider vinegar. ...
  6. Cinnamon or dietary supplements.

How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high? ›

increased thirst and a dry mouth. needing to pee frequently. tiredness. blurred vision.

Is falafel good for gut health? ›

Falafel is high in many micronutrients and a good source of fiber and protein. As such, it may help curb your appetite, support healthy blood sugar, and lower your risk of chronic disease. Yet, it's typically deep-fried in oil, which raises its fat and calorie content.

Can you eat falafel on a low carb diet? ›

An easy keto falafel recipe made without chickpeas is a delicious snack or appetizer. But it's also a perfect addition to a low carb salad or a paleo wrap for lunch.

Is falafel a Super Food? ›

Is it healthy? Even though falafel is a deep-fried treat, it's still one of the most healthy foods available at your Mediterranean restaurant. Chickpeas are considered a superfood; the little legume is packed with protein, fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin C, zinc, copper, manganese, and more.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 5897

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.