How to Make Falafel – Oven Baked – Vegan, Gluten-free

The ultimate vegetarian take-out win. Anytime we get together with friends and order in Middle Eastern fare, all eyes are on the giant balls of deep fried deliciousness. Lot’s of “mind if I try a bit” and “wow, that looks tasty!.” Let me assure you that my veggie burgers and tofu dishes do not garner that same caliber of positive attention. Falafel is like the cool kid of vegetarian options.  I decided to learn how to make falafel balls.  As always, I went a step further than just how to make falafel balls.  I had to jump on the health train and settled on how to make oven baked falafel balls.

How to make oven baked falafel

Seeing as ordering out every time a falafel craving surfaced, learning how to make falafel balls half decently became a serious culinary objective. Although they’re traditionally deep-fried, I wanted to create a version that was slightly more hands-off and created less of a mess in my little kitchen.   The Oven baked falafel recipe was born!  These are without a doubt best served fresh, whether it’s baked or fried. If for some reason you do end up having leftovers (a rare and improbable case in our home), be sure to re-heat in the oven in hopes of restoring some crispiness back to those tasty little buggers.

Chickpeas win again!  Protein and flavour filled options the whole family can enjoy.  Have a look at our various chickpea recipes for some extra inspiration.  If you do try this falafel recipe, leave a comment and send us some pictures of the finished product or even just the smiles at the dinner table!  We love and appreciate all of your feedback.  If you are feeling really crazy, jump on our FB page and share it with over 20,000 hungry vegans!!

Oven Baked Falafel - Vegan, Gluten-free & Nut-free

Falafel is the ultimate take-out win. The cool kid of vegetarian options.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine BEANS AND LEGUMES, MAINS

Servings 20 falafels

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups soaked chickpeas
• 1 half yellow onion - diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic - chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup cilantro - chopped
• oil for drizzling - I used a blend of grapeseed & olive
• raw sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375° F and prep baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, pulse soaked chickpeas, onion, garlic, lemon, salt, cumin, coriander and baking powder until well combined and resembles a chunky hummus.
• Toss cilantro into the processor along with chickpea mixture and pulse until very well combined. Be sure to scrape down sides if necessary.
• Using a tablespoon, scoop up mixture and form disc shapes (I just form a ball with my hands and then gently flatten). Place on the prepared baking sheet. Should make around 20, about 2.5cm / 1" wide falafels.
• Drizzle with a generous amount of oil and if desired top with sesame seeds. Bake for 15 minutes.
• After the 15 minutes is up, flip falafels and drizzle with a bit more oil and if desired, top with sesame seeds. Bake for another 12-15 minutes or until golden and crispy on the outside.
• When falafels are done, feel free to sprinkle a bit more sea salt on top while still very hot (totally not necessary, just adds a nice salty taste). These are best served fresh and hot.

Notes

* Cooked or canned chickpeas will not work for this recipe. To make soaked chickpeas, simply place dried chickpeas in a bowl and fill with water. Place in the fridge overnight or for at least 12 hours. Drain out the water, and you're good to go! **Not a fan of cilantro? All good, use parsley in place of it! ***To fussy eater approve this recipe, I take out 3-4 tablespoons of the mixture before adding the fresh herbs (green stuff) into the processor. I am also a total sucker and will sometimes shape the falafel into hearts  #thethingswedo ****Serve these with hummus, toss in a salad, make them the main event in a wrap or pita... or savagely eat them when their piping hot from the oven and burn the taste buds clean off your tongue, You know, whatever.

Keyword gluten-free food, nut free food, school friendly, vegan food

Vegan gluten free recipes, meal plans, wellness, home | Mostly Domestic

Vegan and Gluten free food and cooking | Mostly Domestic

Vegan and Gluten free meal plans, prep and food shopping lists | Mostly Domestic