Air Fryer Falafel (Gluten Free)

No need to soak dry chickpeas overnight for this quick recipe, which is gluten free and lower carb if you substitute ground almonds or almond flour for wheat flour, as I do. All you need is an air fryer to make delicious, crispy, healthier falafel.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 176 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 cloves garlic
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons almond flour
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 small yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can chickpeas, drained
• sesame oil cooking spray

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour chickpeas into the basket of a large air fryer. Cook at 220 degrees F (104 degrees C) until mostly dry, about 15 minutes. Check after 10 minutes of cooking; all liquid should be evaporated and chickpeas should still be squishy, not toasted or hardened. Turn air fryer off.

Step 2

Transfer chickpeas to a food processor. Add onion, cilantro, parsley, almond flour, garlic, cumin, cayenne, baking powder, salt, pepper, baking soda, and nutmeg. Process on medium-high speed until a chunky paste forms.

Step 3

Refrigerate mixture to let flavors develop and to enable more drying, at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour.

Step 4

Form mixture into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place in the air fryer basket and spray with sesame oil spray; be careful, falafel will be delicate.

Step 5

Set the air fryer to 320 degrees F (160 degrees C) and cook for 10 minutes. Coat with more sesame oil if desired, increase temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and cook until outsides are toasted, about 10 more minutes.