Ingredients
Scale
Air Fryer Falafel Balls:
- 2 cups dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans), soaked for 24 hours
- 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 2 red Thai chili peppers, seeded and diced
- 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (with stems)
- 1 tablespoon chickpea flour (garbanzo bean flour)
- 2 tablespoons *Falafel seasoning
- Avocado oil spray (or canola)
Falafel Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
Aioli Dipping Sauce:
- 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
Instructions
To make the air fryer falafel balls:
- Soak the dried chickpeas in a large bowl with plenty of water for at least 20 to 24 hours to soften. They will double in size when done. Drain the chickpeas.
- Combine all of the spices in a small bowl.
- Place the chickpeas and the spice mixture in a large food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarse but not puréed. Place the mixture in a large bowl.
- Using a small scoop (or your hands), shape each falafel into about 1 ½ inch balls and place on a tray to prepare for cooking. Add another teaspoon or so of the chickpea flour if the mixture is too wet.
- Place about 9 falafel balls into your air fryer and spray the tops of the balls with the avocado or canola oil. This helps to brown them. Air fry the falafel balls at 370 degrees for 15 minutes. They should be nice and golden brown and crispy. Repeat the air frying until you’ve fried around 30 to 34 falafel balls.
Make the Aioli Dipping Sauce:
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and sambal oelek. Serve on the side for dipping.
Notes
- You need to soak the dried chickpeas in water for at least 20 to 24 hours. 24 hours is ideal. There are no shortcuts here! Using canned chickpeas will not work, they are too mushy! Once soaked the chickpeas with double in size when ready.
- I like to use a small cookie scoop so that the falafel balls come out uniform. The perfect size is 1 1/2 to 2 inches in size.
- If the mixture is too wet, add a little more chickpea flour, but not too much or the falafels will come out dry. You can squeeze out the extra liquid as well.
- Spray the falafel balls with cooking spray which will make them golden brown and crispy when cooked in the air fryer!
- Store leftover falafel balls in the refrigerator for up to two days. You can freeze the leftovers in a large baggie and reheat.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2.8 g
- Sodium: 911.3 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.1 g
- Protein: 7.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0.5 mg
