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

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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!

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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

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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)

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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.

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

FAQs

Is baked falafel good for you? ›

Health benefits may include weight management, heart health support, and management of anemia. Baking falafel instead of frying can reduce fat content and make it healthier. Some downsides may include potential allergies and sodium content concerns.

What do you serve with falafel dinner? ›

Featuring foods such as with lettuce, a side of fries, the falafel sauce, pickled vegetables, radish, mint, parsley, onion, tomato and hummus. Toum (a famous Lebanese garlic sauce) can also be served. Part of a mezze, which is a spread of small share plates.

Are homemade falafels healthy? ›

Zozos says that the health benefits of falafel are plenty. It tends to be relatively low in cholesterol, low on the glycemic index scale, and high in protein. Also, it's full of complex carbs and fiber, which are good for a healthy gut and regular bowel movements, adds Zozos.

Can diabetics eat falafel? ›

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 OK for weight loss? ›

Falafel is low in calories and fat. When eaten as part of a healthy diet, it can aid with weight loss or weight maintenance. One of the healthiest ways to eat falafel is in a buddha bowl with plenty of healthy greens and veggies.

Is chicken or falafel 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 good for your stomach? ›

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.

How do you serve falafel as a meal? ›

You can serve them the more traditional way in pita pockets with a simple tomato and cucumber salad. Or, top your favorite fresh salad with a few falafel patties as your protein (really, they can be your protein next to some leftover roasted vegetables).

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.

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.

Is falafel bad for cholesterol? ›

Falafel is also a good source of soluble fibre, the type that helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

How long can you eat falafel? ›

How to store falafel. The raw minced mixture is sometimes allowed to rest to integrate the flavours and textures, ideally refrigerated. Use the uncooked mixture within a day: cooked, refrigerated falafel should be eaten within three days.

Does falafel spike blood sugar? ›

Falafel wraps are a delicious and popular food option for many, but they can be a potential source of concern for individuals with diabetes due to their high carbohydrate content. Adding a yoghurt dip provides protein and healthy fats, which can slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and prevent blood sugar spikes.

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

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

What is the best fruit for a diabetic? ›

Top Fruits for Diabetics
  • Apples. According to the American Diabetes Association, the GI of an apple ranges from 32 to 38. ...
  • Berries. Berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, have a GI range of 28-40. ...
  • Kiwi. ...
  • Citrus fruits. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Apricots. ...
  • Peaches. ...
  • Cherries.
Oct 1, 2023

How many calories are in baked falafel? ›

4 pieces of baked falafel (Fabalish) contains 120 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 64% carbs, 23% fat, and 13% protein. This has a relatively low calorie density, with 128 Calories per 100g.

Is falafel healthy carbs? ›

Carbs. A falafel patty contains a little more than 5 grams of carbohydrates, the majority of which come from the chickpeas or fava beans. The food is high in complex carbohydrates and soluble fiber—the type of fiber that helps lower LDL cholesterol (known as the "bad" cholesterol).

Is falafel healthier than gyro meat? ›

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.

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