Falafel! It’s one of my all-time favorite snacks. This homemade falafel recipe has hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews. Why? Because it’s just that delicious!
Making authentic, traditional falafel is an interesting process, and it may be brand new to you. Never fear! I am here to walk you through each step, so you can achieve crispy, tender, tasty falafel every single time.
What is Falafel?
Falafel are crisp and delicious deep-fried legume fritters made with beans, spices, onions, and herbs. Legumes are well-soaked, then ground up and mixed with other ingredients. Next, the mixture is formed into small balls or patties, then fried in hot oil. The pre-soaked legumes are cooked during the frying process.
Most falafel today is made with chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans). However, in Egypt and other areas of the Middle East, fava beans are the legume of choice. It is often served alongside other popular regional Mediterranean recipes like hummus, as well as shawarma made from lamb or chicken.
The History of Falafel
This Middle Eastern food has a very long history. The word falafel may descend from the Arabic word falāfil, a plural of the word filfil, meaning “pepper.” Legume fritters, including versions made with fava beans and lentils, have existed in the Middle East for thousands of years.
According to The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, written by my friend Gil Marks: “The first known appearance of legume fritters (aka falafel) in the Middle East appears to be in Egypt, where they were made from dried white fava beans (ful nabed) and called tamiya/ta-amia (from the Arabic for ‘nourishment’); these fritters were a light green color inside. Many attribute tamiya to the Copts of Egypt, who practiced one of the earliest forms of Christianity. They believed that the original state of humankind was vegetarian and, therefore, mandated numerous days of eating only vegan food, including tamiya.”
Likewise, the Torah, the Song of Songs, the Mishnah, and the Talmud all mention deep-fried lentil fritters, known as “ashishim.” This means early forms of falafel were enjoyed in this region since biblical times, at least. That’s some pretty ancient falafel!

Ingredients and Notes
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details!
- Chickpeas – I use chickpeas because they’re easy to find, and they’re tasty! Follow my tips to cook and soak dried chickpeas. Do not use canned chickpeas; they will not give you the proper result – you need to start with uncooked chickpeas. If all you have on hand are canned chickpeas, try this very delicious and falafel-like spicy panko chickpea patties recipe instead!
- Onion and Garlic – These ingredients add a pungent, sweet, savory taste. I like white onion, but yellow onion will also work. Then, I use roasted garlic cloves for extra depth.
- Herbs and Spices – Fresh parsley, salt, ground cumin, ground coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and ground cardamom create the warm, savory flavor found in falafel recipes all over the world.
- Flour – Use all-purpose flour or chickpea flour to keep this recipe gluten-free. This absorbs any excess moisture and helps the falafel balls hold their shape.
- Leaveners – I use baking soda in the soaking water for the chickpeas to help soften them. You can also add baking powder in the falafel balls. This helps to create super tender, fluffy falafel.
- Oil – Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point for frying. I prefer avocado oil, but grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and peanut oil all work.

How to Make Authentic Fried Falafel Balls
Homemade falafel can be a little time-consuming. So, make sure to read through the entire recipe and plan ahead accordingly!
- Soak the chickpeas. Submerge the chickpeas in cold water, and add baking soda. Cover the bowl, and chill in the fridge for at least 12 hours or ideally up to 24 hours. This helps soften them, making them easy to blend.
- Combine and blend. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Then, add them to a food processor along with the other ingredients. Pulse until a rough, coarse meal forms. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all the ingredients are well incorporated. Be careful not to overprocess! The mixture should have a paste-like consistency, but shouldn’t be so smooth that it turns into hummus.
- Chill. Transfer the chickpea mixture to a bowl, and stir with a fork to remove any remaining chunks. Then, cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- Fry. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. In the meantime, portion the falafel mixture into equal-sized balls or slider-shaped patties. Then, fry on each side until golden brown, working in batches as needed. Drain them on a paper towel-lined plate, and enjoy!

Tori’s Tips for the Best Crispy Falafel Recipe
- Divide the mixture. If you have a small food processor, divide the falafel ingredients in half before pulsing.
- Use a deep fry or candy thermometer. The ideal temperature to fry falafel is between 360 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to monitor the temperature is to use a deep fry or candy thermometer to check the oil before frying.
- Portion evenly. I like to use a tablespoon or a falafel scoop to portion the falafel balls into equal-sized pieces and roll them between wet hands.
- Test a single falafel before frying the rest. I like to fry a test one in the center of the pan. If the oil is at the right temperature, it will take 2-3 minutes per side to brown (5-6 minutes total). If it browns faster than that, your oil is too hot, and your falafels will not be fully cooked in the center. Cool the oil down slightly and try again.
- Add flavor. I like to dip my falafel balls in sesame seeds before frying for a little extra crisp and nutty taste. However, I’ve also tested different flavor variations, adding chopped parsley or fresh cilantro or turmeric, and they all taste great. (See the recipe card below for details!)

Serving Ideas
My favorite way to serve homemade falafel is as a falafel sandwich. To do so, I use flatbread or slice warm pita bread in half to form two “pockets.” Then, I stuff them with the falafel balls and add-ons such as tahini sauce, Israeli salad, hummus, baba ganoush, or tabouli, and vegetables like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and dill pickles.
Sometimes I also like to add sprouts, cucumber slices, roasted peppers, roasted eggplant slices, sunflower seeds, French fries, feta cheese, and yogurt or tzatziki for extra taste and texture.
Or, start with a large bowl and a base of lemony saffron couscous, cauliflower couscous, quinoa, or saffron rice, then add fresh veggies and all your favorite toppings.
Falafel balls are also great to serve as an appetizer or side dish with dips and main courses. Or, add them to a mezze platter for a party spread.


Falafel
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) – you must start with dry, do NOT substitute canned, they will not work!
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3-5 cloves garlic (I prefer roasted garlic cloves)
- 1 1/2 tablespoon flour or chickpea flour
- 1 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Pinch of ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (optional – makes the falafel more fluffy)
- Vegetable oil for frying – avocado oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and peanut oil all work well (I prefer avocado oil)
Instructions
- One day ahead: Pour the chickpeas into a large bowl and cover them by about 3 inches of cold water. Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to the water and stir; this will help soften the chickpeas. Cover the bowl and let them soak overnight in a cool, dark place or chill in the refrigerator. The chickpeas should soak at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours, until tender (change soaking water for fresh water after 12 hours).

- They will double in size as they soak – you will have between 4 and 5 cups of beans after soaking.

- Drain and rinse the chickpeas well. Pour them into your food processor along with the chopped onion, garlic cloves, parsley, flour or chickpea flour (use chickpea flour to make gluten free), salt, cumin, ground coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom. Note: if you have a smaller food processor, you will want to divide the ingredients in half and process the mixture one batch at a time.

- Pulse all ingredients together until a rough, coarse meal forms. Scrape the sides of the processor periodically and push the mixture down the sides. Process until the mixture is somewhere between the texture of couscous and a paste. You want the mixture to hold together, and a more paste-like consistency will help with that… but don't over-process, you don't want it turning into hummus!

- Once the mixture reaches the desired consistency, pour it out into a bowl and use a fork to stir; this will make the texture more even throughout. Remove any large chickpea chunks that the processor missed.Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.Fill a skillet with oil to a depth of 1 ½ inches. Use cooking oil with a high smoke point (oil suggestions can be found in the ingredient list). Heat the oil slowly over medium heat. The ideal temperature to fry falafel is between 360 and 375 degrees F; the best way to monitor the temperature is to use a deep fry or candy thermometer. After making these a few times, you will start to get a feel for when the oil temperature is "right."Meanwhile, form falafel mixture into round balls or slider-shaped patties using wet hands or a falafel scoop. I usually use about 2 tbsp of mixture per falafel. You can make them smaller or larger depending on your personal preference. The balls will stick together loosely at first, but will bind nicely once they begin to fry.

- If the balls won't hold together, place the mixture back in the processor again and continue processing to make it more paste-like. Keep in mind that the balls will be delicate at first; if you can get them into the hot oil, they should bind together and stick. If they still won't hold together, you can try adding 2-3 tbsp of flour or chickpea flour to the mixture. If they still won't hold, add 1-2 eggs to the mix. This should fix any issues you are having.Before frying my first batch of falafel, I like to fry a test one in the center of the pan. If the oil is at the right temperature, it will take 2-3 minutes per side to brown (5-6 minutes total). If it browns faster than that, your oil is too hot and your falafels will not be fully cooked in the center. Cool the oil down slightly and try again.

- When the oil is at the right temperature, fry the falafels in batches of 5-6 at a time until golden brown on both sides. Once the falafels are fried, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon. Let them drain on paper towels.

- Serve the falafels fresh and hot; they go best with a plate of hummus and topped with creamy tahini sauce. You can also stuff them into a pita.

- SESAME FALAFEL VARIATION: After forming the balls or patties, dip them in sesame seeds prior to frying. This will make the falafel coating crunchier and give it a slightly nutty flavor.

- HERB FALAFEL VARIATION (GREEN FALAFEL): Add ½ cup additional chopped green parsley, or cilantro, or a mixture of the two prior to blending.

- TURMERIC FALAFEL (YELLOW FALAFEL): Add ¾ tsp turmeric to the food processor prior to blending.

- HOW TO MAKE A FALAFEL PITA: Making a falafel pita is actually really simple. The two main ingredients are pita bread and falafel. Cut the pita bread in half to form two “pockets.” Each pocket is a serving size. Stuff the pocket with falafel, as well as any add-ons you fancy.Here are some traditional add-ons that can be added to your pita: tahini sauce, shredded lettuce, diced or sliced tomatoes, Israeli salad, onions, dill pickles, hummus, tabouli.Here are some less traditional add-ons that are also tasty: sprouts, cucumber slices, roasted peppers, roasted eggplant slices, sunflower seeds, french fries, feta cheese, yogurt, tzatziki.

NOTES
Nutrition
tried this recipe?
Let us know in the comments!
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FAQs
This recipe is best served right away. However, you can store cooked leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
I’ve never tried freezing this recipe, but some readers have had good luck with freezing both the uncooked chickpea mixture and the cooked falafels.
Personally, I don’t like baking this recipe, finding that it tends to dry out. However, if you want to give it a try, prepare and shape the falafel dough into patties as usual.
Then, arrange them on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, and brush the top of each falafel patty with extra virgin olive oil. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden. If you read through the comments, you’ll see tips from some readers who have tried this method with some success.














I have done this recipe so many times and it’s just foolproof! Love it.
Quick q – wanting you get more veggies incorporated somehow. What’re your thoughts for adding say spinach? Will it affect the consistency/texture/etc much?
my first time making falafels. This recipe turned out great and will use it from now on. I used to buy premade storebought ones but found them difficult to find at times and decided to try and make my own using this recipe it was a breeze to make them and will make my own from now on. They taste great !! No more expensive store bought ones. Plus I can modify the recipe a bit in the future if I like.
Hi Tori, The recipe looks amazing! How can I modify the recipe so I can use canned chickpeas? I don’t have raw ones.
You can’t unfortunately – these just won’t work well with canned chickpeas. However, you can try this recipe, which has a similar flavor: https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/spicy-panko-chickpea-patties-recipe/
I baked them with AMAZING results!! I added the baking soda recommended in the Instructions. Preheated oven roasted 425° F. Lined and sprayed a real cookie sheet very well with oil. Formed patties and places on sheet and sprayed the tops very well. Bake 15 min flip and another 10 mins. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Great recipe thank you! My first time making them and came out really well. Will make again (from Cape Town South Africa)
Looks amazingly good but I noticed, in compared to other recipes I’ve seen, you left out the baking powder which I thought helps them puff up a little which keeps them from staying dense and uncooked inside which creates a lighter airier falafel .. is there a reason why u chose to keep it out ?
It’s optional Amy, you can certainly use it if you like. I’ve expanded on this in the instructions. It should be pretty light and fluffy inside regardless, and without it I find the texture more in line with what I have tasted in the Middle East. But it certainly doesn’t hurt, and it does make them a bit lighter and fluffier.
Do I have to refrigerate the chick peas overnight, or will it be okay on my counter overnight?
If you want to be 100% food safe, refrigerate overnight, or use the quick soak method.
I made your falafel and they turned out great. First time a falafel recipe worked the way it said it would. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. I posted a picture on face book and gave you credit for the recipe as I don’t do Twitter or Instagram. Next time I will add whole coriander as I think that will add extra bursts of flavor. Thanks for my falafel fix.
These were easy to make and really delicious! I’m going to experiment with freezing part of the mixture. Thanks for a great recipe!
That was my 5th attempt to make falafel, always something was wrong or they fallen apart or didnt taste properly, I was going to give up but found your website and encuraged by reviews made them once again and omg!they are delicious?added baked carott fries and its so yummy, will definitely make these again!?? Thank you for the recipe ?
Great recipe. I have made these several times: in a skillet with oil, baked, and air fryer. I have to say the BEST and EASIEST was the air fryer at 385 for 15 mins, flip halfway.
Most incredible falafel recipe!! My whole family love them, I make them twice a week, delicious by them selves with a dip and also perfect in our sandwich press in lavash bread with tabouli etc! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
made these and are amazing! I rolled in balls and pressed to make patties. We froze ours and they actually turned out much better! We took them from the freezer straight to fryer and they browned much nicer. Highly recommend!
Hi Tori,
Thank you so much for wonderful recipe!
May I ask you, Can I freeze it?
also what sort of sauce do you normally use for farafel, please?
Many thanks x
made your Falafel last month…. tasted great… pain in the bottom to form… so…. I ordered a falafel stick from Israel. unfortunately,it’s only 3cm across… but I’ve ordered the larger one….
Today will be special…. less worry about process and more about outcome! Cooking needs to be relaxing and fun! you and your beautiful smile ensure at least half those conditions are met!
Big fan of your matza ball soop! WOW!
Take care,
Doug
Ha! Thanks Doug, appreciate it.
I have made this recipe with both soaked, and tinned chickpeas. I do prefer the soaked ones, but the flavour is only slightly different.
I washed the tinned chickpeas well, made sure most of the water was out. I think I had to add another tbsp or 2 of chickpea flour, that is all. Good luck.
What is the point of the refrigeration step and can it be skipped.
Refrigeration helps the mixture to settle, liquid to absorb, and keeps the balls from falling apart when they fry. It helps the mixture “hold together” better. I do not recommend skipping it.
Hi Tori…..love your recipes – thank you so much.
For the mixture you say to “Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.”
Is it O.K. to refrigerate for a longer period – what would be the maximum time?
Yes, up to 12 hours should be fine as long as it’s tightly covered. Enjoy!
I love these and make them often, but right now I’m only able to get canned chickpeas. Does anyone have tips on how I can modify this recipe to make it work with canned chickpeas?
Hey Jess! Just make sure to rinse the canned chickpeas really well. Past when the foaming stops. Let them dry and then just make the recipe as it is listed. Honestly I’ve not found a big enough difference to mention.
I’ve made these in the air fryer before and they come out just as good. 380 for 15 min flipping half way. Spray each side with olive oil spray. I make patties. They’re easier to fill a pita and easier to store for later. Recipe is exactly the same. Just some options for people who are interested.