If you’ve ever had falafel before, then you know that being able to make this baked falafel recipe at home is a treat! And, if you’ve never had falafel, dig in and enjoy this savory and delicious recipe.

Making Food Truck Favorites Healthy

Food truck that serve everything from Korean tacos to chili-infused cupcakes, seem to be popping up on every street corner. These mobile kitchens are bringing street foods back into fashion. From chic indulgences that far exceed the classic hotdog or soft pretzel; some even call it “street cuisine.”

But, street foods are not a new phenomenon. They can be traced all the way back to ancient societies in Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Vendors catered to people without kitchens in their homes.

While today’s street vending trucks still supply convenience, they are also providing an effortless way to eat quickly. Unfortunately, most are unhealthful foods that are masked by their creative ingredients, pack on the pounds, and are prepared in a manner that is less than ideal for maintaining a Clean Cuisine lifestyle. In other words, street treats are often not so chic.

Mission: Falafel Baked Recipe as good as a Food Truck, but Healthier

So, we thought it might be fun to hit the streets and clean ‘em up. And…where better to start than FALAFEL?! This delectable treat is not only a popular item today but has been made with healthful ingredients for street-goers since ancient times.

Deliciously filling fritters made with fiber-packed and antioxidant-rich legumes. Then, we add in some herbs, and spices to make this Falafel a treat that is bursting with nutrient density.

How to Make the Best Homemade Baked Falafel recipe

So, you might be asking, “what’s to clean up?” Yes, the ingredients in Falafel pack a healthful punch. However, it is essential to remember that how we cook is just as important as what we cook.

Falafel is typically prepared in deep fryers filled with highly refined, empty-calorie vegetable oils. The nutrients and fiber in this scrumptious treat are removed when we saturate them with oil. Even the deceivingly healthful-sounding oils that are labeled organic, all-natural, and gluten free.

And, while Clean Cuisine realizes that an oil-free kitchen is likely to be unexciting and bland, nobody should be eating an oil-rich diet. In addition, deep-frying is not the best way to maintain optimal health. Being mindful of the types of oils you use can also help disease prevention, weight loss, vitality, longevity, or good taste.

Baked Falafel is Loaded with Flavor

The key to eating scrumptious food is to maximize taste and nourishment by minimizing the amount of oil when cooking. Oils should be used as a condiment, a flavoring, and a means to cook food.

Deep-frying makes oil the basis of your meal. Because beans, herbs, and spices taste much better than unhealthful oils, we’ve come up with a Baked Falafel recipe that enhances the flavorful ingredients. The best part is that we do this without drowning the nutrients in the cooking process.

What we found is that this Baked Falafel recipe is just as tasty when baking with just a little bit of nutrient-rich, cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil.

Keeping it “Street” but Still Healthy

We know it can be hard to hear about this creative food truck cuisine that twists and infuses ingredients while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, it is possible to stay healthy and enjoy some of these new trends.

Street foods may not be the healthiest option when we’re on the run, but luckily most of us have kitchens in our homes. Without having to install a deep fryer, our Baked Falafel recipe pairs nicely with a crunchy chopped salad and tahini dressing.

Healthy Food Starts with Healthy Cookware

Make your baked Falafel recipe in healthy, toxic-free cookware like Xtrema® cookware. Plus, you won’t stink up your house with hot fryer oil.

Impress your foodie friends by using fava beans instead of garbanzos, or spicing it up with a chili-infused version.

Clean Cuisine always encourages you to be creative with your ingredients… just remember to keep ‘em clean!

Baked Falafel Recipe

Print Recipe

Baked Falafel recipe is made with antioxidant-rich legumes, herbs, and spices. Making food truck favorites even healthier!

• Yield: 8–12 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: Mediterranean
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 – 15 ounce cans organic garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• ½ cup onion, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 3 tablespoons stoneground corn flour
• Unrefined Sea Salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil the bottom of 10-inch skillet such as Xtrema® cookware
2. Place garbanzo beans in a medium sized bowl and smash with a potato masher. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Form the falafel mixture into 8 medium sized balls (for baking) and 12 small balls (for the skillet) and place onto prepared skillet or baking pan.

BAKED FALAFEL INSTRUCTIONS: If you want to baked falafel, complete the next few steps.

1. Using the back of a flat spatula, gently press down on each of the balls until slightly flattened. Using a silicone brush, gently brush the falafel with a little bit of olive oil.
2. Bake for about 15 minutes, then flip them over brushing gently with a bit more olive oil. Finish baking until crisp on both sides.
3. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

PAN FRIED FALAFEL: If you want to skillet fry your falafel, this is definitely healthier than deep frying in vegetable oil.

1. In a cast iron skillet, such as this one, add a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil and turn on the stovetop to medium heat. Allow the oil to heat up for about 5-8 minutes.
2. To test the oil, drop a small piece of the falafel dough into the oil. If the oil instantly bubbles up around the dough, you’re ready to begin cooking. If not, wait another 2-4 minutes and then try again.
3. Add the falafel balls to the oil and roll in the oil gently. Every 1-2 minutes, continue to roll the falafel balls until the outside is completely crispy.
4. Place on a plate covered with paper towels and let the falafel slightly cool down. Serve while warm.

Try one of these dips to pair with your Baked Falafel recipe: Homemade Dairy Free Ranch Dressing or this Chipotle Sauce.

CHOPPED SALAD ASSEMBLY

• Tomatoes, chopped (About 1 per person)
• Cucumbers, seeded and chopped (½
• cucumber per person)
• Scallions, chopped (¼ cup per person)
• Carrots, chopped (2 per person)

1. Toss the ingredients together in the large mixing bowl.
2. Take out enough salad for one person, add 1 or 2 baked falafel patties and chop well. Place salad in serving bowl and drizzle with tahini dressing. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature.

TAHINI DRESSING

• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon cumin (or coriander)
• 1 teaspoon Nama Shoyu or gluten-free soy sauce (or more to taste)
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• Water, optional*

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and use a fork to whisk.

*Note: If you’d like a thinner dressing add a little water, one tablespoon at a time.