Hands down, one of my favorite meals is falafel and this easy pan-seared falafel is the best way to eat it. If you’re thinking there is no substitute for deep-fried falafel, then you should try this. It’s a favorite in our house and my kids have never complained — in fact, they ask for me to make it fairly often.
This is the same falafel you’ll find in my cookbook Live to Eat Well, which is full of Mediterranean recipes that are easy, quick, and delicious.
For the Love of Chickpeas
I buy chickpeas in the bulk packs at Costco because we eat so many of them. We make a lot of hummus in our house and often swap out meat for chickpeas in various dishes.
One of our favorites is Chole, which is Indian spiced chickpeas. It’s made with classic Indian spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, and black pepper and served with rice — it is so good! I have to make a double batch in my house.
Make a Sauce
We are big on sauce in our house and rarely is there not a sauce or condiment on the table. Falafel are no exception.
I will often make a tzatziki sauce to pair with the falafel, but I also like to make an avocado-based sauce when I want to keep it 100% plant-based — this Guacaverde is perfect to pair with falafel.
Try these on a night when you need an easy meal. Pair with a pre-chopped salad kit and some fruit on the side!
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Easy Pan-Seared Falafel
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
Ingredients
1, 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped cilantro or 1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 small shallot
1 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Add chickpeas, cilantro, shallot, garlic, salt, cumin, and flour to a food processor and pulse just until the mixture is broken up with no big chunks – you may need to scrap the sides to ensure all of the ingredients are combined. The mixture should hold together when you press it with your fingertips.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of falafel mixture and roll into a ball, then press gently to make a disc. Repeat until you have 12 discs.
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and place the falafel discs in the skillet. Sear for 4 minutes on each side or until each side is golden brown.
Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes