Healthy Baked Falafel
These healthy falafel-style chickpea balls are a delicious twist on the classic fried falafel. The best part? They're almost oil-free! To make them, simply boil chickpeas and add quinoa for a firmer texture. To bind everything together, use psyllium husk, a wonderful binder that is also known for its cleansing properties. You can find psyllium husk at health food shops. To enjoy these flavorful chickpea balls, serve them with an herb-tahini dressing, fresh raw veggies, and pickles.
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keyword: falafel salad, healthy falafel
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 3 cups chickpeas boiled
- 1 cup cilantro leaves loosely packed
- 1 cup parsley leaves loosely packed
- juice of one lemon
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1.5 tsp psyllium husk powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil for baking
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup parsley leaves
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- a pinch of salt
- juice of one lemon
- water as needed
Instructions
- In a food processor, mix chickpeas, fresh herbs, lemon juice, and spices. Don't overprocess; leave a bit of a chunky texture.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the cooked quinoa. Sprinkle the psyllium husk powder on top (this recipe is measured with powder, not flakes; if you have the flakes, you might need a bit more). Mix all well.
- Now roll little falafel balls.This recipe yields 20 balls. Drizzle them with olive oil and bake in the oven at 350 F / 175 C for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool for a bit to firm up.
- For the dressing, blend all the ingredients in a small blender. Add water as needed to get the blade going. It always depends on the thickness of your tahini. The result should be a thick and creamy sauce.
- Serve with your favorite salad, such as lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, radishes, pickled red cabbage, and green olives. Enjoy!
I love falafel, thanks for this delicious recipe
Thank you María! I am glad you like this version of falafel. Enjoy!