Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (2024)

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Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (1)

Friday is here! Happy Friday loves. I mentioned on instagram last night that it was a crazy week and I am so ready for it to be over with! It is a busy time of year for everyone, but its also my favorite time of year. Warmer weather has arrived for the most part, which automatically puts me in a better mood and warmer weather means weekends spent at the beach or lakehouse! There is nothing like summertime in Chicago, though! Any Chicago people will know 😉 Being at the beach with tall skyscrapers behind you and crowds of happy, active, or usually tipsy friends next to you, ha. There is no better feeling. Now if/when I move to Cali, my feelings may change haha but as for now, I love chitown in the summer. Here are a couple pictures Marty and I took last summer after a long lake run on a hot Saturday morning. I think we need to do another lake run this weekend! And maybe take some better pictures this time..

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (2)Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (3)

For any falafel lovers out there, I have a yummy recipe for you! I have only had falafel a couple times before making it myself and it was always delicious but probably fried in tons of oil and not as healthy as it could be. So I came up with a healthier low fat vegan falafel version. I had a request to make this low fat, high carb as well for any vegans following that type of lifestyle. I am trying to cut back on oils myself, but you could use coconut or olive oil instead of the olive oil spray, if you would like. I am sure that would taste even better too!

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (4)

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (5)

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (6)

P.S. Exciting news! I have been featured on Urban Naturale after participating in their Plant-Based Potluck Party! Yay! Check it outhereor click on the image below.

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (7)

Enjoy your weekend!!

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Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (8)

Low Fat, High Carb Vegan Falafel Recipe

  • Total Time: 25
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1/2 cup oats/oat flour
  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pinches pink sea salt (to taste)
  • couple dashes cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 of a red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • olive oil spray

Instructions

  1. Add oat flour to food processor. If you do not have oat flour, blend oats until they reach a flour-like consistency.
  2. Add chickpeas, minced garlic, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, sea salt and cayenne to food processor. Blend until well mixed and chickpeas are mostly a smooth consistency. Spoon mixture into large bowl with a spatula.
  3. Add carrots, red onion and parsley to food processor until finely shredded, not too long though or it may become soupy. Add mixture to the large bowl and mix both mixtures together.
  4. Heat pan on medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray.
  5. Form falafel mixture into about 9 or 10 patties, whatever shape you want!
  6. Cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. You may have to spray the falafel with a little olive oil spray, if you want.
  7. I added my falafels into a purple cabbage lettuce wrap with some veggies and hummus. Yum!
  8. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Because I have a small food processor, I have found it easiest to blend the oat flour with the chickpeas, herbs and spices. Add that mixture to a large bowl. Then blend up the veggies in food processor and add to the large bowl. Then mix the two mixtures together. If you have a large food processor, I am sure you could add all ingredients at once!

Recipe Card powered byLow Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (9)


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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (16)Emily

    How many servings does this make? Aka how many should I eat for a meal if I make 10 patties from the recipe? Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (17)Donna

    I am definitely going to make these this weekend. Can you also tell me what kind of sauce to make with this? The sauce you have in the photo looks delicious. Thank you.

    Reply

  3. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (18)Christel

    I adore this recipe, so delicious and easy to whip up. Its one of my go-tos these days. Thanks so much.

    Reply

  4. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (19)Stephanie

    Looks incredible!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!

    Reply

    • Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (20)Shannon Leparski

      Thanks Stephanie!! I’ll be sure to check out the Tasty Tuesday board!

      Reply

  5. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (21)Deborah Davis

    Hi Shannon,
    This mouthwatering falafel sandwich is so awesome that I can’t wait to make this for lunch tomorrow. I have always enjoyed falafel and now your low-fat version using red cabbage instead of pita bread makes it even more appealing. Thank you so much for sharing this healthy and delectable recipe at the Plant-Based Potluck Party Blog Hop! I appreciate it!

    Reply

  6. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (22)Bonnie

    OMG that looks so good! My boyfriend is israeli and loves falafel! I’ll have to make this for him sometime. Also, I’ve never been to Chicago because I refuse to go there when it’s colder than Philadelphia (read: most of the year). It seems absolutely wonderful in the summertime though! I wish Philly had a beach but I wouldn’t stick a finger into our rivers haha. I really need to make it out there!

    Reply

    • Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (23)Shannon Leparski

      Yeah, let me know if you try it! Chicago is just amazing in the summer! The rest of the year though, not so much… haha. I have never been to Philly but have always wanted to visit. Thanks for visiting Bonnie 🙂

      Shannon

      Reply

  7. Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (24)Joanne T Ferguson

    G’day! This looks delicious and very healthy!
    Viewed as part of Weekend Recipe Link Up Party #8
    Cheers! Joanne

    Reply

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Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge (2024)

FAQs

Low Fat Vegan Falafel Recipe – The Glowing Fridge? ›

Falafel have to be crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy in the inside. They have to have enough fresh herbs and onion. Too much onion and your falafel will have a bad after taste. Too little and they won't be as moist and fluffy as they should be.

Why is my falafel not fluffy? ›

Falafel have to be crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy in the inside. They have to have enough fresh herbs and onion. Too much onion and your falafel will have a bad after taste. Too little and they won't be as moist and fluffy as they should be.

What makes falafel not vegan? ›

Is Falafel Vegan? Since falafel is prepared with chickpeas, herbs, spices and alliums, it is vegan. However, falafel is sometimes served in wraps which may not be vegan, or with yogurt- or dairy-based sauces, so be sure to seek out vegan-friendly accompaniments.

Can falafels be eaten cold? ›

Not unexpectedly, creative Westerners now add such other ingredients as olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Crumbled feta cheese is an excellent addition. Although a perfect picnic or anytime snack when cold, falafel are very much better when warm. The choice of accompanying sauces is enormous.

Does falafel need to be cooked? ›

So yes, deep frying is highly recommended! Please keep in mind that youre dealing with uncooked beans. Give them some time (5-6 min) to cook through to avoid tummy aches. Falafel are best served immediately after cooking while they're still warm and crispy.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for falafel? ›

Baking soda and powder: Baking soda breaks down and softens the chickpeas as they soak. Baking powder, mixed in just before baking, makes the falafel light and airy. Fresh herbs: The tender leaves of parsley, dill, and cilantro bring fresh, herbal flavor and color.

How do you make falafel thicker? ›

And the perfect binding ingredient for falafel is flour. Nothing fancy, just plain all-purpose flour. Add a few tablespoons at a time to your mixture, until you can press it easily into balls or patties. Just be sure you don't overwork the falafel batter.

Why not use canned chickpeas for falafel? ›

Canned chickpeas do not work for falafel. They're far too wet. If you try to use canned chickpeas instead of dried and soaked chickpeas, you'll end up with sad falafel pancakes. Some recipes try to counteract the wetness by adding flour, which significantly dulls the flavor and makes the texture more doughy.

Are falafel balls unhealthy? ›

There are also ample amounts of B-vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Four to five pieces of traditionally prepared, deep-fried falafel contains about 540 calories and 26 grams of fat, but there is also a whopping 17 grams of fiber and 19 grams of protein. Overall, not such a bad meal.

What is the best oil to fry falafel? ›

Greek Garden Organic olive oil is smooth and well-balanced with a light finish to enhance the flavors of dishes such as hummus, Tzatziki and falafel. Using olive oil is a healthier option for frying, as it creates a thick crust that stops the oil from being absorbed into the food.

Can you eat too many falafels? ›

It's a good source of fiber, an amazing source of proteins, and chickpea fiber; it helps manage blood sugar levels by slowing down carbohydrate absorption. Too much falafel can never be bad for your health, conditional to the fact that you're not deep-frying it every time.

What to pair falafel with? ›

Tabouli, fattoush salad, and shriazi salad go well with falafel, but nearly any fresh green salad with a light olive oil dressing will work. Don't forget the olives and pickles!

What to drink with falafel? ›

Falafel. The next time you have Falafel, try it with fruity whites with roundness such as Grenache Blanc or Viognier and refreshing whites like Sauvignon Blanc.

Why does my falafel fall apart when I fry it? ›

If the mixture is too wet, the falafel has a tendency to fall apart when being fried so please pat dry the ingredients before using them. If you find the mixture is too wet, simply add little more breadcrumbs. The falafel mixture after prepared can be shaped by hand or with a tool called an alb falafel (falafel mold).

Should you microwave falafel? ›

Can I microwave the falafel? You can microwave our products but we don't recommend it as you lose the crunch. If you choose to, we recommend placing 3 falafel on a plate and microwaving on high for 90 seconds. Add 30 seconds for every additional falafel.

Why is falafel green inside? ›

Why are chickpea falafels green? Falafel lovers will tell you that authentic falafels should be crispy (deep-fried) and green on the inside. That green color comes from fresh herbs like cilantro and parsley. These green falafels are green through and through and also include those fragrant fresh herbs.

Why is my falafel dense? ›

Don't pack your patties too tightly.

It's tempting to really pack the patties together tightly, but doing so will make them tough and dense. Form the falafel balls gently, and if your mixture isn't holding together, pulse it a bit more in the food processor until it sticks together.

How to fix crumbly falafel? ›

Try to grind canned chickpeas, form them into balls, and deep-fry them, and they completely fall apart in the oil. The common solution for this type of recipe is to add some extra starch in the form of flour.

What if my falafel balls are too wet? ›

If the mixture is too wet, the falafel has a tendency to fall apart when being fried so please pat dry the ingredients before using them. If you find the mixture is too wet, simply add little more breadcrumbs. The falafel mixture after prepared can be shaped by hand or with a tool called an alb falafel (falafel mold).

How soft should soaked chickpeas be for falafel? ›

The chickpeas should be tender enough to break apart with your fingers, but still have a bite to them. While the chickpeas soak, you can make tzatziki, chop tomatoes and lettuce, and assemble the other falafel ingredients.

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