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 (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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

What is vegan falafel made of? ›

Traditionally, falafel is made from dried chickpeas and/or includes fava beans. I opted for a more simple version, using canned chickpeas so you don't have to wait for the chickpeas to soak overnight or worry about not being able to find ingredients.

Does falafel need refrigerated? ›

Homemade falafel, both cooked and uncooked, is perishable and should always be stored in the refrigerator within two hours of both preparing and cooking. Store both unused falafel mix and cooked falafel in the refrigerator, covered, for up to four days.

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.

Does falafel need to be cooked? ›

For a good falafel, you never boil the dried chickpeas rather soak them, allowing the water to slowly rehydrate them, and make them just soft enough to get to the stage where you can grind them. Its the deep frying in oil that should cook the beans.

Why can't you use canned chickpeas for falafel? ›

Turns out that dried chickpeas are essential to good falafel. See, canned chickpeas have already been cooked. Starch molecules within them have already burst and released their sticky contents, much of which get washed away in the cooking liquid, leaving the remaining chickpeas with very little clinging power.

Are falafels good for you? ›

Researchers have found that falafel has many health benefits. It is high in fibre as it contains vegetables, legumes (beans, chickpeas, or almonds), and olive oil, all of which can help people stay healthy and maintain an optimal weight while reducing their risk of diabetes, heart disease, and blood pressure.

Is it better to eat falafel hot or cold? ›

Served deliberately cold, perhaps from a supermarket supermarket chiller cabinet, falafel become gritty truffles of tedium, as tasteless as packing foam. As the food writer Daniel Young once put it: “It must be eaten hot and fresh. You can wait for your falafel, but your falafel shouldn't wait for you.”

How long does falafel mixture last in the fridge? ›

To make ahead: Prepared falafel mixture will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days ahead of time. Form it into patties when ready to fry. To freeze: Place uncooked falafel patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 1 hour.

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 bacteria is in falafel? ›

Eating uncooked falafel that has been left out for a few hours can pose a risk of foodborne illness due to bacteria growth. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in foods left at room temperature, potentially causing digestive issues or food poisoning.

What race eats falafel? ›

Falafel features prominently in Israeli cuisine and has been called a national dish. Some Palestinians and other Arabs have objected to current identification of falafel with Israeli cuisine as cultural appropriation.

Are Costco falafels vegan? ›

New Organic Greek food item spotted at Costco Organic Falafel by Hannah Foods! Vegetarian patties; gluten free; ready to eat; source of iron and calcium; freezer friendly.

Can I eat cold falafel? ›

Do you eat Falafel hot or cold? Falafels are best eaten hot. However, if you just bought cold falafels or the falafels you prepared are already cold, warm them up in a pan, microwave or oven before serving.

How do you know when falafel is done? ›

A cooked falafel is supposed to be crispy and crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Due to variations in preparation methods and recipes - some falafels are mushier and with more moisture, while others are a bit more on the dry side.

Should you microwave 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.

What are falafels made of? ›

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas (or fava beans), fresh herbs, and spices that are formed into a small patties or balls. It's thought that falafel originated in Egypt as Coptic Christians looked for a hearty replacement for meat during long seasons of fasting or lent.

What is a good egg substitute for falafel? ›

I recommend olive oil, canola oil or avocado oil. Ground flaxseed. This is the binding agent in this vegan falafel recipe. You can substitute 1 egg for the 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed.

What is falafel derived from? ›

It is believed that falafel first emerged in Alexandria, the principal port of Egypt and the city with the largest concentration of European troops. Unlike many of the popular versions served in today's falafel restaurants, this first falafel was made with fava beans.

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