A simple vegan recipe for chickpea meatballs or falafel, loved by people all over the world. Originally from Egypt, the falafel recipe became popular in the Arab world too. We are big fans of these crispy vegan meatballs because they are tasty, meat-free, and easy to make. Read this post in the Romanian language! (Chiftele de naut).
Best Chickpea Meatballs / Vegan Lebanese Falafel
Chickpeas are one of those ingredients whenever you feel like eating something simple and quick. It can be used to make tasty hummus and even crispy vegan chickpea meatballs for a filling lunch. Simply, soak the chickpeas overnight, then the next day, mix the chickpea with fresh parsley or coriander, onion, garlic, cumin powder, and lemon juice, then fry or bake them!
Nothing sounds better than mashed potatoes, a nice salad, and some falafel on the side for lunch. It can be deep-fried, air-fried, or baked in the oven. Make sure to give it a try for your next meal!
How to Make Best Vegan Chickpea Meatballs
To make this recipe, put some dry chickpea in cold water and let it soak overnight. We do not recommend using canned chickpea because they have a very different texture.
Drain the soaked chickpea and transfer it into a large bowl. Add ground cumin, fresh parsley, fresh coriander, garlic, onion, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and mix it well.
Transfer it into a blender and mix until everything is well combined, put it back in the bowl and mix it with 1 tbsp flour. Grease your palms, then take some of the mixture, and start forming the falafel between your palms.
Deep fry the chickpea meatballs until nice and golden, or transfer them to a baking sheet and bake at 180 C for 25-30 minutes or until golden, and crispy on top.
Also try: Vegan chickpea spinach curry
Serving Suggestion
Serve hot with pita bread, tahini, yogurt, or mashed potatoes with a nice salad on the side. Sounds yummy, isn’t it?!
Why Chickpeas Are Good For You
Chickpea is extremely nutritious and offers many health benefits. It helps control blood sugar levels, is high in fiber, prevents constipation, supports heart health, and chickpea flour serves as a good substitute for eggs, and flour in many vegan recipes, being benefic for those with gluten intolerance.
Ingredients
– 300g dry chickpeas
– 2 onions
– 4 garlic cloves
– 1 tbsp lemon juice
– 2 bunch parsley
– 1 bunch of coriander
– 1 tbsp ground cumin
– 1 tbsp flour, or GF flour
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Drain the soaked chickpeas and put them in a large bowl.
2. Add the roughly chopped onion, garlic, chopped parsley, cumin, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mix it well.
3. Transfer this into a food processor, and mix it until everything is well combined.
4. Put this mixture back in the bowl and add the flour. This will help absorb some of the moisture and keep the chickpea balls together.
5. Grease your palms with some oil, and form balls or patties. Add the with a spatula in hot oil and deep fry it for 3-4 minutes or until nice, and golden.
6. Transfer onto a plate with a paper towel.
7. For a healthier version, preheat the oven to 180C, put the falafel on a baking sheet, and bake for 25-30 minutes.
8. Serve hot chickpea meatballs with pita bread, salad, mashed potatoes, or your favorite sauces.
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