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Home » Recipes

Sesame Crusted Baked Falafel

Published: Aug 19, 2018 · Modified: Dec 17, 2018 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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Take homemade falafel to the next level with tahini, coriander and a sesame crust.

Homemade is best

Jon and I definitely have a falafel "problem". We eat tonnes of the stuff. When our local store stopped selling cheap, giant bags of frozen falafel a year or so ago I finally decided it was about time I made my own.

Making your own falafel means you can control what goes in (no nasty additives thank you) and can make them healthier (you won't see a deep fat fryer used in this recipe). But best of all, making them yourself is also a lot cheaper.

When you think about what goes in to falafel - chickepeas, spices, herbs, a bit of onion - its a little confusing as to why they are so horrendously expensive in the supermarket. My recipe will cost you half of what it would to buy the same amount of falafel from a certain well known vegetarian brand.

If you have a herb garden like we do, you'll find this recipe is even cheaper if you grab a bunch of parsley and coriander from out of your garden!

Find out how to cultivate your own vertical herb garden here.

The possibilities are endless

You might be wondering how just one couple can get through so much falafel - you're probably thinking our meals must be incredibly boring but I promise, that couldn't be further from the truth. The possibilities are endless!

We enjoy falafel for lunch in pittas or wraps stuffed with grated carrot, spinach and hummus, we eat them as part of meze and we eat them with roasted veggies and cous cous. But my favourite way to eat them has to be on a bed of salads, with pickled veggies (chillies and red cabbage are my favourite), drizzled with hot sauce and tahini.

There are also lots of different varieties of falafel. Chickpea falafel (like the ones I'm sharing with you today) are most common but sometimes they are also made with broad beans (aka fava beans). The herbs and spices used also differ between recipes.

I've put my own spin on things by adding tahini to help bind the rest of the ingredients together, I've then rolled them in sesame seeds to give extra crunch. With the crisp exterior of the sesame crust you might just forget they haven't been fried!

Homemade sesame crusted falafel

Canned or dried chickpeas?

Now as much as I love falafel, you'll be pleased to hear I'm not a purist. There are some people who say you just can't make good falafel with canned chickpeas - instead you should buy dried beans and soak them overnight before grinding them down. Sure, if you have the time then go ahead. It will also make this recipe even cheaper. But, I just don't have the time and my falafel taste AWESOME despite using canned chickpeas.

Why not make them both ways and see if you think it makes a difference? I bet you'll pick the easier option the next time you make them because canned chickpeas are just as good.

Sesame Crusted Baked Falafel

The recipe

You'll need store cupboards staples and fresh herbs to make these tasty falafel.

Sesame Crusted Baked Falafel

Sesame Crusted Baked Falafel

Emma
These Sesame Crusted Baked Falafel are healthier and cheaper than their store bought cousins. Did I mention they taste better too?!
4.78 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 4 people
Calories 278.22 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large white onion finely diced
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 teaspoon garlic crushed
  • 240 gram chickpeas drained weight
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sumac
  • 1 handful parsley fresh, finely chopped
  • 1 handful coriander fresh, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoon tahini
  • 4 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 180C or gas mark 4.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a small pan. 
  • Sweat the onion and salt over a medium heat for 8 minutes until softened.
  •  Add the garlic and fry for a further two minutes and remove from the heat.
  • Drain and rinse the chickpeas and pour into a mixing bowl. 
  • Add the onion and garlic and crush together with a potato masher until the mixture is broken down.
    Mashing chickpeas to make falafel
  • Add the herbs and spices to the mix and stir until combined.
  • Add the tahini, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to come together like a dough.
  • Roll the mix into 12 balls.
  • Roll each ball into the sesame seeds, flattening them slightly in the process.
  • Use the remaining olive oil to grease a baking sheet, place the falafel onto the baking sheet and cook in the centre of the oven for 25 minutes or until the falafel are golden brown.
    Falafel before the oven
  • Serve warm or cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 278.22kcalCarbohydrates: 25.29gProtein: 9.06gFat: 17.12gSaturated Fat: 2.31gSodium: 24.5mgPotassium: 365.44mgFiber: 6.91gSugar: 4.58gVitamin A: 207.22IUVitamin C: 6.13mgCalcium: 155.49mgIron: 5.12mg
Keyword falafel
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Serve with...

In the mood for a meze feast? Why not serve these falafel with some of my other Middle Eastern inspired recipes.

Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh is a delicious herb packed salad which forms a cornerstone of Middle Eastern Cuisine! Get the recipe at Supper in the Suburbs.

Baba Ghanoush

This authentic baba ghanoush recipe is made using the optimum induction pressure cooker, simillar to the instant pot! Find out how to make it at Supper in the Suburbs!

Crispy Fried Halloumi

This crispy fried halloumi is just like the saganaki you get in Greece. Made with panko breadcrumbs it's crisp, salty, creamy and squeaky all at once! Get the recipe at Supper in the Suburbs!

Beetroot Hummus with Tahini

This Beetroot Hummus is packed full of flavour and nutrients! It's great with crudite, pita bread or with falafel! Get the recipe at Supper in the Suburbs!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lucy Parissi says

    August 22, 2018 at 8:01 am

    I think I have a falafel problem as well! I love them so much but I do avoid them because they are fried so I need to be making your version 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sisley White says

    August 22, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    Oh my gosh this looks amazing! All the ingredients are on my shopping list and it will be made today!

    Reply
  3. Kavita Favelle says

    August 24, 2018 at 9:35 am

    You rarely see anyone do anything different with falafels, so I'm loving this idea to give them a delicious and attractive crust, so clever. Would love to try! When are you next making some, I'll have to pop over!!!

    Reply
  4. Ginny McMeans says

    August 26, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    Love falafel and your recipe is a fun one to make. Especially because it's baked.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      September 01, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks Ginny! Fried falafels are delicious but so are baked!

      Reply
  5. Danielle says

    August 26, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    I have never tried making my own falafel... I've only ever bought in restaurants. This looks so tasty and not that difficult to make!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      September 01, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      You really really should!!! It's so easy 🙂

      Reply
  6. camila says

    August 26, 2018 at 7:45 pm

    falafel is like the best thing in the world. I usually bake mine too! looks wonderful!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      September 01, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Ooooh do share if you have a recipe!

      Reply
  7. Dannii says

    August 26, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    You just can’t beat homemade falafel - perfect in a pita with lots of chilli sauce.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      September 01, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Mmmmmmmm yes I do like a lot of chilli sauce!!!

      Reply
  8. Karyn Ryan says

    August 26, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    I love falafel..this is a gorgeous easy recipe. Great idea to bake it. Gosh I wish I had a herb garden..I do have a few herb plants though.lol

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      September 01, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      Thank you so much! Its a been a bit hit and miss for herbs this year. The weather is too crazy!!!

      Reply
  9. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    January 17, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Homemade falafel are so good. We eat so much falafel. I really must make them myself again. Thanks for the recipe. Sharing x

    Reply
4.78 from 9 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi, I'm Emma. I'm a UK based food blogger who's been sharing recipes with the world since 2011. I'm passionate about eating a plant based diet using local, seasonal ingredients.

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