Low Sodium Vegan Air Fryer Falafel

Total time1 hr 40 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time20 min

These crispy, herb-packed falafel come together with bright parsley, cilantro, garlic, and onion pulsed into a coarse green dough, then layered with warming cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and a touch of cayenne for depth. A quick chill firms up the mixture so each disc holds its shape, and the air fryer gives them a deep golden crust without a drop of frying oil beyond a light brush. A sprinkle of sesame seeds on top adds a little crunch before they go in, and they emerge firm, fragrant, and satisfying in every bite. Serve them warm with tahini for dipping, tucked into flatbread, or scattered over a big herby salad. This is a genuinely solid pick for anyone tracking their sodium intake, since you're building the flavor yourself from fresh herbs and real spices rather than relying on anything packaged or pre-seasoned.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the falafel

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Wholesome Pantry Organic Chickpeas, 16 oz Sprouts Farmers Market No Salt Added** Garbanzo Beans 15.5 OZ 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Unsalted Garbanzo Beans, 13.4 oz Organic Garbanzo Beans, 15 oz Organic Low Sodium Garbanzo Beans, 15 oz
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½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, loosely packed
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, loosely packed
3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
½ small yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¾ tsp salt
Chef's tip
Season to taste - salt substitutes can taste bitter in larger amounts, so start with less.
¼ tsp black pepper
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp olive oil

For serving

1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
tahini sauce or hummus, for serving (optional)
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.

Instructions

1
Spread the drained chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and pat them as dry as possible, then let them air-dry for 10 minutes. Excess moisture is the main reason falafel falls apart or turns out dense.
2
Add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, and onion to a food processor and pulse 8–10 times until finely chopped but not puréed — the mixture should look like coarse, bright-green crumbs.

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