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Serving suggestion for air fryer falafel for one: four chickpea patties with herbs and sauce.

Air Fryer Falafel for One

Air fryer falafel for one makes four small chickpea patties. Get exact portions, gentle flipping tips and a canned-chickpea shortcut for lunch.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern-inspired
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup drained canned chickpeas 85 g
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour plus up to 1 teaspoon if needed
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • Pinch black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil divided

Equipment

  • 2-quart or larger basket air fryer
  • Small bowl and fork
  • Measuring spoons and plate
  • Clean towel
  • Thin heat-safe spatula
  • Instant-read thermometer for reheating

Method
 

  1. Rinse, drain and thoroughly pat the fully cooked canned chickpeas dry. Mash until cohesive with a few small fragments remaining.
  2. Mix in flour, parsley, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon zest. If sticky and slumping, add up to one extra teaspoon flour. If crumbly, mash more firmly first.
  3. Shape four patties about 1 1/2 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. Chill for 15 minutes. Do not taste the raw flour-containing mixture.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 375 F (190 C) if the manufacturer recommends it. Brush basket and both sides of patties with the measured oil; leave gaps between patties.
  5. Air fry at 375 F (190 C) for an estimated 12 to 16 minutes. Around 7 minutes, turn carefully with a spatula once the base is set. Finish until golden on both sides and hot and set inside, with no wet floury paste. Check the center of a patty.
  6. Rest for 2 minutes and serve the four patties as one portion.

Notes

Canned-chickpea shortcut, not a direct substitute for traditional soaked dried-chickpea falafel. Do not use uncooked chickpeas.
Allow 15 minutes chilling and 2 minutes resting in addition to prep and cooking. All times and nutrition are estimates.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90 F (32 C); use within 3 to 4 days and reheat to 165 F (74 C).
Contains wheat. Pictured sauce and serving additions are not included.