These easy to make broccoli falafel are vegan & gluten-free. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and so tasty! They only take 10 minutes to prepare, and are great way to eat broccoli in a fun and creative way, that the whole family will enjoy!
These broccoli falafel are perfect to sneak veggies into your kids (or adults) meals. They are are inspired in my vegan broccoli fritters, and they pair beautifully with my easy tahini sauce.
For more veggie balls & fritters ideas, check out these beetroot quinoa balls, these zucchini potato fritters or these potato fritters.
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Why you will love these broccoli falafel
Okay I'll tell you one thing, these broccoli falafel might not have a "falafel-like" texture, BUT, they are SO GOOD! Somehow I was tempted to make tweaks to the recipe to change the texture, but I took my partner and friends' advice, and left it as it is.
They are crispy on the outside, and have a soft and almost cheesy texture on the inside. They are light and delicious!
Allergy friendly, suitable for those with special dietary requirements (AKA myself! haha).
Super healthy, full of vitamins and antioxidants.
Perfect for kids!
Ingredients
With a fresh and healthy list of ingredients, these broccoli falafel are perfect for everyone!
- Broccoli head chopped (stem removed)
- Canned chickpeas
- Red onion diced
- Fresh coriander or parsley
- Garlic clove finely diced or crushed
- Salt
- Ground coriander
- Tapioca flour
- Ground flax seeds
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & variations
- Add other spices- like ground cumin
- Use other flour - chickpea flour or cornstarch work well.
- Brown onion or shallots - instead of purple onion, work well as well
How to make broccoli falafel
Making these broccoli falafel is very easy and requires minimum preparation.
Start by combining the flax seeds with water in a small bowl, and let it soak for 10 minutes, until it forms a thick gel.
1 - Process the greens
Start by adding the broccoli and coriander to the food processor. Pulse for 30 seconds or so, until the broccoli is chopped. Don't over blend it! You want to make broccoli rice, not to form a paste.
2 - Add the rest of the ingredients
Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor. Combine with a spatula first, and then pulse until the chickpeas are coarsely chopped. Again, you don't want to over blend it! If you feel like the mix is too wet, add a bit more of tapioca flour. Let it rest in the fridge for 5 minutes before the next step.
3 - Form balls with the hands
Over an oven or air fryer tray, line baking paper with a drizzle of olive oil.
Wet your hands and form medium size balls. Lay all the balls on the tray, and spray or drizzle a bit more of olive oil.
4 - Cook the broccoli falafels
You can cook these falafels either in the oven or air fryer. You could also fry them if you wish. I don't fry them purely because it's not the healthiest cooking method.
In the oven: bake at 220 degree celsius for 20 minutes. Flip them over half way through. For a crispy touch, put on the grill for the last 5 minutes.
In the air fryer: air fry at 200 degree celsius for 20-25 minutes. Flip them over half way through.
Tip: it's super important to not over-blend the ingredients in the food processor. Otherwise you will end up with a hummus-like texture, and it will be very hard to form the balls.
What to serve with these vegan broccoli falafel
I love eating these broccoli falafel with some green leaves and this easy tahini lemon sauce (omg I'm addicted to tahini sauce!).
You can also add these falafel to wraps or salads!! They are perfect to pack in your lunch box. If you're not vegan, add a couple of boiled eggs, some mixed leaves and tahini sauce, and you have a complete and easy lunch!
Equipment
To make these broccoli falafel you will need:
- Knife and chopping board
- Food processor
- Air fryer or oven
Storage
Leftovers? Happy days 🥳 These vegan broccoli falafel are perfect for meal-prep or for a grab-me snack. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave, pan or airfryer or oven.
Top tip!
It's super important to not over-blend the ingredients in the food processor. Otherwise you will end up with a hummus-like texture, and it will be very hard to form the balls.
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Broccoli Falafel (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 16 falafel 1x
- Category: Appetizer, snack
- Cuisine: Australian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These easy to make broccoli falafel are vegan & gluten-free. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and so tasty! They only take 10 minutes to prepare, and are great way to eat broccoli in a fun and creative way, that the whole family will enjoy!
Ingredients
1 medium broccoli head (300 grams) chopped (stem removed)
⅓ cup packed coriander or parsley
1 cup of canned chickpeas (drained)
¼ red onion diced
2 garlic cloves crushed or finely diced
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
½ cup tapioca flour
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
Instructions
-
Start by combining the flax seeds with 3 tablespoon of water in a small bowl, and let it soak for 10 minutes, until it forms a thick gel.
-
Process the greens: Start by adding the broccoli and coriander to the food processor. Pulse for 30 seconds or so, until the broccoli is chopped. Don't over blend it! You want to form broccoli rice, not a paste.
-
Add the rest of the ingredients: s to the food processor. Combine with a spatula first, and then pulse until the chickpeas are coarsely chopped. Again, you don't want to over blend it! If you feel like the mix is too wet, add a bit more of tapioca flour. Let it rest in the fridge for 5 minutes before the next step.
-
Form balls with the hands: Over an oven or air fryer tray, line baking paper with a drizzle of olive oil. Wet your hands and form medium size balls. Lay all the balls on the tray, and spray or drizzle a bit more of olive oil.
-
Cook the broccoli falafels: You can cook these falafels either in the oven or air fryer.
In the oven: bake at 220 degree celsius for 20 minutes. Flip them over half way through. For a crispy touch, put on the grill for the last 5 minutes.
In the air fryer: air fry at 200 degree celsius for 20-25 minutes. Flip them over half way through.
Notes
It's super important to not over-blend the ingredients in the food processor. Otherwise you will end up with a hummus-like texture, and it will be very hard to form the balls.
These broccoli falafel pair great with some green leaves and this easy tahini lemon sauce.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave, pan or airfryer or oven.
Keywords: broccoli falafel, easy broccoli falafel, vegan broccoli falafel, gluten-free broccoli falafel
Lucia
I made these broccoli falafel yesterday and they were a success!! My husband and the kids love them. I did them with the tahini sauce, such a great combo!! Will make them again for sure.
★★★★★