If falafel is something you love but you’d like to make it even healthier, then this oven-baked recipe is a great one to try. Normally falafel is fried in oil to give it that dark, crispy coating. But these falafel bites are just brushed with a tiny amount of oil and then baked in the oven making them a healthier option. This is such a simple recipe as the chickpeas, salad leaves, onion, garlic, cumin and lemon are combined in the food processor with a beaten egg to bind them. Turn the whole thing into something different than the usual pitta pockets and sit them on a bed of couscous with a little natural yogurt.
Ingredients
- 400g tin of chickpeas, drained
- 1/2 bag mixed salad leaves (like rocket, watercress & spinach)
- 1/4 red onion, roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 egg
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.Tip all of the ingredients into a food processor until everything is combined into a smooth paste.
Using two dessert spoons, shape the chickpea mixture into oval patties and place on a large non-stick baking tray. You should get 12 patties.
Brush the tops with oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden.
Serve warm with couscous, natural yogurt and a hot chilli sauce.
Top tip for making Oven-baked falafel bites
These falafel bites contain no salt and very little oil so they'll make great finger foods for babies.
