Falafel is a summertime classic that can take a regular salad to the next level with its delicious flavour, texture and nutritional profile. It turns out that besides being a great, healthy snack and salad topper, falafel is also surprisingly easy to make. This recipe can be prepared in just 30 minutes and cooked in the air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes, yielding eight golden-brown, crunchy servings.

You can serve with salad or other preferred sides. Sharing this recipe, Good Food recommended: “Use your air fryer to rustle up some homemade falafel to enjoy with your favourite accompaniments – tabbouleh, hummus, tahini sauce and salad work well.”

Method

Place all ingredients, except the egg, flour, and oil, into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped and just starting to come together, but not pureed.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl, then stir in the egg along with a pinch of salt and pepper. If the mixture feels too loose or difficult to shape into balls, gradually add one to three tablespoons of plain flour to help firm it up. The mixture should remain moist but manageable.

Allow it to chill for 20 minutes, then shape it into eight balls and flatten them slightly.

Preheat the air fryer to 200C. Lightly spray each falafel with oil and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are fully cooked and golden. Serve with your preferred sides or as part of a salad bowl.