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Gluten-Free Vegan Falafel with Oats!

One of the earliest forms of fast food, our version is lightly spiced and rolled in a mixture of sesame seeds and oats for a crisp exterior. Serve in pita pockets with lettuce, tomato, onion and a drizzle of tahini or hot sauce, or on top of a green salad for a light summer meal.

Falafels made with oat flour

Falafel

Falafel is one of the earliest forms of fast food. Our version is lightly spiced and rolled in a mixture of sesame seeds and oats for a crisp exterior. Serve in pita pockets with lettuce, tomato, onion and a drizzle of tahini or hot sauce, or on top of a green salad for a light summer meal.
Course: Appetizers
Category: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Oat Type: Oat Flour, Rolled Oats
Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

For coating:

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (or quick oats) (125 ml)
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds (60 ml)

For falafel:

  • 1 19 oz chickpeas (canned) drained, rinsed and patted dry (540 ml)
  • 1 cup onion diced (250 ml)
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves packed (60 ml)
  • 2 tsp cumin ground (10 ml)
  • 1 tsp salt (5 ml)
  • black pepper freshly ground, to taste
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder (5 ml)
  • 1/4 cup oat flour (60 ml)
  • canola oil for frying

Instructions

To make coating:

  • In a food processor, grind together oats and sesame seeds until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs. Place in a shallow dish.

To make falafel:

  • Place the chickpeas, onion, garlic, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to chop, then process until you have a coarse dough. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl.
  • Fold in baking powder and oat flour, adding additional oat flour, if necessary, until mixture can be formed into a ball.
  • Cover and refrigerate for a couple hours to firm up. *Do not skip this step*
  • Form the chilled mixture into walnut sized balls, and gently roll in sesame-oat coating.
  • Heat oil in a deep fryer, or large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, to 375o F.
  • Fry six to 12 balls at a time until golden brown, flipping once. Watch carefully!
  • Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel.
  • Serve warm, tucked into pita bread pockets with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, sliced onion, and tahini or yogurt sauce, or as an accompaniment to a tossed salad.

Note

  • To make your own oat flour, process rolled or quick-cooking oats in a food processor until finely ground and powdery. Use more oats than the amount of flour needed, then sift and measure after processing.

Notes