Easy Vegan Falafel Burger Recipe. Chickpea patties with 5 minute tahini dressing, tomatoes, onions, pickles make for a filling and flavorful burger. Vegan Soy-free Recipe. Ready within 30 Minutes. Can be made gluten-free. Pin it for later. Jump to Recipe
Everyone needs a falafel burger! A simple Chickpea burger with falafel flavors, tahini dressing, pickles, lettuce and other fixings.
This falafel burger uses cooked chickpeas, cumin, coriander, cardamom, parley, lemon and a binder and comes together within minutes. Pan fry until golden. Make the 5 minute Tahini dressing. Serve these between buns with a generous dressing or in a pita bread! Sesame seeds add an amazing flavor and crunch to the patties. Use breadcrumbs, or coarsely ground oats as binder. Make these flavorful soft moist falafel burger patties!
I prefer these panfried as baked chickpea patties tend to dry out a bit more. To bake these, make sure to add some additional moistue holding ingredients such as tahini and 1 flax egg(1 tbsp flax mixed in 2.5 tbsp water). The patties come together very quickly. Put everything in a processor, shape and pan fry. The whole sandwich or wrap, however you want to serve these are ready within 30 Minutes.
Oh yes, if you use all cilantro instead of parsley, serve these with chutneys of choice. Also, serve 1 patty per burger. The stacking is for photo purposes only ;).
More Burgers from the blog
- Lentil Quinoa “Meatloaf” Burger
- BBQ Veggie Burger with Mango Carrot Cabbage slaw
- Lentil Walnut Burgers.
- Red Lentil and Cauliflower Burger with Onion rings and Chipotle Habanero Mayo
- Grill-able Artichoke Cauliflower Spinach Bean Burger
- and a 35 Veggie burger collection round up!
Classic falafel uses dry chickpeas that are soaked overnight and used. Since I almost never deep fry, I have found that the soaked chickpeas dont work as well when pan fried or baked. If using dry chickpeas, cook them a bit before using for best results. See notes in the Recipe box.
If you make these, do tag me on Instagram and let me know in comments how it worked out!
Make the falafel mixture, chill and shape into patties. Pan fry until golden. I use both raw garlic and roasted garlic in these patties. Raw garlic can sometimes be a strong flavor profile, so use whichever garlic you prefer.
Serve in a burger or pita bread with toppings of choice.
Video:
Recipe Card
Easy Vegan Falafel Burger
Ingredients
Falafel Patties:
- 30 oz canned chickpeas washed well and drained. or about 3 cups cooked
- 3/4 cup loosely chopped red onion
- 4 cloves of garlic , preferably roasted or lightly cooked to golden
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup parsley
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1.5 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp or more ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 to 1 tsp salt depends on whether the chickpeas are salted
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp or more lemon juice
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup more breadcrumbs use gluten-free crumbs, coarsely blended oats or gf flour to make gluten-free
Tahini dressing:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1 clove of garlic
- a handful of fresh parsley
- 2 to 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup or more water
- 1/4 tsp salt
Other Toppings:
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced onions
- Sliced pickles dill cucumber pickle
- lettuce or greens
Instructions
Make the falafel Burgers:
- Drain the chickpeas, wash and drain well and keep ready.
- In a processor, add onion, garlic, parsley and cilantro and pulse to mince.
- Add the rest of the ingredients through oil and the chickpeas and pulse to make a coarse mixture.
- Transfer to a bowl and add sesame seeds and breadcrumbs and mix in. Add enough crumbs to make a soft doughy mixture. The dough will become less sticky as it chills.
- Chill the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes.Taste and adjust salt, tang, flavor(add more spices if oyu like) and heat and mix in.
- Shape into patties and pan fry on a heavy bottom skillet over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Make the dressing:
- Blend everything under tahini dressing. Taste and adjust salt and tang. Add more tahini for thicker dressing and more water for thinner.
Assemble:
- Toast the burger buns. Assemble the burger with sliced tomatoes, onions, lettuce or greens, falafel patties and a generous amount of tahini dressing, pickles. Add some hot sauce if you wish. Serve! I also often add a layer of hummus. Serve as burgers or in a pita bread.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Karolina
I made these yesterday and they are the most delicious things I have prepared in a long long time! Such great healthy comfort food and SO easy to put together!
I had to resort to an immersion blender once I’ve added the chickpeas and it worked just fine (thought it might just try mashing the chickpeas with a fork next time). Love that you can freeze these, too!
Thank you for another beautiful recipe, Richa!
Vegan Richa Support
thank you, Karolina! so glad you enjoyed.
Mindy
These look delicious but I can’t eat chickpeas 😢Do you think great northern beans would work?
Vegan Richa Support
yes, they share a similar texture and mild flavour
Jackie
Made these tonight and they were yummy! The tahini dressing is fabulous! I made them in the oven at 375F so I added the flax egg. Thanks for a great recipe!
Vegan Richa Support
hooray!
Shelby
I have been using this recipe for the last few years. We really like the flavor so I have persisted in making them.
I have a huge amount of trouble with the blending though. I have a vitamix blender. It takes me 20 minutes to get all the chickpeas blended and by then they are usually mush.
I have tried pulsing, blending, high, low, I have done a little of the chickpeas at a time and scraped them out then added more and keep doing that until they are all blended. Of course that doesn’t help to blend the seasonings in with them.
From my experience I have no clue how you manage to get your chickpeas blended so quickly with a coarse texture.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Richa
I use a good processor. Vitamin doesn’t work well for coarse even blending. I should change the recipe to mention processing in a food processor
Marie
I love this recipe ! It is extremely tasty and the lemon adds a perfect amount of punch to it.. I found myself craving it after I had made it for the first time.
In fact – all recipes by Richa that I have made so far are fantastic and always turn out great! Thank you!
Vegan Richa Support
❤️❤️
Sarah
Thank you for a great tasty recipe. As Richa says. If you bake these. You need to add more moisture. Really yummy and enjoyed the tahini dressing too. 👍
Vegan Richa Support
♡ thanks for popping in
kellie
I’m interested in baking them– what would “adding more moisture” mean>?
Richa
Add a flax egg (1 tbsp flax plus 2.5 tbsp water) to the mixture, and brush them with oil
Cynthia
Richa this was better than any falafel sandwich I’ve ever had!! Your blog is the best thing that has happened in 2020 <3
Aman
Richa,
This recipe was so delicious. Love the flavors and it was easy to make. Thanks!
Brittny
At what temperature and for how long would you recommend baking the burgers? We don’t have a grill or skillet.
Vegan Richa Support
oil/spray the baking sheet first and go at 375* for 30-40 minutes. parchment optional
Brittny
Thank you!
Aman
And do we need turn them through halfway point or we don’t need to?
Baking these would make it even easier.
Eileen Reich
This was THE most delicious recipe but couldn’t get it to bind despite adding some aquafaba and more bread crumbs. I see that you have suggested flour. Is there supposed to be flour in this recipe anyway or are you just suggesting it if we can’t get them to bind? Also I noticed that when you list the breadcrumbs in the ingredient list, it says 1/2 cup “more”. Does this mean that there were bread crumbs used in the early part of the recipe and you are adding more or does it mean 1/2 cup or more.
I really want to make this work b/c the spices are perfect and it couldn’t be more delicious.
Thank you.
Vegan Richa Support
GF flour is an option only if you didn’t want to use breadcrumbs. 1/2 cup is a starting point; you may have to add more until the mixture reaches a soft doughy consistency. There’s only one time you add them which is after step 3. (Add the rest of the ingredients through oil and the chickpeas and pulse to make a coarse mixture.)
Sunita
Hi RIcha, Recipe looks interesting. But question… As per the ingredients and quantity…does it make 2 patties for one burger or 1 patty per burger?
Richa
it makes 5 patties.
Sangeeta
Is there a store bought Tahini that you recommend. Recipe looks amazing!
Richa
Soom and whole foods brands are good
Janet
Love Trader Joe’s tahini!!!
Marianne
Loved this recipe. I was able to make it in my vitamix. Wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but it was great! I used a combination of ground flax seed and gluten free quick oats and they came together nicely! Love the taste and will make again!
Richa
awesome!
Emily
Made these for dinner yesterday. Smaller patties and we put them in pita wraps with cucumber, lettuce, tomato, the dressing. So delicious!
Tonia
do you think they would hold on a grill?
Richa
Add another flaxmeal, some more flour and pack them really well and they should work
dee
Urggghhh… no lemon juice for the falafel Any subs?
Richa
vinegar, half the amount
Dee
I used fresh oj
Fatma Al-Hilal
I tired the recipe and the burgers melted and broke apart so bad when I was pan frying
Plz help it smells amazing but it failed
Richa
Maybe it needed more binding (breadcrumbs or flour) or if it was dry crumbly, then add some tahini. Pack them really well
Dipesh
Dear Richa,
Can you please tell me how to make tahini sauce?😇
Richa
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-tahini-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203314 its toasted sesame seed paste. Toast and blend sesame seeds with bit of olive oil
Jeroen
Thanks for this recipe. Just made them me and my wife lovend them
Janet
I tried making the falafel burgers. While they tasted GREAT, they fell apart. What can I do to keep them from breaking up the next time?
Richa
you can add a flax egg ( 1 tbsp flax seed and 2.5 tbsp water mix and let sit for 2 minutes then use). and also mash the chickpeas well. Chickpeas depending on the brand can be well cooked or slightly less cooked and that affects the moisture content and texture. You can also add some cooked rice or quinoa for additional binding.
Kary
HI!
So I am in the process of making these burgers now. As I am frying them, I am noticing that they are not holding together very well and are a bit mushy… How can I fix this? Maybe I didn’t let them sit long enough?
Richa
Maybe they need to be mashed a bit more? you can also add more flour to help bind if there is too much moisture. Chickpeas can be too crumbly or a bit over cooked and soft. Also, falafel texture is generally slightly crumbly.
catalina
Hi. Great recipes. What do you use to shape the patties?
Thanks
Richa
I pack them in a cookie cutter, then tap the cutter to remove the patty. Flatten it more using your hands if needed.
Greta
Made this tonight for dinner and it was delightful! I made it into little felafel balls to go with my pita bread and I made 1.5 of this recipe for 5 of us. Let me tell you, we need a much bigger portion! These lovely falafels just keep creeping into my mouth like chicken poppers, but better for you.
The only thing I would change is to add more salt, since I used unsalted chickpeas so the result did not come out as salty as I would like it to be. Never the less, its delicious, delightful and pack full of spices. and flavour.
Also used a blendtec instead of food processor, a bit of a pain but I made it work!
Emily
These patties always come out so amazingly! i make them in all sizes for variety of meals.
Lydia
good chickpea flavor, but the falafel taste wasn’t that complex or dynamic. After adding some sunflower seeds for a nice crunch and some cumin, I enjoyed the patties much more
Richa
Thanks. maybe the cumin was a bit old? usually these are pretty flavorful. sunflower seeds are a great addition.
Richa
Also the added seeds will need additional spices
Jimbob
Will the patties hold together without the oil? What are the alternatives (low fat)?
Thanks
Richa
Yes, they well. mash them well. Maybe add another tbsp of tahini and bake them.
Robin B.
I have never commented on a blog before. This is the first recipe of yours that we tried. They were amazing. We have enjoyed every single recipe we have tried- veggies and lentils in peanut sauce, quinoa cauliflower bowl with almond siracha, kachumber salad. We are a busy family and appreciate that many recipes do not take an excessive amount of time to make (less than an hour is critical for us). We just bought your paperback. It cannot arrive quickly enough. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Susan
can we add an egg as a binder, instead of breadcrumbs? great recipe
Richa
I haven’t used egg in a while, so I wouldn’t know. it would add too much moisture. Use flour instead.
The egg industry culls 100 million male chicks every year as soon as they are born, by grinding them up alive in machines or suffocating in trash bags. 100s of millions of hens live in horrible conditions, many die when their bodies give up after producing egg after egg. eventually the rest are electrocuted or scalded to death. There is no need to use eggs for taste or nutrition in everyday food, which is why I have a vegan blog with 1000s of egg-free recipes.
chase
susan you just got destroyed. richa you’re the best
Deborah Henderson
Thank you for sharing this truth with those who haven’t seen it yet!
Pat C.Wilson
nice recipe. looks so tasty! very simple to make a falafel burger but i think it’s full of energy for everyone in the morning. thanks for sharing, Richa.
Urban Blond
That looks absolutely divine! <3 Cannot wait to make it. Thank you for sharing x
Naama
Looks amazing.
Do you think I can make a variation of it with lentils or sprouted mung beans? Got both ready to use in the fridge and dying to make some tasty patties with it…
Richa
Yes, you can use any combination of lentils and beans. You might need to add more or less breadcrumbs depending on the moisture content and binding needed. Mash them well and use. I also make falafel balls with lentils and split peas. https://www.veganricha.com/2014/07/lentil-split-pea-falafel-bowl-with.html
Cassie
Ah, I love the taste of falafels! These patties look so tasty. Love the colors as well!
Stephanie Dreyer
I have been craving a falafel burger and this looks like the perfect one! I am trying to cut out bread, so I think I will wrap this in romaine leaves instead of a bun. Looks amazing! Thank you!!
Vanessa
Thanks so much for this recipe! I’m going to make it today ????
The Wooden Spoon
This sounds amazing. I love falafel and this sounds so easy! Thank you!
Brian Nevin
Which ingredient is the binder?
Richa
breadcrumbs
Elizabeth Ballinger
Hi Richa,
Thank you so very much for you recipes. Can these burgers be frozen?
Richa
You can shape and freeze or parbake for 15 mins and then freeze. Thaw, pan fry and serve.
Janardan Mali
The recipe for Easy Vegan Falafel Burger is really easy. Thank you for sharing. What is sliced pickles?
Richa
they are dill cucumber pickles (cucumber slices in vinegar and spices). https://www.bhg.com/recipe/pickles/best-ever-dill-pickles/