Pan-Fried Falafel Patties with Tahini Drizzle

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Crunchy on the outside and tender inside, these chickpea falafel patties are pan-fried and served with a creamy tahini sauce. This Middle Eastern-inspired vegan recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs dried chickpeas, onion, chopped, fresh parsley, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
• 1/4 cup tahini paste
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 garlic clove, minced (for sauce)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak 1 cup dried chickpeas in cold water overnight, then drain thoroughly.
2. Step 2: In a food processor, combine soaked chickpeas, 1 small chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 3 garlic cloves, 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pulse until a coarse, grainy mixture forms that holds together when pressed.
3. Step 3: Form the mixture into 12 small patties about 2 inches in diameter.
4. Step 4: Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Fry patties in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden brown and crispy.
5. Step 5: Drain falafel on paper towels while preparing the tahini sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup tahini paste, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp water, and 1 minced garlic clove until smooth and pourable.
6. Step 6: Serve the warm falafel patties drizzled with the tahini sauce and garnished with fresh herbs if desired.