Spiced Falafel Patties with Tahini-Lemon Drizzle

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-20 · Updated 2026-06-20

Crisp-on-the-outside, tender-inside falafel patties infused with warm spices, served with a tangy tahini and lemon sauce. This Middle Eastern-inspired vegan recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs dried chickpeas, onion, roughly chopped, fresh parsley leaves 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 (about 100g) onion, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak 1 cup dried chickpeas in cold water overnight (at least 12 hours), then drain thoroughly.
2. Step 2: In a food processor, pulse the soaked chickpeas, 1 small chopped onion, 1/2 cup fresh parsley, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, and 3 garlic cloves until coarsely ground but not pureed.
3. Step 3: Add 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pulse just until combined.
4. Step 4: Transfer mixture to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up.
5. Step 5: Form the mixture into 12 small patties, about 2 inches in diameter.
6. Step 6: Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the patties in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp.
7. Step 7: For the drizzle, whisk together 1/3 cup tahini, 3 tbsp lemon juice, and 3 tbsp water until smooth and pourable; add more water if needed.
8. Step 8: Serve the warm falafel patties drizzled with the tahini-lemon sauce alongside fresh salad or flatbread.