5-Ingredient Falafel (Air Fried or Baked!)

I seriously can’t believe it’s already April, you guys. Where is this year going!?!?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m super pumped for summer, but that fact that it’s April means that I’ve already been living with my boyfriend for 5 months, working at my new job for over a month, and this year is already a quarter over. That is nuts!!! In all honesty though, I really love spring because to me, it feels like a fresh start. Y’all know we don’t totally get a winter in LA, but it has been chillier this year than any other year I’ve lived here (all 7 of ’em!), and with a bunch of changes this year I’ve found myself feeling slightly overwhelmed and out of whack. Spring means I can re-visit the goals I set for myself in the new year and establish new intentions for the months ahead. 2018 has been pretty damn wonderful so far, so I’m PUMPED to see what the rest of it has in store!

But in any case, going back to what I was saying about feeling a bit out of sorts, the first thing I turn to when I need to get my a$$ back in gear is my meals. That being said though, the first thing to go when my schedule gets crazy is the grocery shopping (especially since my boyfriend and I usually do our shopping together in one trip). It’s because of this that I’m trying to get more resourceful with healthy, simple meals like my go-to quinoa salad with whatever veggies we’ve got in the fridge or breakfast-for-dinner. Over the weekend, I realized that all we really had for my lunches was some quinoa, bell peppers, and veggie burgers, but then I noticed a can of chickpeas in the pantry! BINGO.

With that can of chickpeas, oats (also in my pantry), an onion (something we alwaysssss have on hand!) and some spices, I made myself a meal! Well sort of – when I paired it with the quinoa and veggies, that is? I air-fried these falafel, but you can just as easily make them in the oven! I like air frying them because they get that nice crisp on the outside with no oil, but it’s totally up to you – maybe I’ll try baking them next to see what happens! They’re vegan, gluten-free, and I made a super simple sauce to pair them with by taking hummus, watering it down slightly with warm water, and squeezing half a lemon over the top.

5-Ingredient Falafel

(inspired by this recipe!)

1 can can organic chickpeas (rinsed)

1/3 onion, roughly chopped

1/3 cup oat flour (blend gluten-free rolled oats in a food processor/blender)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

pinch sea salt (optional but recommended!)

1. In a food processor, add the chickpeas, oat flour, onion, cumin, garlic powder, and salt (if desired). Pulse until a sort of dough sorts to form.

2. Form the ‘dough’ into 1 inch balls and place the balls in an even layer in the air fryer basket.

3. Air fry for 15 minutes at 370 degrees fahrenheit (or bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit on a greased baking sheet for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through). Enjoy right away or store for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Well there ya have it folks! What about you – what’s your go-to lunch or dinner when you’re running super low on groceries? I think we all could use a few more ideas!

xo Jordan