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Baked Falafel with Hummus

Baked Falafel with Hummus

By: Lee Holmes

These baked falafels represent Middle Eastern cuisine at its healthiest. By using the oven instead of the deep-fryer, you preserve the integrity of the olive oil while dramatically reducing unnecessary fats. Chickpeas are true nutritional champions, offering a remarkable combination of plant protein, resistant starch that feeds your beneficial gut bacteria and soluble fibre that helps regulate cholesterol levels. The abundant fresh herbs aren’t mere garnishes; they’re concentrated sources of antioxidants and chlorophyll, which supports your body’s natural detoxification pathways. When paired with the tahini-rich hummus, you create a complete protein profile comparable to animal sources, making this an ideal dish for those transitioning to more plant-based eating patterns.


Servings

4

Prep time

Cook time

Recipe


Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp chilli powder (optional)
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Olive oil for brushing
  • 1 tin chickpeas (drained & rinsed)
  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • Juice 1 lemon
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt, to taste

Method


  • Preheat oven to 200°C.
  • Blend soaked chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander, chilli powder, salt and pepper in a food processor until coarse but combined.
  • Add baking powder and pulse again. If the mixture is too loose, add a spoonful of chickpea flour.
  • Shape into small balls or patties and arrange on a paper-lined baking sheet.
  • Brush lightly with olive oil and bake for 15 mins. Flip gently and bake for another 10–12 mins until golden brown.
  • To make the hummus, blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and salt in a food processor until smooth. Add water gradually to reach your desired consistency.
  • Serve hummus alongside falafel as a dip or drizzle it over the falafel.

  

Tried this recipe? Mention @wellbeing_magazine or tag #wbrecipe!

Lee Holmes

Lee Holmes

Lee Holmes is a nutritionist, yoga and meditation teacher, wholefoods chef, Lifestyle Food Channel’s Healthy Eating Expert, blogger and author of the best-selling books Supercharged Food: Eat Your Way to Health, Supercharged Food: Eat Yourself Beautiful, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian, Heal your Gut, Eat Right for Your Shape and Supercharged Food for Kids.

Lee’s food philosophy is all about S.O.L.E. food: sustainable, organic, local and ethical. Her main goal is to alter the perception that cooking fresh, wholesome, nutrient-rich meals is difficult, complicated and time-consuming. From posting recipes, her passion to share her autoimmune disease story and help others has snowballed and the blog has recently taken home the overall prize at the Bupa Health Influencer Awards as well as the best blog in the Healthy Eating category. She also runs a four-week online Heal Your Gut program.

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