Fawaffle (a Falafel Waffle)
Fawaffle are the falafel waffles you get when you put falafel mixture into a waffle iron. Fawaffle are easy to make and go perfectly with hummus and your other favorite Mediterranean sides.
So read on to learn all the tips and tricks about making this falafel waffle recipe. Or just grab your waffle iron, hit that Jump to Recipe button, and let’s make fawaffle!
Backstory
Warning: story!
I can tell you the moment fawaffle happened. We were at the ball field. Mr. uglyducklingbakery was flying a kite. I had recently discovered the joys of the waffle iron after making caramelized onion and apple waffles, ham and cheese waffles, and kale waffles.
Mr. uglyducklingbakery walked up to me and said, “You know what you need to waffle next? Falafel. And do you know what you should call it?”
Fawaffle.
The word really should have been part of the marriage scene in The Princess Bride. You know. Fawaffle is wot bwings us togeder tooday.
Ingredients
The ingredients for waffling falafel are the same as when you make falafel a more traditional way. Only you can use canned chickpeas if you don’t have the time or want to start from dried. I always have cans of chickpeas in my pantry for making roasted chickpeas or this garbanzo bean soup.
Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe tips and tricks
This recipe was adapted from this Ottolenghi falafel recipe.
Waffling your falafel mixture
Every waffle iron is different. You’ll want to cook your fawaffle only until firm. And know that your fawaffles won’t get a crispy crust like deep-fried falafel balls.
What to serve with falafel waffles
A little over 25 years ago, I took a year off of school to do a round-the-world trip. I remember falafel in Jerusalem that was stuffed into a pita along with tahini, coleslaw, and french fries. Yes, french fries.
I serve falafel waffles with sides and other accompaniments that evoke the Middle East:
- kidney bean hummus, baba ganoush, or purple cauliflower dip with feta
- roasted beets
- olives
- feta cheese
- add some crunch with a raw carrot salad, toasted pine nuts, or pomegranate seeds
- top with a lemon herb tahini dressing or sumac sauce
If your family eats meat, try fawaffle with these Greek chicken meatballs or Mediterranean lamb meatballs. Or if you’re cooking just for yourself, make these falafel waffles to dip into my shakshuka for one!
Speaking of pita, I finally perfected a pita pocket recipe with 100% pita pocket success. You just need a very hot oven and preheated pizza stone.
Recipe FAQs
Falafel is already plural like fish. One fish, two fish.
You can use the word “fishes” talking about different species of fish. And you could theoretically use the word “falafels” when you’re talking about different types of deep fried balls made from chickpeas or fava beans.
Yes. Like any other waffle, fawaffles freeze perfectly if you have any leftovers. Reheat them in your toaster.
I have used this basic Cuisinart waffle iron and the All-Clad waffle iron. Both work reasonably well enough for me to recommend them.
Related vegetarian recipes
Love all the beans? Check out other vegetarian dinner recipes:
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.
Recipe
Fawaffle (Falafel Waffles)
Equipment
- Food processor
- Waffle iron
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup yellow or green onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup cilantro
- ¼ cup parsley
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- In the food processor, combine chickpeas, onion, garlic, cilantro, and spices (cumin, salt, cardamom, and pepper) and blitz until the mixture is thickly pureed.1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, ¼ cup yellow or green onion, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup cilantro, ¼ cup parsley, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and pulse a few times until combined.2 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the lemon juice and process for a minute or so. If the mixture seems very dry, add the remaining olive oil.¼ cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- By hand, add the egg and the sesame seeds into the mixture and mix until combined.1 egg, beaten, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Preheat your waffle iron, and add the batter per your waffle iron instructions. This recipe made four ½ cup waffles.
Notes
Nutrition
Bored with the recipes you’ve been cooking and baking lately? Get inspiration here:
This was a great recipe that we all loved! Similar to some chickpea patties I had made in the past but much easier to cook (no flipping in a frying pan!). Followed directions exactly. Served with sides of roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, brown rice, avocado and drenched in a yogurt based cilantro lime crema. Thanks for the great recipe!
Yay! I’m so glad you loved these falafel waffles, Andrea. Try them next time with my sumac sauce!
Great color and taste, had to put waffle iron on highest setting to keep middle from being too mushy. Tahini drizzled on it was perfect.
Barbara, thanks so much!
I made the fawaffels but I found them v dry. Any suggestions for dryness? Pls reply. Thanks. Amita.
Hi Amita! Thanks so much for the comment and question. I’m sorry you found the fawaffle dry. Probably the first thing I’d try next time you want to make them would be to cook them for slightly less time in your waffle iron. If you do, please let me know.
I love all of the fresh ingredients in these waffles!
The name made me laugh out loud! Anything falafel is a winner in my home but with a name like that I NEED to make this!
If you do end up making this, please let me know how it turns out!
What a delicious idea! I need to make this ASAP! Looks so yummy!
If you do end up making this, please let me know how it turns out!
Love the idea of a fawaffle! Delicious!
I love this recipe! A savory waffle. I bet it would be great for dunking in soup!
Depending on your waffle iron, it might be a bit soft, but you can always crisp it up more in the oven to make waffle chips for dipping.
Easy, fun and delicious! No waffling over this one. Perfect for dreaming about sunny Mediterranean days in the midst of Seattle winter
So glad you loved the fawaffle!
What a FUN recipe! And I love that you can freeze them, too!
I love falafel, and this looks amazing. Even better with loads of hummus on it.
Love the waffle/falafel mash up here! Such a great idea. Yum!
Freezable? For future snacking? 🙂
Hi Christy. Absolutely – I’ve never met a waffle that didn’t freeze well.