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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Kale Falafel

Published: Feb 14, 2020 by Bianca · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

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Kale Falafel

Not only can you make your falafel green, but also healthier and more nutritious, by adding kale! These falafel are made using canned chickpeas and they're pan-fried. 

Kale Falafel

When I published my green falafel with collard greens recipe (which is actually one of my most shared recipes!), many asked me if they could use kale instead, and yes, yes you can. By adding kale you're not only making the falafel green but also healthier and more nutritious. 

Kale is a great source of vitamin A, K, C, B6, and manganese. So they are the perfect addition to protein-rich falafel.

If you have a food processor, these kale falafel are super easy and quick to make. Just blitz up the kale, chickpeas, salt, and lemon juice, add flour, form little patties, coat them in sesame seeds and pan-fry them. Easy as that!

And by using canned chickpeas, you don't have to decide a day ahead to make falafel (as you would with dry chickpeas). It's the fastest way to satisfy your falafel cravings. 

Kale Falafel

How to make Kale Falafel

The ingredients

You will need: 

  • kale
  • canned chickpeas
  • salt
  • lemon juice
  • flour (all-purpose flour or chickpea flour)
  • oil
  • sesame seeds

The basic steps

As always you can find the full recipe in the box below. I want to show you the process step-by-step first. 

kale and chickpeas in food processorStep 1: Add chickpeas, kale, salt, and lemon juice in a food processor.

making kale falafel in food processorStep 2: Pulse until it looks like this.

making kale falafel in food processorStep 3: Add the flour.

making kale falafel in food processorStep 4: Pulse again until it looks like this. The mixture should stick together easily.

forming kale falafelStep 5: Form little patties and coat them in sesame seeds.

kale falafel in panStep 6: Over medium heat, add them into the pan with oil. They will take about 5 minutes on each side.

Kale Falafel

Serve the Kale Falafel ...

  • on a salad
  • in a wrap
  • in pitas
  • over couscous

More Falafel Recipes

  • 25+ Vegan Falafel Recipes for Chickpea Lovers!
  • Vegan & Gluten-free Green Falafel
  • Spinach Falafel (vegan and gluten-free)

Love it? Rate it!

I hope you will enjoy these kale falafel as much as I do! Let me know if you give them a try!

And don’t forget to rate the recipe if you like it, this helps other users figure out if they are worth a try! 

If you don’t want to miss out on any new recipes, subscribe to my newsletter, follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

Cheers, Bianca

Kale Falafel

Kale Falafel

Elephantastic Vegan
Add kale to your falafel to make them green, healthier and more nutritious. For these falafel we're using canned chickpeas and pan-frying them in the pan.
4.21 from 24 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 8 falafel
Calories 67 kcal

Equipment

Food Processor
Food Processor

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ½ cups chopped kale
  • 2 cups canned chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour to make them gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

Instructions
 

  • Add the kale, chickpeas, salt, and lemon juice in a food processor and pulse.
  • Add the flour and pulse again. The mixture should stick together rather easily. If not, you might have to add more flour as a binding agent.
  • With the falafel mixture, form about 8 little patties and dip them in sesame seeds.
  • Heat a large pan with the canola oil (the bottom should be coated) and add in the falafel once the oil is hot. Let them pan-fry (on medium heat - not too hot otherwise the sesame seeds will get too dark) for about 5 minutes on each side. They should be crispy on the outside and soft but not mushy on the inside.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 264mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1255IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!
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Comments

    4.21 from 24 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Amanda says

    February 18, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    My food processor is broken so I had to use my nutribullet for the falafel. I added some extra water (about 1/4 cup) to make it blend, but it worked! They turned out great.

    Reply
    • Bianca says

      February 19, 2020 at 11:28 am

      awesome! this is great to hear :)

      Reply
  2. Elisa says

    February 20, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    I just made them for lunch, fast and delicious. They broke a little during cooking timeout they taste excellent!
    Next time a little more flour. Tks

    Reply
  3. Janis says

    February 21, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    The kale falafels sound yummy, especially with the sesame seeds! We try to avoid oil, so I’m wondering if they can be baked.

    Reply
    • Margarita R. says

      June 29, 2020 at 6:31 am

      I am also wondering if they can be baked? If so, what temp and for how long?

      Reply
  4. Mike Bell says

    July 23, 2020 at 3:49 am

    good recipe but criminally void of flavors typical of good falafel - add 1/4 t. each coriander, cilantro, chipotle, cayenne, cumin and at least 1 t. of minced garlic if you want authentic

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    August 05, 2020 at 8:46 pm

    Could use use different type of bean?

    Reply
    • Al says

      March 16, 2021 at 6:40 pm

      @Lisa,

      A lot of falafel recipes use fava beans. 🤷‍♀️

      Reply
  6. Ashley says

    September 29, 2020 at 11:14 pm

    Hi what’s that sauce on the side?

    Reply
    • Bianca says

      October 04, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      it's hummus! :)

      Reply
  7. Danica says

    February 12, 2021 at 3:45 am

    Came out great! Perfect way to hide kale taste

    Reply
  8. Judit says

    March 28, 2021 at 7:28 pm

    This recipe is an absolute disaster, don’t try it! The patty falls apart during frying and the kale burns. Went straight to the dustbin.

    Reply
  9. Diana says

    July 13, 2022 at 1:53 am

    They fell apart in the oil. Second time, both fails

    Reply
    • Unknown says

      June 02, 2023 at 9:17 pm

      @Diana, try adding more flour, it works as a binding agent and helps the ingredients stick together.

      Reply
  10. Lila says

    January 03, 2024 at 7:49 pm

    Can they be frozen ?

    Reply
  11. Aneta says

    March 06, 2024 at 10:50 pm

    Absolutely love it ❤️, instead of flour I use almonds and nuts and I use Tefal with fried light olive oil.
    Thank you for the idea.

    Reply

Welcome!

I’m Bianca. On my blog, you’ll find easy & delicious vegan recipes. I create 'meaty', 'fishy', and 'cheesy' recipes because I like to blow minds.

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