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This No-Bean Paleo Falafel is such a delicious low-carb and paleo-friendly option that tastes just like the real thing! Serve over lettuce and tomatoes with the dairy-free Tzatziki sauce for a delicious, light dinner.
Paleo Falafel Recipe
This No Bean Falafel recipe took us a TON of recipe testing to perfect, but man was it worth it! So what makes this falafel Paleo-friendly? Well, traditional falafel, a Middle Eastern dish, is made of mashed, spiced chickpeas. It’s traditional served in a pita bread with a delicious creamy sauce. This Paleo Falafel recipe takes that same concept and flavor profile, but omits the use of beans in favor of our favorite veggie, cauliflower! It truly did take us quite a bit of testing to arrive at something we thought could pass for falafel, but we think it was worth the wait.
This Paleo Falafel made without beans is crispy, spiced just right and so delicious. We especially love it served over lettuce, red onions, tomatoes and our dairy-free Tzatiki sauce!
Ingredients for Paleo Falafel
Ingredients for Paleo Falafel- Cauliflower
- Carrot
- Onion
- Ground Flaxseeds
- Chia Seeds
- Fresh Ginger
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Egg
- Garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Ground Coriander
- Ground Cumin
- Lemon
How to Make Bean Free Falafel With Cauliflower
There is a two step cooking process for making the Paleo Falafel. But first, start with making the mixture. Add all falafel ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until just combined and until the vegetables are pea sized. Then, roll the dough into small balls and set aside.
Now the falafel needs to get crisped on the outside. Heat a large skillet with extra-virgin olive oil. Once hot, work in batches to pan-fry the falafel just until both sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Use a spatula to press down on each falafel while cooking.
To finish off the cooking process, you need to bake the falafel until firm. Place the pan-fried falafel on the parchment lined baking tray and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to touch.
Serve with dairy-free tzatziki sauce and veggies.
Watch the video:
If you like this paleo recipe, check out these others:
- Paleo Chicken and Broccoli in the Instant Pot
- Paleo Sloppy Joes
- Paleo Orange Chicken
- How to Make Cauliflower Rice
No-Bean Falafel
Ingredients
Falafel:
- 2 cups cauliflower cut into bite-sized florets
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds more as needed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated, more to taste
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1 egg
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt more to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper more to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Tzatziki:
- 1/2 English cucumber
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt more to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika more for garnish
- For Assembly
- 1 head butter lettuce leaves removed
- 1 red onion sliced
- cherry tomatoes sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Add all falafel ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until just combined and until the vegetables are pea sized. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Roll dough into small balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Heat a large skillet with extra-virgin olive oil. Once hot, work in batches to pan-fry the falafel just until both sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Use a spatula to press down on each falafel while cooking. Once done, place pan-fried falafel on a plate lined with parchment paper and place back on the parchment lined baking tray.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until firm to touch.
- Meanwhile, make the Tzatziki sauce: Place shredded cucumber in a medium mixing bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Place coconut cream, lemon juice, dill, extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt and black pepper into a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth. Pour into a small mixing bowl.
- Strain the water out of the cucumber. Add the cucumber to the small mixing bowl with the coconut milk mixture. Stir well.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desire. Place in serving bowl and sprinkle with paprika.
- Place falafel in a lettuce wrap with cherry tomatoes and red onion. Drizzle with tzaziki sauce and devour!
My mom and I made these and they were amazing! They had so much flavor and were so satisfying. The tzatziki is the perfect touch!
Just found out I am allergic to eggs, any substitute suggestions? I have made them with eggs, my daughter constantly asks me to make them!!! Thanks!!!
Delicious! I especially loved the Tzatziki !
I made these last night. While the taste was phenomenal— my “dough” was quite wet and never firmed up in the pan or oven.
Hi
Do you use coconut cream or coconut milk for the Tzatziki sauce? In the ingredient list it says coconut cream but it says coconut milk in the recipe.
Thanks!
Holly
I made these and they are delicious. Even my daughter, who doesn’t like a lot of veggies or falafel, loved them and went back for seconds. I didnt have flax seed, but had flax seed tortillas. I put a few of those in and it worked out fine. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Could you use already ground flax seed instead of whole flax seed?
Yes that’s what I use!
Cook time = 10 minutes but in instructions you need to bake for 40mins… How does that work. Can you please update overall prep and cook time to be more accurate?
Updated. So so sorry, Richard.
TOTALLY ADDING TO OUR LIST! Love that it’s packed with veggies!
oh heck ya! love the no beans option. I never thought of that!
Looks so delicious for a light meal!
You always make the tastiest stuff!! These sound delicious Lexi!
Thanks so much, Gerry!
You are a TOTAL genius Lexi- so smart to substitute cauliflower, I am making these ASAP!!!
They are SO good!!
I am sensitive to flax seeds. Do you think hemp seeds would work? They look so delicious.
No beans, no problem! !
Love the low carbs and looks delicious!
What a fun use of cauliflower! I love the idea. I will definitely to pin and try these!!! I love anything Mediterranean inspired. Thanks for the inspo!