Mmm burger. But not just any burger- vegan falafel burgers with a crunchy Panko crust! Boy oh boy these are delicious. As much as a love meaty burgers, sometimes I just get sick of red meat (sorry Texas, please don’t kick me out!) That’s where these falafel burgers come into play. With tons of flavor, you won’t even miss the cow. Plus, one bite of this Israeli inspired burger, and you are instantly transported back to the savory street falafel from your Birthright trip. You’ll have to add your own hookah to complete the experience. Anyhoo, here is all Jew need:
Heat up a medium sauté pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Then add red onion, jalapeño and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and sauté for one more minute.
Then add it to the chickpeas and puree in a food processor. I used my new Ninja Mega Kitchen System to whip up my falafel burgers. I love it! The mixture came together easily and quickly. Plus I’ve made hummus with it and it makes it super smooth!
Next, add in lemon juice, panko, egg, salt, cumin, sumac and parsley. The sumac is optional if you can’t find it, but I really recommend it for this and my za’atar recipe! Mix all that up and you have falafel batter!
Form into four patties and dip in more Panko. Sauté in more olive oil until browned, crunchy cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Blot on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
I ate mine on a bed of greens with a light Israeli salad and drizzle of tahini and hot sauce! Yum!
Falafel Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas drained, rinsed and dried
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 1 jalapeño minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs plus more for coating outside of patties
- 1 egg or egg substitute
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley minced
- Optional: tomatoes cucumber, red onion, tahini, hot sauce for serving
Instructions
- Heat up a medium sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Then add red onion, jalapeño and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and sauté for one more minute.
- Then add it to the chickpeas and puree in a food processor.
- Next, add in lemon juice, panko, egg, salt, cumin, sumac and parsley. The sumac is optional if you can’t find it, but I really recommend it for this and my za’atar recipe! Mix all that up and you have falafel batter!
- Form into four patties and dip in more Panko. Sauté in 2 more Tablespoons olive oil in a pre-heated pan until browned, crunchy cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Blot on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- I ate mine on a bed of greens with a light Israeli salad and drizzle of tahini! Yum!
I was gifted my Ninja Mega Kitchen System but was not paid to review it and all opinions are my own!
I just made falafels too…great minds!
I saw yours! Great minds indeed!
What a great mixture for this falafel recipe. I would eat them right up.
I DID eat them up!
This looks pretty amazing and you make it look so easy!!! Making this soon!! 🙂
Thanks, Julie! They were super easy and tasty!
Mmmmmm!! Sounds great! I’ve made falafel but never added panko. Does that make it “fusion”? 😉
Thanks, Rachel! Ha I wasn’t aiming for fusion, but I guess so! I just love the added crunch from Panko and always use it.
I’ve always wanted to try falafel but have never found a recipe I liked….thanks Amy I’m about to make these, so will let you know how it goes. I expect they’ll be scrumptious like all the other things I’ve made from your recipes
These aren’t quiet as authentic as fried falafel- for sure let me know how you like them!
These look great – and my CSA box delivered jalapeno peppers, so I’m all set. How will these freeze? Would be a good thing to have in the freezer for a quick grab night.
Also, the sumac? New one on me.
I actually froze one before I sautéed it, defrosted it in the refrigerator and then sautéed it up and it was delicious! Sumac is a spice in the za’atar mix that is citrusy. It adds a great flavor! A squeeze of lemon at the end would be great too.
Amy they were just sooo good…..I also mixed a small amount of zattaar into the panko crumbs for a little extra zing. A winner so thanks Amy
Great news! Genius idea adding the za’atar to the Panko. I’m going to do that next time too!
These look really great. I’m going to make them one night next week. Did you use an actual egg or some kind of vegan egg substitute? I’m not vegan, but I have friends who are and it would be nice to be able to make these for them.
Thanks, Christy! I used real egg, but I think vegan would work. It’s there to help bind the burgers together.
Great recipe, but the egg in there(unless you use egg substitute) makes this not vegan, it is vegetarian. I find that omitting egg in these recipes makes very little difference in taste, and a world of difference in the cholesterol content.
Just increase one of the liquids, or use Chia Seeds (you can find how to make one egg from chia seeds on any blog or google it)
Oh yes you could use an egg substitute instead! I put it as vegan too since it’s easy to modify. Thanks for the notes!
I was excited to see a vegan burger recipe….then I saw egg,not vegan :/
You can use egg substitute!
This looks so delicious!! I’ve always wanted to make my own falafel burgers instead of making the mix. I get tired of the “Near East” brand that my store has. There is also a World Foods brand, but I know there is better flavor out there and it makes me feel a wee bit cheated when I eat them. Time to make my own! 🙂 Thanks for this!
Yay they aren’t too hard! Have fun!