Falafel gyros are the ultimate treat. Crispy falafel balls are tucked into pita bread and drizzled with a creamy tahini sauce. And, because the falafel in this recipe is made in the air fryer, they're much healthier than their traditional deep fried counterpart. Wonderfully delicious and healthy. Winning!
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I spent a year living in Athens, and came to love Greek food. I've already posted my favorite Greek Potato Salad and my traditional Greek Fasolada, which is a simple white bean soup that you really have to try. However, my first love will always be falafel gyros.
That's why I'm super excited to share this air fryer falafel gyros recipe with you. It's got all the decadence of crispy, fluffy falafel, but without all the fat you get with deep frying.
Top Tip: If you love falafel, you've got to check out my favorite chickpea patties.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
✅It's vegan, and the falafel balls are gluten free. For a gluten free falafel gyro, simply use a gluten free flatbread, or pita. Speaking of pita bread, you might also like my falafel sandwich recipe.
✅Air fryer falafel is much lower in fat than deep fried falafel.
✅You can make a big batch of falafel balls and freeze them before cooking them. Defrost and cook in the air fryer.
✅Falafel is a great source of protein and fiber.
How To Make Falafel Gyros
- Soak your dried chickpeas for 18-24 hours. Drain, rinse and blot them dry with a paper towel.
- Add the chickpeas, onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, Sriracha sauce, coconut flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is well combined. The dough should be crumbly, not a sticky paste.
- Transfer the dough to the refrigerator to chill for one hour.
- While the dough is chilling, prepare your tahini sauce.
- Add the garlic and tahini paste to your food processor and blend until the garlic is fully incorporated.
- Add the sea salt, olive oil and lemon juice and blend again, scraping down the sides several times.
- Add a splash of warm water to thin the paste. Finally, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the consistency is to your liking. I added 4 tablespoons of water. You want it to be thin enough to drizzle over your falafel gyros.
- When the dough is done chilling, roll it into balls. You can use an ice cream scooper to keep the size of the falafel balls consistent. Once you've scooped up the dough, roll the falafel in your hands to form balls that hold together.
- Spray the insert of your air fryer with olive oil to prevent the falafel balls from sticking.
- Now, lightly spray the falafel balls with olive oil, so that they crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
- Transfer your falafel to your air fryer and air fry for 15 minutes at 375 F (190 C). Roll the balls over at the half way point.
Assemble The Gyros
- Add a good handful of arugula to the top of your flatbread. Top with chopped tomatoes and red onions.
- Add 3-4 falafel balls on top of the salad and drizzle with the lemony tahini sauce.
Serving Suggestions
- Spice it up with a drizzle of chili sauce. Have a look at my Sambal Oelek recipe for an authentic chili sauce that's easy to make.
- Don't like tahini sauce? No problem. Falafel gyros taste amazing with this vegan garlic aioli , or with chraimeh sauce.
- Slather your pita with gluten free hummus or my favorite fave bean dip, Ful Medames.
- Serve with a side of air fryer waffle fries or go all out with these amazing garlic truffle fries.
- Stuff your pita bread with Jerusalem Salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Falafel is full of healthy micronutrients. Plus, it's packed with protein and fiber. When you air fry it, as opposed to deep frying it, it's much lower in fat too.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Transfer the falafel to the baking tray, spreading it out evenly. Freeze for two hours. Transfer the the falafel balls to an airtight container, and freeze for up to three months. To reheat, defrost and reheat for 5 minutes in the air fryer.
I haven't tried using canned chickpeas with this recipe. For the best results, use dried chickpeas that have been soaked for 18-24 hours.
Craving More Easy Vegan Recipes?
Easy Aubergine And Chickpea Curry
How To Cook Shiitake Mushrooms
Creamy Lemon Tahini Pasta With Mushrooms
📖 Recipe
Falafel Gyros (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried chickpeas *soaked for 18-24 hours
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- 1 cup parsley
- 1 cup cilantro
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- 3 tablespoons coconut four
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons salt
Tahini Sauce
- ⅔ cup tahini
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
For Serving
- 6 pieces flatbread or pita bread
- 3 cups arugula
- 3 tomatoes finely chopped
- 1 red onion finely chopped
Instructions
To Make The Falafel
- Soak the dried chickpeas for 18-24 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Add the chickpeas, onion, parsley, cilantro, garlic, cumin, Sriracha sauce, coconut flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the food processor until the mixture is well combined. The dough should be crumbly, not a sticky paste.
- Transfer the dough to the refrigerator to chill for one hour.
- While the dough is chilling, prepare your tahini sauce. See instructions below.
- When the dough is done chilling, roll it into balls. You can use an ice cream scooper to keep the size of the falafel balls consistent. Once you've scooped up the dough, roll the falafel in your hands to form a ball that hold together.
- Spray the insert of your air fryer with olive oil to prevent the falafel balls from sticking.
- Now, lightly spray the falafel balls with olive oil, so that they crisp up nicely in the air fryer.
- Transfer your falafel to your air fryer and air fry for 15 minutes at 375 F (190 C). Roll the balls over at the half way point.
To Make The Lemony Tahini Sauce
- Add the garlic and tahini paste to a food processor and blend until the garlic is fully incorporated.
- Add the sea salt, olive oil and lemon juice and blend again, scraping down the sides several times.
- Add a splash of warm water to thin the paste. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the consistency is to your liking.
To Assemble The Gyros
- Add a good handful of arugula to the top of your flatbread. Top with chopped tomatoes and red onions.
- Add 3-4 falafel balls on top of the salad and drizzle with the lemony tahini sauce.
Notes
- To freeze leftover falafel balls, line a baking tray with parchment paper. Transfer the falafel to the baking tray, spreading it out evenly. Freeze for two hours. Transfer the the falafel balls to an airtight container, and freeze for up to three months. To reheat, defrost and reheat for 5 minutes in the air fryer.
Natalie
My kids loved your falafels. They loved the shape, and the taste and of course ate it with their little fingers, thanks!
Keri Bevan
Hi Natalie, That's great to hear! Thank you for your feedback.
Marcellina
Wow! This is so delicious! The combination of parsley and cilantro is great. Definitely don't miss the tahini sauce, it's amazing!
Jerika
Yum! I can eat these Falafel gyros all day! Looks so delish!:) I can't wait to prepare these. Thanks!:)
Lucy
These falafel gyros are delicious. So flavourful with a wonderful contrast of textures from the crunch of the falafels with the creaminess of the tahini sauce. I love that they're made in the air fryer to make them healthier.
Keri Bevan
Hi Lucy, So glad you liked the falafel gyros. Their a favorite dinner recipe over here!