These Za’atar Spiced Sweet Potato Falafel are light and soft and make the perfect lunch, snack, or dinner. Oil-free and loaded with protein, this healthy vegetarian dish needs to be in your weekly meal plan.
I am a huge fan of falafel and all recipes Greek, however, making them the traditional way every time can be a little boring. Since traditional falafel is fried, they are full of fat and calories. To do away with both, I started making different kinds of falafels like baked ones and balls full of the goodness of beetroot. This Baked Za’atar Spiced Sweet Potato Falafel recipe is one of my favorite healthier classics.
This recipe is my favorite for multiple reasons. First, it needs only two appliances; a food processor and an oven. The ingredients needed are pretty simple and the falafel freeze really well too. These are perfect to make wraps, fill in pita breads, or just to make a simple salad.
On my last trip to Dubai, I brought home a big packet of Za’atar spice and have been in love with the flavors ever since! Za’atar (zaatar) is a mixture of sumac, sesame seed, and herbs used throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. I tried adding it to labneh, falafel, chickpea salad, and tabbouleh. It has a distinct flavor that makes everything a little more yum!
Baked Za’atar Spiced Sweet Potato Falafel
As a family, we have been lovers of Mediterranean cuisine, but grabbing falafel from the restaurant or off the store aisle is not always the best option. That’s why I make them at home. It is difficult, however, to make a small batch each time so I whip up a big batch and freeze them for the next time.
The first time I made these Sweet Potato Falafel, we gobbled them in one meal! Not a single one was leftover. Since then, I have been making these once every week. Finally the recipe is up here for everyone to try.
These perfectly-spiced sweet potato balls work well to whip up a meal on a lazy day. Make the falafel, put out lavash or pita breads, hummus, and salads on the table. Let each person pick and choose how they want to make their wrap! Cleaning after the meal is super quick and easy too.
Once you have made the balls, you can customize the combinations they are served with to make each meal new and exciting. For example, serve falafel with a side of classic and beetroot hummus as an appetizer. You can serve them with pita bread and some Persian cucumbers, boiled beetroots, and greens. A classic favorite of my family’s is a salad with Za’atar spiced chickpeas, Feta Cheese, and Kalamata Olives.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chickpeas
- 1 medium Sweet Potato
- 1/2 medium Pink Onion
- 405 tsp Sesame seeds
- 2-3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Za'atar Spice
- 1/3 cup Parsley Leaves
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Soak the chickpeas overnight or at least for 4-6 hours. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the sweet potato in microwave for 4-5 minutes or in a pressure cooker for 10-11 minutes.
- Remove the skin of the potato, mash using a fork and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and keep ready.
- In a food processor, add chopped garlic, onion, 2 tsp of sesame seeds. Process till it is lightly crushed.
- Next, add chickpeas, Za'atar spice, parsley leaves, salt, and lemon juice. Process to a coarse sandy mixture.
- Add the mashed potato and mix well. Apply some oil on your palms and make small balls of the falafel mixture.
- Flatten the balls slightly and coat with sesame seeds. Place the balls on the parchment paper and apply a drop of oil on them.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes. Turn them over and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove and serve with pita bread, hummus, and salad.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: Make a big batch of falafel to store in the refrigerator so you can use these in meals throughout the week.
We hope you love this Za’atar Spiced Sweet Potato Falafel recipe from SoFabFood Home Chef, Smruti from Herbivore Cucina, as much as we do. If you love this healthier classic, be sure to visit our Vegetarian Section for more like it. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
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