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Mexican Falafel Recipe

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Love Mexican food? Love falafel? This recipe takes Mexican flavors and incorporates them into crispy baked bean patties, falafel style. They make a great finger food for kids and are wonderfully adult in wraps or salads. Something different and fun for everyone in your family!

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

I really love falafel. The crispiness and flavor of the little chickpea balls is just right. When I was making them the other night I realized that the same concept could be adapted to incorporate other flavors. And thus, the Mexican falafel was born.

Traditionally, falafel use garbanzo beans, Middle Eastern spices, and lemon juice. So to make the Mexican version, I subbed black beans, cilantro, and lime! I thought they were still so delicious, but the toppings and flavors were something new!

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink
The great thing about falafel

Both regular falafel and this new Mexican version are great because they are made of beans! Beans are such a great source of vegetarian protein and fiber. They’re also packed with vitamins and minerals – including folate and iron. They help you stay full, keep regular, and help growing bodies do their thing!

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

Plus, these little guys are baked, so they’re not as packed with oil. We’ve flattened them (rather than making them into balls) so that they bake more evenly. It also means that even tiny kids can pick them up and eat them. My 10 month old loves them!

We also love that falafel are full of flavor! Beans alone are bland, but this recipe makes them totally interesting. Helping your kids try new flavors allows them to expand their palate. We often think kids only like bland foods, but many actually love strong flavors! And if not right away, they have to start somewhere. We want our kids to grow up liking lots of foods, so it is important to start early.

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink
How to make Mexican Falafel

This recipe is beautifully simple, and much of it can be made ahead of time. All you need is a food processor, a baking sheet, and an oven.

Preheat your oven to 375* F. In a food processor, puree half an onion, five cloves of garlic, 1 cup of packed cilantro leaves, and 2 tablespoons of lime juice. You want it to get as well blended as possible.

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

 

Next, rinse and drain 1 can of black beans. Allow as much water as possible to drain, then add them to the food processor. Also add 2 teaspoons of cumin, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Puree until combined and the beans are mostly smashed.

Finally, add 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Pulse again until the flour is incorporated. If the mixture still seems wet you can add a little more flour.

At this point, you can refrigerate the mixture in a sealed container to cook later in the day, if desired.

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

Spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil evenly across the bottom of a large baking sheet. Take large spoonfuls of the bean mixture and shape them into disks about 1/2 an inch or so thick. Place them on the oiled baking sheet. Once all falafel are placed, brush the tops with oil – about another tablespoon.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway. You want the outsides crispy and the inside to still be soft.

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink
Serving Mexican falfel + optional white sauce

I made my own white sauce using 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt + 1/4 cup of salsa + 1 teaspoon of lime juice. I wanted to have a Mexican white sauce to replace tzaziki and this worked nicely.

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

Serve falafel as is with a dipping sauce of your choice. Or, roll them up in a tortilla with lettuce and tomato – like a Mexican gyro of sorts. I also recommend accompanying them with some avocado, cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Enjoy!

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3.4 from 13 votes

Mexican Falafel

Love Mexican food? Love falafel? This recipe takes Mexican flavors and incorporates them into crispy baked bean patties, falafel style. They make a great finger food for kids and are wonderfully adult in wraps or salads. Something different and fun for everyone in your family!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 14 servings
Calories: 74kcal

Ingredients

Sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375* F.
  • In a food processor, blend half an onion, 5 cloves garlic, 1 cup packed cilantro leaves, and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Puree well.
  • Rinse and drain a can of black beans. Add to the food processor, along with cumin, chili powder, and salt. Pulse until just combined. Add flour and baking powder and pulse until incorporated.
  • Spread 1 tablespoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Take large spoonfuls of the bean mixture and form into disks – about 3 inches across and 1/2 an inch or so tall. Place them on the baking sheet. Once all the mixture has been used, brush the tops with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway. You want them crispy on the outside but still soft inside.
  • If desired, mix Greek yogurt, salsa, and lime juice for a white sauce to go with the falafel. Serve with garnishes of cheese, fresh squeezed lime juice, and avocado, or even wrap them up in a tortilla with lettuce and tomato.

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 327mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g
Keyword : beans, falafel, kid friendly, vegetarian

www.superhealthykids.com

Mexican Falafel Recipe | Super Healthy Kids | Food and Drink

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

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2 Comments

I have tried a couple of your recipes. They have all been delicious.

The question I have is can you please be more specific with your portion sizes. So for instance, this recipe would state that a portion is one falafel, but for other recipes, could it say portion size equals one cup?

Thanks,
Jodie 🙂