Get the Kids Cooking: Easy Homemade Baked Falafel

Coming up with lunch ideas day after day isn't always easy. It's tempting to rely on the same familiar meals, but adding variety to your family's menu can make mealtimes more enjoyable and help introduce new flavors and ingredients along the way.

If you're looking for a simple, satisfying lunch that's easy to prepare, homemade baked falafel is a wonderful option. Served with fresh salad, tahini, and pita, it's a wholesome meal the whole family can enjoy.

Homemade Baked Falafel

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen chickpeas
• 1 large onion
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 handful fresh cilantro
• 1 handful fresh parsley
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons rolled oats

Directions

Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until the mixture is well combined but still has a little texture.

If you're using leafy herbs such as parsley and cilantro, be sure they have been properly checked for insects according to halacha. Even when purchasing produce grown under kosher supervision, always follow the preparation instructions provided on the packaging.

Once blended, let the mixture rest for at least 20 minutes so the flavors can develop. I often prepare it the night before and refrigerate it overnight. It makes lunchtime much easier the next day.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and lightly coat it with cooking spray.

Now comes the fun part—let the kids help!

Ask them to roll the mixture into small balls and place them on the baking tray. Not only does this save you time, but children are usually much more excited to eat a meal they helped prepare.

Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes.

Carefully turn the falafel over and bake for another 10 minutes until golden.

Serve With Homemade Tahini

While the falafel is baking, prepare a simple tahini sauce.

Mix tahini with a little water, crushed garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, and cumin until smooth and creamy. There's no single perfect ratio, so adjust the consistency and seasoning to suit your family's taste.

Add a Fresh Salad

Round out the meal with a generous vegetable salad.

I like adding a tablespoon of chia seeds for an extra nutritional boost. Chia provides plant-based omega-3 fatty acids along with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc, as well as several B vitamins.

Be sure to rinse the chia seeds according to the package directions before using them.

And that's it—a wholesome, satisfying lunch the whole family can enjoy.

Serve the baked falafel with warm pita, fresh salad, and plenty of tahini.

Have you tried this recipe? We'd love to hear how your family liked it.

And if you have other favorite meat-free lunches that combine grains and legumes, share them in the comments. We always love discovering new ideas!