Today's Sweet Potato Falafel + Chimichurri Sauce recipes offer up a sweet spin on a traditional falafel ball. These balls are packed with fiber and vitamin A and rich in iron and protein. They come out of the oven warm and steamy, moist and tender on the inside, with a nutty savory accent in each sweet potato-filled bite, and lightly crispy on the outside. For extra crispy outsides, and richness, you could pan-fry, or full-on-fry these balls, but really you do not need to they are so good just. like. this.
Pour on rich, creamy, super flavorful pumpkin seed chimichurri sauce too. Serve everything in toasted warm pita pockets or over top greens or grains for a falafel salad or grain bowl. I found this recipe to be very fast + easy and make-ahead approved!..
Because sometimes you crave a big, flavorful, sauce-on-top, over-stuffed pita pocket for dinner..
Before baking..
After baking.
..they are lightly crispy on the outside, moist and nutty on the inside.
The flavorful green chimichurri sauce with garlic, parsley and nutty pumpkin seeds..
Sriracha and Vegenaise are additional sauces I added to my pitas, along with some chopped baby greens. Pickled veggies, diced onion or tomato would also be delicious add-ins.
These falafel balls can be made ahead of time, baked and stored in the fridge. To re-warm you can either lightly pan-fry them or warm them in the oven - oven warming usually takes 8-12 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Happy falafel making! (And eating)
Sweet Potato Falafel + Pumpkin Seed Chimichurri Sauce
By Published 12/02/2015
These sweet and nutty, delicate and delicious sweet potato falafel balls pair perfectly with spicy, lively chimichurri sauce.
Ingredients
- Sweet Potato Falafel:
- 1 ¼ cups mashed sweet potato (boiled or baked)
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 ½ cups chickpeas (cooked)
- ⅓ cup ground pumpkin seeds, raw
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon warming spices (I used a mixture of smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder and turmeric)
- ½ cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Chimichurri Sauce:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup flat leaf parsley, tightly packed
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, raw
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ - ½ cup water (depending on desired consistency + boldness of sauce)
- Additional: extra virgin olive oil for coating falafel (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 415 degrees. Line a baking sheet with non-stick liner or grease with olive oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash all the falafel ingredients together until well combined.
- Form the falafel mixture into balls and place on baking sheet. If desired, you can roll entire ball in oil -- or simply brush the tops with oil. Or you can omit oil completely.
- Bake falafel balls at 415 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until edges brown. Optional: for crispier falafel, finish the falafel balls by sauteeing in oil in a skillet, over high heat, on the stovetop.
- For the sauce: blend all the sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. (Start off with ¼ cup water and add more for a thinner consistency, mellower flavor).
- Serving suggestions: Use falafels to fill pita pockets, along with hummus, vegan mayo, chopped greens and the chimichurri sauce. Sriracha optional. Pickled veggies or sauerkraut would also be a nice addition. Or serve over top a salad or grain bowl. Store leftover falafel in the fridge and reheat in microwave, oven or in a skillet on the stove. Enjoy!
Yield: 16 falafelPrep Time: 00 hrs. 20 mins. Cook time: 00 hrs. 25 mins. Total time: 45 mins. Tags: falafel,entree,sweet potato,sauce,vegan,dinner,appetizer
Per falafel ball.. (sauce not included)
calories: 50
carbs: 10g
protein: 2.5g
fiber: 2g
Love sweet potatoes? Try my Cheezy Broccoli Stuffed Sweet Potato for an entree..
Lucy Daniel says
Excellent article, Kathy! Another way to make absolutely delicious falafel is to prepare one using finely ground chickpeas, garlic, parsley, and onions — all combined and deep-fried into semi-circles. One can have it with a hot spicy sauce, tahineh sauce, or garlic sauce. If someone doesn't feel like preparing the falafel, it can be simply ordered from a restaurant renowned for healthy and tasty falafels.
Shana says
Wow, these were so good! So refreshing and light. My vitamix didn't blend the sauce well so it was much more liquidy than yours, but it was still perfect. Thank you!
Dagmar Ósk Atladóttir says
Ummm Im so going to try this
Ana @ Ana's Rocket Ship says
I didn't think that it was possible to make falafel any more yummy. Why didn't I think of sweet potato? You're a genius!
RockMyVeganSocks says
Holy crap those look good!!!! The sauce sounds especially delicious. I don't normally have luck making things like this, but it sounds easy enough - I'll give it a try =)
Aryane Héroux-Blais says
These look delicious! And the texture looks right too! I tried a recipe using chickpea flour and took the best pictures for my blog, but then they really weren't that good...
So I need to find a recipe that works for me! I found another one using millet too, but since it's impossible to have too many SP falafel recipes, I guess I'll have to try both!! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
These are super moist and lovely, hope you try them! 🙂
Pam Tymchak says
This was delicious! I am very picky about my falafel and this was phenomenal. The only change I made was to roll the balls in panko before placing in the oven and then finishing in my cast iron pan. The flavor of the chimichurri sauce, sauerkraut, vegan mayo, chopped kale and the falafel was so good!!
Kathy Patalsky says
So glad you liked it Pam! And good call on the Panko! I love the texture that adds. I add it to my veggies burgers often.#yiv5753741325 #yiv5753741325 a:hover, #yiv5753741325 a:hover span {color:#1188d2!important;}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325button-cta:hover {color:#ffffff!important;background-color:#1188d2!important;}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325button-cta:hover span {color:#ffffff!important;}#yiv5753741325 #yiv5753741325 #yiv5753741325 #yiv5753741325outlook a {padding:0;}#yiv5753741325 body {width:100% !important;}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325ReadMsgBody {width:100%;}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325ExternalClass {width:100%;display:block;}#yiv5753741325 @media screen and ( _filtered_a ){#yiv5753741325 html {}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325content {width:100%;}#yiv5753741325 table {border-collapse:collapse;}#yiv5753741325 h2.yiv5753741325headline {font-weight:700;font-size:20px!important;margin-bottom:5px;}#yiv5753741325 .yiv5753741325button-cta {display:block!important;padding:0!important;}#yiv5753741325 div.yiv5753741325header {padding-top:20px;}#yiv5753741325 div.yiv5753741325footer {padding-bottom:20px;}}#yiv5753741325 #yiv5753741325 p.yiv5753741325mod-tools a:hover {color:white!important;background:#8c989f!important;}#yiv5753741325 @media screen and ( _filtered_a ){#yiv5753741325 td.yiv5753741325avatar, #yiv5753741325 td.yiv5753741325spacer {width:38px!important;}#yiv5753741325 td.yiv5753741325avatar img, #yiv5753741325 td.yiv5753741325spacer img {width:28px!important;}}
Caroline says
Absolutely gorgeous and fabulous photography. Can't wait to make this.
Kathy Patalsky says
Oh thank you so much! I love hearing that, always trying to improve my photography skills, after seven years of blogging I still learn something new on every shoot!
Athletic Avocado says
i can't believe i have never made falafel! This version looks so yummy and easy-to-make! I need to try this asap!
Kathy Patalsky says
I know I had ZERO falafel recipes on the site before this post! I think I need to do a traditional falafel recipe next! So easy + satisfying to make.
saniel says
Looks yummy, used all sweet potatoes last night will sub for butternut squash. Thanks
Kathy Patalsky says
That should be super!
Nancy says
How did they turn out with the squash? Could probably do pumpkin too???
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
This is one of the most appetizing and mouthwatering meals I've been in awhile. Making this ASAP!!
Kathy Patalsky says
Hooray! That makes me so happy to hear Emilie! Hope you love it as much as I did.
Rebecca @ Strength & Sunshine says
All that nooch is calling me 😉
Kathy Patalsky says
It makes everything magical. Vegan pixie dust.