Sweet Potato Falafel

By
Saad Fayed
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/19/22
Tested by
Noah Velush-Rogers
Noah Velush-Rogers
Tested by Noah Velush-Rogers
Noah Velush-Rogers works on food prep for several area caterers. He has worked with a team of prep chefs for a private school group. He was an assistant cooking teacher for children and teen group cooking classes. Noah was hired as an intern and was then trained as a recipe tester for Fine Cooking Magazine. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Sweet potato falafel recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 72 mins
Chill Time: 45 mins
Total: 2 hrs 27 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 35 to 38 falafel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
258 Calories
5g Fat
45g Carbs
10g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 258
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 430mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 10g 36%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 18mg 88%
Calcium 135mg 10%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 550mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for sweet potato falafel is a win-win situation. Sweet potatoes are not only reasonably priced and readily available, but they also have a more interesting flavor than the white potato and are good for you.

Falafel is a Middle Eastern food that's made of highly spiced ground chickpeas that are formed into balls or slightly flattened croquettes and deep-fried. 

This recipe combines ground chickpeas with mashed sweet potatoes for extra flavor and the falafel are baked instead of fried for a lighter calorie load.

Typically, falafel ​is tucked into a sliced pita to be eaten sandwich-style, but they also can be eaten as an appetizer with garlic yogurt sauce, toum, and tahini sauce. Or serve them warm with a thin slice of cucumber on top, held together with a toothpick.

“Falafel can also be turned into a really good patty if you flatten out the mixture instead of shaping them into balls. I really enjoy them with breakfast topped with a fried egg, which luckily pairs pretty well with the sweet potato base these are made of.” —Noah Velush-Rogers

Sweet Potato Falafel Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 medium or 2 small sweet potatoes, about 9 ounces total

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced

  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

  • Cooking spray

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 425 F.

    Ingredients for sweet potato falafel
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork or the tip of a paring knife. Put the potatoes on a small rimmed sheet pan and bake until tender, 25 to 35 minutes depending on size. Allow to cool completely.

    Bake sweet potatoes
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Peel off and discard the skins.

    Peel off skins
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Place cooled sweet potatoes in a large bowl and mash with a fork.

    Mash sweet potato
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add flour, chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, lemon juice, and salt.

  6. Continue to mash with a fork until well combined and smooth in consistency. Alternatively, process in a food processor until smooth.

    Continue to mash with a fork
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Spray a rimmed baking sheet lightly with cooking spray. Using damp hands, a melon baller, cookie scoop, or tablespoon, form the sweet potato mixture into small balls and place them 2-inches apart on the pan.

  8. Sprinkle evenly with the sesame seeds.

    Sprinkle with sesame seeds
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Chill the falafel balls in the refrigerator to firm up, about 45 minutes.

    Chill falafel balls
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 375 F. Bake the falafel until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.

    Remove chilled falafel balls
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Serve alone or with dipping sauce of choice, if desired.

    Serve falafel
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • If you are starting with leftover cooked sweet potatoes, skip step 1 and go straight to mashing skinned cooked sweet potatoes with spices.
  • If you choose to flatten the balls with a fork for a small falafel patty, bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Leftover cooked falafel can be saved if covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Reheat them in the oven or in the microwave.
  • Try using the leftovers in a green salad with tahini sauce for the dressing or in pita pockets with lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, and tahini sauce or garlic sauce.

How to Store and Freeze

If you want some sweet potato falafel ready for later use, make up an extra batch and freeze them. Once you've shaped them into balls, place on a baking sheet and freeze for an hour. Pull the falafel out and place in single layers in an airtight plastic container or freezer bag. To double up the layers, place a piece of wax paper in between. Frozen uncooked falafel should last for up to 6 months in the freezer. To prepare, thaw in the fridge and bake as directed.