Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel
Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel brings a bold, peppery warmth with cumin, taco spices, and a hint of cayenne, all wrapped in a crisp, golden crust. The pinto beans give a creamy interior that pairs well with cool sauces or fresh salsas. Serve it for a casual lunch, party appetizer, or meatless dinner when you want something crunchy and vibrant.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 55 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 19 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 51
- Heart Health
- 70
- Metabolic
- 54
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 31
- Performance
- 41
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- 2
Add the onion, green bell pepper, egg, garlic, taco seasoning, baking powder, peanut oil, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper to a food processor. Process until smooth.
- 3
Add the pinto beans to the mixture and pulse until the pinto beans are chopped and incorporated, but not smooth.
- 4
Transfer the bean mixture to a large bowl; stir the hot sauce into the mixture.
- 5
Stir in enough bread crumbs to make a dough that holds together but is not sticky.
- 6
Shape the dough into quarter-sized balls.
- 7
Deep-fry in the hot oil until the falafel are deep brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Calories 288.06 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 9.8 g Moderate 20%
- Carbohydrate 49.7 g 18%
- Total Fat 6.84 g Moderate 9%
- Saturated Fat 0.96 g Low Source 5%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 40.02 mg Moderate 13%
- Sodium 803.61 mg High 35%
- Dietary Fiber 8.67 g Good Source 31%
- Total Sugars 6.78 g --
- Added Sugars 1.73 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 68.87 mg Low Source 5%
- Iron 4.24 mg Good Source 24%
- Potassium 689.34 mg Moderate 15%
- Vitamin A 70.05 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 6.01 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin D 0.17 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Peanuts 🥜
- Eggs 🥚
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Southwest Style Pinto Bean Falafel is made with 13 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 35 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baking Powder, Bread Crumbs, Cayenne Pepper, and Eggs. Each serving provides about 288.06 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel made of?
- The main ingredients are Baking Powder, Bread Crumbs, Cayenne Pepper, Eggs, Garlic. The full list of 13 is above.
- How long does it take to make Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel?
- About 35 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 288.06 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel healthy?
- Southwest-Style Pinto Bean Falafel has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 288.06 calories and 9.8 g of protein, or 20% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 803.61 mg (35% of the Daily Value). It contains Peanuts, Eggs, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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