Middle Eastern-style Falafels with Harissa Chickpeas & Apricot Caramelised Onion

Middle Eastern-style Falafels with Harissa Chickpeas & Apricot Caramelised Onion

A Middle Eastern-inspired bowl that is packed full of flavour. Think creamy chickpeas, simmering in a spicy harissa-infused sauce. Gooey aubergine roasted to perfection. GOSH! Moroccan-spiced falafels. The finishing touch? Quick caramelised onions, bursting with fragrant spices and studded with sweet apricots. It's a true feast!

2/3 daily fibre 5 of 5 a day Low sat fat

Serving size

Cook time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Food group: Vegan
Allergens: Sulphites

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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Preheat the oven to 200C / fan 180C / gas mark 6
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Pull out a large frying pan, a medium frying pan, a measuring jug & a sieve

Get roasting

  • Cut 1 onion into 8 wedges. Dice the aubergines and courgette into 2cm chunks
  • Add all to the lined baking tray. Toss with 2 tsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 15-20 mins

Simmer the chickpeas

  • Finely chop or crush the garlic. Drain and rinse the chickpeas
  • Heat the large frying pan with 2 tsp oil on medium heat. Once hot, add chickpeas and garlic and cook for 2 mins, then add the harissa and the sundried tomato paste. Cook for a further minute
  • Add the passata and 100ml water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 mins

Caramelise the onion

  • Meanwhile, roughly chop the apricots. Finely slice the other onion
  • Heat the medium frying pan with 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the sliced onion and cook for 4 mins, until softening
  • Add the apricots and 100ml water, then simmer for 3-4 mins, until all the water evaporates and the onion and apricot are soft and jammy. Add the cinnamon and mix through to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper

Roast the falafels & finish the chickpeas

  • After 15-20 mins, add the falafels to the veg tray and roast together for a final 5 mins, until the veg is soft and golden and the falafels are piping hot
  • When everything's ready, stir the roasted veg through the chickpeas and season with salt and pepper

Plate up

  • Roughly chop the parsley and stir half into harissa chickpeas
  • Serve the harissa chickpeas into bowls, topped with the falafels. Garnish with the caramelised onion and remaining parsley

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