Falafel

Try our tasty falafel recipe

Our falafel recipe is your way to a quick, tasty meal bursting with delicious Middle Eastern flavours. Use the falafel for a wrap like this for lunch or dinner, or snack on them with the garlic sauce on the side as a dip. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the falafel is seasoned with aromatic spices and fresh herbs. Whether you enjoy them in a wrap, as a snack, or as part of a larger meal, they will surely impress!

Crispy balls of chickpeas, spices, and herbs

Savour the delectable crunch of our fried falafel, where chickpeas meld beautifully with spices and fresh herbs. The chickpeas are mixed with cumin and black pepper to introduce warmth and depth, as well as fresh parsley and a hint of harissa to add a refreshing touch and a gentle kick. These herbs and spices ensure you get the best falafels!

What is falafel?

Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern food, commonly served in a pita or wrapped in a flatbread. Top them with salads, pickled vegetables, and hot sauce, and, for the traditional approach, drizzle with tahini-based sauces. Falafel is also delicious as a snack or served as part of a meze, an assortment of appetisers.

It is typically made from soaked, ground chickpeas mixed with, for example, parsley, scallions, garlic, and spices such as cumin and coriander. The mixture is then shaped into balls or patties and deep-fried.

Try other Middle Eastern favourites like creamy homemade labneh as a dip, classic tahini dressing, or spiced lamb skewers to go with your dips and dressings. End the meal with traditional, sweet baklava. You can also make your own bread for your falafel wrap with our easy flatbread recipe or naan recipe. 

Make easy homemade falafel wraps

There are many ways to enjoy delicious homemade falafel, and eating them in a wrap is one of the best options. Wrapped in soft flatbread and paired with crisp, fresh vegetables and creamy dressing, the many spices and the moist crumb are shown to their full advantage, giving you a flavourful, savoury meal.

We opted for a delightful mix of fillings like thinly sliced tomatoes for freshness, lettuce for crunch, and red onion for a bit of bite. Pickled cucumbers add an extra zing and savouriness, and pepperoni brings a bold, smoky flavour with sumptuous pizza vibes and a slightly chewy texture that contrasts nicely with the tender falafel. Parsley brightens the dish with its fresh, slightly peppery taste and enhances the overall freshness of the wrap.

Add a creamy garlic sauce with a subtle kick

Match the savoury notes of falafel with a creamy garlic sauce. The rich textures of thick yoghurt and mayonnaise create a creamy, velvety base that envelops each bite of the wrap. Chilli sauce introduces a subtle heat that adds just enough spice to awaken the taste buds. You get an additional savoury depth from onion powder and sweet and slightly earthy undertones from paprika. But the finely grated garlic clove infuses the sauce with a pungent and aromatic flavour that elevates the overall taste of the wrap.

Modify the recipe to your taste

You have plenty of ways to play around with the recipe and find the flavours and textures you like best. Incorporate other herbs and spices, such as coriander or a dash of cayenne. Or experiment with the sauces. Instead of the traditional garlic sauce, you could make a creamy tahini sauce or serve your falafel with either regular or flavoured hummus.

Introduce new flavours and textures by adding beans to the chickpeas. Fava beans are a classic choice, known for their creamy texture and slightly nutty flavour, and black beans offer a richer, earthier taste, while white beans, such as cannellini or navy beans, are mild in flavour and blend easily. Blend the beans to a consistency similar to that of the chickpeas to help maintain the traditional texture of the falafel.

Make baked falafel instead of fried. Preheat your oven to 190 °C and bake them for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.