Fancy a falafel sandwich filled with delightfully crispy falafel patties and creamy tahini sauce? Well, today I'm sharing a recipe that's a simple no-fuss affair, and you're going to love it!
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This falafel sandwich recipe calls for canned chickpeas, so there's no waiting around for dried chickpeas to soak.
Fresh pita bread is stuffed with hot falafel, creamy tahini and cool veggies. All the contrasting flavors and textures come together to create a mouthwatering flavor explosion that's hard to resist.
If you want to build your own Middle Eastern mezze board with falafel in the starring role, be sure to check out my falafel mezze platter.
🙋What Is A Falafel Sandwich?
A falafel sandwich is a popular Middle Eastern street food with a lot of history behind it. In fact, the first known written reference to falafel dates back to the 10th century, in a cookbook written by an Arab author named Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq. The recipe included ground dried chickpeas, fava beans, and spices, formed into balls and deep-fried.
Falafel became popular in Israel in the mid-20th century, when it was introduced by Jewish immigrants from the Middle East. It quickly became a staple of Israeli cuisine and is now a common street food in many parts of the world.
As with most great foods, falafel eventually got incorporated into sandwiches. Crispy deep fried falafel balls are stuffed into fresh pita bread along with fresh veggies like lettuce, tomato, and cucumber....and there you have it, a falafel sandwich. And, no falafel sandwich would be complete with a generous topping of creamy tahini sauce!
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚It's easy to make! While making falafel from scratch may seem daunting, it's actually quite simple with the right recipe.
💚Most of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store, and the falafel mixture can be made ahead of time for easy assembly later on, making it a great meal prep option.
💚Falafel sandwiches are incredibly versatile and are easily customized. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or simply looking for a healthier alternative, this is a great alternative to a traditional sandwich.
💚Falafel is loaded with protein and fiber.
🧆How To Make The Best Falafel Sandwich
Below you'll see instructions for how to make deep fried falafel from canned chickpeas. If you prefer to use dried chickpeas I have a falafel recipe here that you might like to use.
Make The Falafel Dough
- Drain your chickpeas. Finely chop the onion, garlic, parsley and dill. It's ok to add the herbs of your choice. I frequently use cilantro and mint.
- Add all the falafel ingredients to a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles a course meal.
- Transfer the falafel mixture to an airtight container, and put it in the fridge to chill for at least one hour, ideally overnight.
Make The Tahini Sauce
- Add your garlic and tahini paste to a food processor and blend until the garlic is fully incorporated.
- Add your sea salt, olive oil and lemon juice and blend again, scraping down the sides several times.
- Using wet hands, roll the shape the falafel into disk shaped patties that are approximately ½ inch thick.
- Add a splash of warm water to thin the paste. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the consistency is to your liking.
- Put your tahini sauce in the fridge while you make your falafel.
Cook The Falafel
- Using wet hands, shape the falafel into balls or disk shaped patties that are approximately ½ inch thick.
- In a medium saucepan, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. When the oil begins to bubble, drop the falafel patties in, using a slotted spoon. Be careful to keep the falafel evenly spaced out in the oil. You may need to work in batches. Fry the falafel until it's golden brown. Keep a close eye on them, as they burn quickly. I've found that 2-3 minutes is ideal.
- Transfer the falafel balls to a paper towel lined plate, while you assemble your falafel sandwiches.
Assemble Your Falafel Pita Sandwich
- Open your pita breads and stuff with lettuce, cucumber, red onions and cherry tomatoes. Put 2-3 falafel patties into each pita pocket.
- Drizzle generously with tahini sauce and serve!
Top Tip
Thoroughly drain and pat dry the canned chickpeas before using them in the falafel mixture. Excess moisture can make the mixture too wet.
💡Variations
The recipe I've given you is for a traditional falafel sandwich in pita, but there's plenty of ways to get creative and make this recipe your own. Here's a few ideas:
- Spicy Southwest Falafel Sandwich: Add ½ cup of smashed black beans to the falafel mixture. Mix in 1 teaspoon of chipotle powder or harissa for a spicy kick. Top the sandwich with guacamole, salsa, and a cilantro-lime yogurt sauce.
- Herb-infused Falafel Pita Pocket: Add a handful of chopped fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, and mint to the falafel mix. Stuff the falafel into a whole wheat pita pocket with shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a lemon tahini dressing.
- Curry-flavored Falafel Burger: Mix in 1 tablespoon of curry powder and ½ teaspoon of cumin into the falafel mixture. Form the mixture into burger patties and cook on a grill or stovetop. Serve the falafel burger on a bun with mango chutney, cucumber slices, and a yogurt-curry sauce.
- Roasted Red Pepper Falafel Wrap: Blend ½ cup of roasted red peppers into the falafel mixture for added flavor and color. Create a wrap with arugula, roasted eggplant slices, hummus, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
🍽️What To Serve With Your Falafel Sandwich
- Olives: A variety of olives, such as Kalamata or green olives.
- Hummus - Hummus is falafel's natural sidekick. If you're making a falafel sandwich, you can't go wrong with a big scoop of hummus. Try my creamy gluten free hummus.
- Yogurt Based Sauces - Yogurt-based dips, also known as tzatziki sauce, are a common accompaniment to falafel. You can easily make a vegan based yogurt dip by simply combining your favorite plain vegan yogurt with a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh herbs of your choice.
- Tabbouleh - A salad made with parsley, mint, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and onion. Try my lentil tabbouleh for a creative twist on this classic salad.
- Fattoush or Fatteh - A salad made with vegetables, herbs, and toasted pita bread.
- Baba ganoush - A dip made from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
- Tahini sauce - A creamy sauce made from sesame seed paste, garlic, and lemon juice. You simply can't have falafel without tahini sauce!
- Pickles - Pickled vegetables, such as cucumbers, shallots, beets, turnips, or carrots, are a common side dish with falafel.
- Fried eggplant - A crispy and flavorful side dish that pairs well with falafel.
- French Fries - In some parts of the world, it is common to serve falafel with French fries or other fried foods.
❄️How To Store Falafel
To Store Uncooked Falafel
To store uncooked falafel, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze uncooked falafel for longer storage. To freeze, place the falafel balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they are not touching each other, and freeze for a few hours until solid. Once frozen, transfer the falafel balls to a freezer-safe container or plastic bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw the falafel balls in the refrigerator overnight before frying.
To Store Leftover Cooked Falafel
If you have leftover cooked falafel, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
If you want to store the falafel for longer, you can freeze it for up to three months. Place the falafel in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag, and make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Thaw the frozen falafel in the refrigerator before reheating or eating.
Falafel Gyros In Your Air Fryer
If you fancy a lower fat falafel sandwich, you might want to check out my falafel gyro recipe, which is made in the air fryer.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Falafel is a Middle Eastern dish that originated in Egypt, made from ground chickpeas or fava beans mixed with herbs and spices, shaped into balls or patties, and then fried. It is commonly served in a pita or wrapped in a flatbread with vegetables and various sauces.
some popular options include chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and red onions. Other toppings might include pickles, hummus, tahini sauce, and hot sauce. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of sumac can also add an extra zing of flavor.
Cooking oil should never be poured down the drain, as it can solidify and cause blockages in pipes. One way to dispose of cooking oil is to let it cool and then pour it into a sealable container, such as a plastic bottle or jar, and then throw it in the trash. Alternatively, some cities have collection programs for used cooking oil, so you may be able to drop it off at a designated location for proper disposal or recycling.
Craving More Easy Vegan Recipes?
Imam Bayildi - Turkish Stuffed Eggplant
Fasolada - Easy Greek Bean Soup
Vegan Couscous Salad With Pomegranate
📖 Recipe
Falafel Sandwich
Ingredients
Falafel
- 1 15 ounce can chickpeas
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried coriander
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- juice of ½ lemon
- oil for frying
Tahini Sauce
- ⅔ cup tahini
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons chickpea flour
Falafel Sandwich Fillings
- 6 pieces pita bread
- 1 cucumber sliced in rounds or finely diced
- 10-15 cherry tomatoes sliced
- 3 cups lettuce of your choice * such as arugula, gem, iceberg or even spinach
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
Instructions
Make The Falafel
- Drain the chickpeas. Finely chop the onion, garlic, parsley and dill.
- Add all the falafel ingredients to a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles a course meal.
- Transfer the falafel mixture to an airtight container, and put it in the fridge to chill for at least one hour, ideally overnight.
- While the falafel is chilling prepare the tahini sauce.
Make The Tahini Sauce
- Add the garlic and tahini paste to a food processor and blend until the garlic is fully incorporated.
- Add the sea salt, olive oil and lemon juice and blend again, scraping down the sides several times.
- Using wet hands, roll the shape the falafel into disk shaped patties that are approximately ½ inch thick.
- Add a splash of warm water to thin the paste and blend again. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the consistency is to your liking.
- In a medium saucepan, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium high heat. When the oil begins to bubble, drop the falafel patties in, using a slotted spoon. Fry until the falafel is golden brown and crispy - about 2-3 minutes. Be careful to keep the falafel evenly spaced out in the oil. You may need to work in batches.
- Transfer the hot falafel to a paper towel lined plate while you assemble your sandwiches.
Assemble Your Falafel Sandwiches
- Open the pita breads and stuff with lettuce, cucumber, red onions and cherry tomatoes. Put 2-3 falafel patties into each pita pocket.
- Drizzle generously with tahini sauce and serve!
Addison
This falafel sandwich was perfect for my work lunch! Quick, easy and incredibly flavorful. Yum!
Sharon
This was my first time making falafel and it won't be the last! We really enjoyed the flavors in this dish - we added the mint and it was so refreshing.
GRETA
This was delicious. It was the perfect lunch. I have leftovers so tomorrow i'll have the same food. Thanks for the recipe!
Keri Bevan
Hi Greta, It's one of my favorite lunches too. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.
Sharina
I doubled this for a meal prep and our dinner, and glad I did! Never thought falafel sandwich is so delicious! The filling is remarkable and impressive!
Keri Bevan
Hi Sharina, Thank you for your feedback. So pleased you liked the recipe. X
Rose
Wow! I tried falafel sandwich at a Lebanese restaurant and wanted to recreat it. This recipe did not disappoint!