What is Falafel?
Our falafel is crafted with a traditional blend of ground chickpeas and split fava beans, fresh herbs, and spices, ensuring a crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior. Perfectly seasoned and fried to golden perfection, it offers an authentic taste of Middle Eastern street food in every bite.
Key Characteristics
- Main Ingredients: The base is typically soaked (but uncooked) dried chickpeas or fava beans.
- Levantine style (Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria) primarily uses chickpeas.
- Egyptian style (where it is known as ta’amiya) traditionally uses fava beans.
- Flavoring: The mixture is blended with aromatics like onions and garlic, and a heavy amount of fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and sometimes dill. Common spices include cumin and coriander.
- Texture: When prepared traditionally, the interior is light and fluffy—often aided by a pinch of baking soda—while the outside is crunchy.
Common Ways to Serve
Falafel is highly versatile and can be served as a snack, an appetizer, or a main course.
- In a Sandwich: Stuffed into a pita or wrapped in flatbread with tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, and lettuce.
- With Sauces: Almost always accompanied by tahini sauce (a sesame-based dressing); it may also be served with hummus or hot sauce.
- Mezze Platter: Served alongside other small plates like tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, and grape leaves.
Dietary Benefits
Falafel is a staple for vegetarians and vegans as it is entirely plant-based. It is high in plant-based protein, fiber, and various micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and B vitamins.
