Description
This easy Falafel Recipe features crispy, golden-brown chickpea patties bursting with vibrant herbs and spices. Served in warm flatbreads with refreshing tzatziki sauce, fresh vegetables, and optional feta cheese, this Middle Eastern-inspired dish makes a perfect flavorful and satisfying meal for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Falafel
- 1 ½ cups chickpeas (from a can or home cooked)
- ½ small red onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Tzatziki Sauce
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ small cucumber (grated & squeezed dry)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill (finely chopped)
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
Assembly
- 4 large flatbreads/pita wraps
- ½ cup pickled onions
- ½ cup pickled radishes
- ½ cup shredded lettuce (or baby greens)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- Fresh herbs to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Falafel Mixture: In a food processor, pulse the cooked chickpeas, chopped red onion, minced garlic, fresh parsley, cilantro, ground cumin, smoked paprika, baking soda, all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is combined but still slightly chunky. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill and set for 15 minutes.
- Cook Falafel: Shape the falafel mixture into small round patties about 1.5 inches wide. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the patties for 3-4 minutes on each side until crispy and golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make Tzatziki Sauce: In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated and drained cucumber, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and finely chopped fresh dill. Mix well and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Warm the Flatbreads: Gently warm the large flatbreads or pita wraps to make them pliable and enhance flavor, either in a pan or microwave briefly.
- Assemble Wraps: Spread a generous layer of tzatziki sauce over the warmed flatbreads. Layer with the cooked falafel patties, shredded lettuce or baby greens, halved cherry tomatoes, pickled onions, pickled radishes, and optional crumbled feta cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh herbs on top and add an extra drizzle of tzatziki sauce if desired. Wrap or fold the flatbreads securely and serve immediately while warm and fresh.
Notes
- For best texture, use dried chickpeas soaked overnight and cooked rather than canned.
- Chilling the falafel mixture helps the patties hold together during cooking.
- Use fresh herbs to enhance the flavor of both falafel and tzatziki sauce.
- Adjust seasoning of tzatziki according to your taste preferences.
- This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with chickpea flour or gluten-free flour.
- Feta cheese is optional and can be omitted for a vegetarian but not vegan wrap.
