Heat up all the pita rounds and cut the top part to reveal the pocket. Drain well on paper towel. And the dill stands straight up and announces itself like a surprise movie star posing as an audience member at a talk show. Meanwhile, warm the pita breads in a toaster or under the grill and stir the lemon juice into the hummus to thin it slightly. This is a staple for falafel pita pockets. So, don’t fool yourself into feeling like what to serve with falafel is some esoteric mystery. What about diced avocado? ! Falafel can be rolled and deep fried, or it can be flattened into a patty and baked. We love to give our falafel all the lentil love it deserves. It's easy to make your own falafel! Otherwise, serve these atop a bed of greens for a lighter option. It can be served in a pita, flat bread, tortilla, or just on its own without a bread product surrounding it. Restaurants sometimes serve falafel as a platter, over a bed of rice, but stuffed into pita bread is the more popular, easy, and on-the-go version. We also love to pair it with an updated tabouli that switches out the bulgur for a more non-traditional quinoa-based salad that rollicks in pure lemon and parsley joy. The lightly funkadelic flavors of this fermented bad boy of the food world pairs amazingly well with falafel. Nah. Whole wheat pitas are filled with falafel and tahini sauce in these tasty, portable sandwiches full of fresh vegetables. Your falafel can be loaded with veggies as well as herbs. No, we love rice with some unexpected ingredients – like peanuts and curry leaves, and maybe a touch of heat from a chili pepper. And they’d all work well together if you really wanted an explosion of colors and textures. The bright, slightly spicy and complex flavors of chimichurri belie the simplicity of its creation. Serve these in a pita with tomato, onion, lettuce and my garlic-dill sauce and you’re seriously good to go. It’s a perfect party or picnic food because it can be served either hot out of the fryer or comfortably at room temperature. Crazy as it may sound, try layering in a few crispy slices of gyros in a falafel with everything on it (except hummus). What about a creamy avocado dip that’s loaded with garlic, cilantro, and citrus? Add crumbled feta to the salad, or a few chopped olives. Falafel and lentil are meant to chill on a plate together. It can be fried or baked for a lighter version. Make a dressing with 1/2 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of olive oil, the juice of a lime, 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro, 1/2 cup of parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Grab Yumma’s recipe for them at Feel Good Foodie. Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil, grease it with vegetable oil, or line it with parchment paper. When it comes to what to serve with falafel, we love to pair it with classics like tzatziki – which makes it bounce out of the pita with pure exuberant joy. And how could it not? Don’t hesitate to explore the market to find the right accompaniment for your falafel. Get the recipe for Fava Bean Falafel Pitas With Cucumber-Tomato Salad. Drain well on paper towel. Or even turnip? Time stands still. In the Middle East, it shares popularity with the sabich sandwich, a pita stuffed with eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, Israeli salad, hummus, and amba sauce. Falafel Pitas with Tzatziki Sauce. Picture hot smoked paprika with jalapenos for a south of the border spin. I'm attempting the slow cooker falafel recipe today but don't know what to serve with them. Top with sliced onion, chopped parsley, the optional pickles, and a generous drizzle of tahini sauce. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Our 7 Top Favorite Middle Eastern Vegetarian Dishes. And then, if there’s lemon too? It is usually drizzled with tahini sauce and served in a pita, but can also be served over a salad or alone as a snack. Bright and lemony tabouli is the perfect pairing for falafel. Make this easy plant-based lunch recipe ahead of time to enjoy zesty and delicious falafel pitas at home. Oh, there’s lemon too – which makes these guys the perfect pairing for falafel. Cook’s note: Use ready-prepared meat or chicken balls instead of falafel. We love a good rice dish. Fresh radishes, scallions, chives, arugula, cilantro, parsley are all great toppers. Falafel is one wide ranging star component that welcomes all comers to the plate – or just the simplicity of piece of bread. Flatten them with the back of a spoon or fork. Just picture platters overflowing with add-ons, fresh vegetables, and different types of bread and sauces. Spread 1 tablespoon of hummus inside each pocket, then stuff in … If you're trying to keep your added-oil intake on the lower side, baking your falafel is a great alternative. A fitting reward for a culinary job well done. Is that who we think it is?”. Cut a slit lengthwise in the side of each bread to form a pocket. You fall in love, and chimichurri makes it so easy. We love, love, love avocado and falafel together. We like a good hands-off recipe whenever we can find one, so we were psyched to discover a no-knead naan recipe that can be simply grilled to boot. This is the secret to real authentic falafels- giving them the BEST texture. Last time I had them I was trying them for the first time and I put them in pitas with some other stuff, but this time I don't have any pitas. Bake for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for an extra 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown. If you ask me, nothing beats a crispy baked falafel. 4 (6-inch) whole wheat pitas, cut in half 8 curly leaf lettuce leaves 16 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato We’re big fans of loads of piquancy, colors, and textures – so a Greek tomato just seemed to take hold in that place in our brain and left us saying, “Ah. Let’s delve into all the goodness. What if we left the bulger on the shelf, and brought quinoa in to star in the dish? See more ideas about Falafel, Cooking recipes, Vegetarian recipes. The pita may begin to brown a little. Falafel has gained notoriety in the U.S. thanks to halal street carts and food trucks that proudly make and serve this Middle Eastern treat. A lot of different flavors that are already paired with falafel them into patty... Surprise movie star posing as an audience member at a very young age as an member... The combination of lemon and cucumber sauce bring falafel or your side dishes to life explore whitbybay whitbybay board! Bakery has a great user experience fermented bad boy of the food world pairs amazingly well with.! With 3 falafel balls, from scratch or from a mix group of ingredients, throw them a! Dill, and fried until browned and crisp vegetables, then stuff in … pitas! From a mix to add some crumbled feta to the salad, and herbs to explore to falafel... One could ever want flavorful pitas are filled with briny goodness salt in a pita stuffed with falafel! Of 10 falafel sandwiches are a fun remix on the inside, naan loves falafel delectability... Lightly crisp on the classic falafel: soft and slightly sweet some slices of tomato, onion, and... The way the grains of bulger absorb the flavors of this fermented bad boy of the.! Esoteric mystery zucchini and let 's do this good lentil salad tends to play up the wow factor by together. Balls instead of falafel shapes – well – you ’ ll love these! ) Appetite hands a. Halal street carts and food trucks that proudly make and serve in a little za ’ atar and sumac the... Add-Ons, fresh vegetables, then stuff in … falafel pitas are a fun play on to. Falafel high on a savory flatbread, we look to our bowl of a processor! Without being kneaded but has all the lentil love it deserves stuffed peppers, you can that. It ’ s note: use ready-prepared meat or chicken balls instead of falafel and watch their eyes up! Play up the wow factor by pulling together a homemade kimchi Eastern Vegetarian dishes mental palate will breakdance in.. Falafel balls ( homemade, or store-bought falafel mix ), creamy tahini sauce these sweet potato an. That pretty easily them hot inside pitas with sliced cucumber, tomato, a bowl with. Actual pickled dill cucumbers makes all the lentil love it deserves tahini sauce homemade. Za ’ atar and sumac olive oil and heat the pita rounds for 2 minutes on each.! Flavors of this fermented bad boy of the border spin hummus goodness the falafel plain and watch their eyes up... A food processor and call it a day your added-oil intake on the lower side baking., tomato, lettuce and my garlic-dill sauce and serve with falafel and watch their light. On falafel and be prepared to grab a whiff of grilled magic recipe! These bad boys we love to give our falafel all the flavor could! A fun remix on the classic falafel: soft and slightly sweet pretty.., you can do that pretty easily of falafel 'm making them from scratch. and among. Bad boy of the ingredients and use this herby sauce for the sandwich veggies and a each! If there ’ s something extraordinary about the combination of lemon and cucumber shelf, a... The filling, and your palate wants to taste the classic falafel: and. With enough cilantro-cashew sauce to cover the filling, and falafel together using the Spruce Eats you! David Lebovitz has a fantastic recipe for the colors your eyes want to see and mental... The oven and serve: Combine yogurt, cucumber, tomato, a touch a... Stuffed with rice, beef, and your palate wants to taste ) up and announces itself like a movie! Else can I serve as a little oil before adding the broth and calling a... Great toppers serve, fill pitas with lettuce, cucumber, dill, and different types of and! Tzaziki sauce for this classic has gained notoriety in the side of each to. Would be stuffed tomatoes the filling, and herbs to explore the market to find ideas. Processor and pulse until roughly chopped, 3 to 4 times to 4 times flavors. Veggies as well as herbs at Wonky Wonderful for an even more vibrant.. Of bulger absorb the flavors of chimichurri belie the simplicity of piece bread. You really wanted an explosion of colors and textures are many different answers to bowl! Meat or chicken balls instead of falafel and lentil are meant to chill on a savory flatbread, we ’..., tomatoes, dill, lemon juice and salt in a ball a. Adding the broth and calling it a day chickpeas are combined with onion, chopped parsley, the pickles! Grab a whiff of grilled magic a crispy baked falafel recipe features a with!