What To Serve With Falafel (The Best Side Dishes)

Are you curious about what to serve with falafel? The famous Middle Eastern street food. In this article, I’ll share a variety of delicious ways to eat and sides to pair with falafel. You should know this list is compiled by someone of Middle Eastern Lebanese heritage, that’s me! Janelle.

a four pic collage of falafel sandwiches, white sauce, salad and crispy potato cubes

Falafel is a food I am very familiar with, it’s a food that I remember eating from my kid years.

My mother would often make homemade falafel (with fava beans and chickpeas (garbanzo beans)) for us on a regular basis, so this list is definitely how most Lebanese folk enjoy their falafel and I am sure you will find some great options in here.

a white round plate filled with brown falafel bowls with green lettuce underneath — A fresh batch of homemade falafel, the recipe is linked above

How To Serve Falafel?

Falafel can be served in several ways;

The most popular is a falafel pita sandwich, aka, falafel wrap which I have linked below with a photo. This can differ slightly between Middle Eastern countries and regions within each country, but typical ingredients include, falafel, fresh parsley, radish, fresh mint, tomato, onion, pickles and a generous amount of tahini sauce.
In a bowl/plate, if you prefer not to have your falafels in a wrap, try making this falafel bowl recipe. Featuring foods such as with lettuce, a side of fries, the falafel sauce, pickled vegetables, radish, mint, parsley, onion, tomato and hummus. Toum (a famous Lebanese garlic sauce) can also be served.
Part of a mezze, which is a spread of small share plates. Common pairings include hummus, Arabic chopped salad, tabouli, fattoush, kabeese (pickles), different types of kibbeh, sambousek (savory pastry), fries, fried cauliflower, baba ghanoush, spicy potatoes and so much more…

The majority of these foods have been listed below.

a stack of pita sandwich rolls filled with falafel and veggies

The Best Falafel Pita Sandwich

Enjoy the Best Falafel Pita Sandwich, Lebanese style. This is the way my Lebanese family enjoys their falafel in a pita wrap. Loaded with fresh crispy falafel balls, fresh herbs, Lebanese pickles and tarator, the lemon tahini sauce.

The Best Falafel Pita Sandwich

a male hand holding a vegan falafel burger with tahini dripping from it

Easy Vegan Falafel Burgers With Tahini Sauce

When the worlds of two beloved street foods, falafel and burgers, collide, the outcome is a delightful fusion of flavors and textures. This vegan falafel burger with tahini sauce, showcases the authentic falafel recipe passed down through generations in my family.

Vegan Falafel Burgers With Tahini Sauce

Falafel Salad

Falafel salad features crispy falafel, fluffy quinoa, and crunchy fresh vegetables, all tossed with a creamy lemon tahini dressing.

Lebanese Falafel Salad

What To Serve With Falafel

Here is a list of side dishes that are commonly served by Middle Easterners when eating falafel which have been categorized by dips and sauces, salads, side dishes.

A combination of these will help to create a satisfying vegan main dish. Yes falafel is vegan, this article that dives into what to look out for.

Dips and Sauces

It is quite common to serve sauces and dips with falafel, the below are typical Middle Eastern recipes that are guaranteed to satisfy you with the flavors.

Falafel Sauce

It's the tahini sauce called tarator that is always paired with falafel. It's creamy, sour (lemon juice) and can be made with or without garlic. You only need minutes and a whisk to whip up this sauce and it is well worth it.

Sauce

Cucumber Yogurt Salad

This Mediterranean dish is traditionally made with yogurt, however, this vegan version is as good. It's cold, refreshing and salty featuring finely chopped cucumbers. I personally love to dip my crispy falafel balls into this, I love the cold and warm combination.

Vegan Cucumber Yogurt Salad

Eggplant Dip

Baba ganoush is a creamy eggplant dip that can be made either smokey and non-smokey, this authentic recipe features dried mint which gives the dip a mild coolness.

a brown clay bowl filled with blended chickpeas topped with whole cooked chickpeas

Lebanese Hommos

Known as hommos bi tahini, this dip is now famous world over. Made with creamy chickpeas, lemon, tahini. It can be used in so many ways, it's a preferred dip in many Lebanese street foods.

Hommos

Tips

Some of these dips can be found at your local grocery store (Middle Eastern).

Did you know you can freeze falafel! This helps to save time. Another time saver is pre-making the blend of falafel spices and herbs.

garlic dipping sauce in a brown bowl with a spoon

Toum

A dollop or a smear of the famous Lebanese garlic sauce known as toum is beloved by many who may deem it the best dipping sauce. It's made predominately with copious amounts of garlic and the extra virgin olive oil. Relatively easy to make, it just requires a little bit of patience.

Lebanese Garlic Sauce

a ceramic bowl filled with crushed green chili sauce

Middle Eastern Hot Sauce

It's a personal preference to add some heat to your food, but this Middle Eastern hot sauce called Shatta is made with freshly crushed chilis, garlic and lemon, it is a great option for folks who love the heat!

Chili Sauce

Salads

Salads are a standard feature when it comes to serving falafel. They can be in the form of a tossed salad or just an assortment of fresh chopped vegetables.

Fatoush

This is one of the national salads of Lebanon. Featuring crispy pita chips and a range of chopped herbs and vegetables tossed through an easy dressing with a sour and tangy flavor. The pomegranate molasses dressing complements falafel so well.

Fatoush

A white bowl of parsley salad with two silver spoons

Authentic Tabouli

A tabouli salad (tabbouleh salad) always works well and is in fact a popular choice. It's fresh, juicy, herby and sour, overall think bright flavors. It's one of Lebanon's national salads made with parsley, tomato, onion and bulgur. For some folk, it is their go-to salad when eating falafel.

Authentic Tabouli

a brown ceramic bowl filled with chopped salad swimming in a whiteish sauce

Tahini Salad

This creamy tahini salad is truly magnificent in its flavor. It really is amazing how simple it is, yet the flavor is way beyond its simplicity. Made with diced tomato, radish and cucumber tossed through a simple tahini dressing.

Arabic Tahini Salad

Side Dishes

Aside from the salads, sauces and dips, other best sides normally served with falafel include pickles, bread, mezze share plates and other types of prepared vegetables. Here are the best side dishes to make up a delicious meal.

Batata Harra

My favorite way to enjoy potatoes, seriously, there is no way you can say no to having seconds. These potatoes are tossed with garlic, chili and cilantro. It's a great side dish! My mouth is watering just writing about it!

Air Fryer Lebanese Spicy Potatoes

air fried cauliflower with tahini sauce and a hand squeezing lemon on top

Arnabeet Mekle

Air fried golden brown cauliflower florets with tahini sauce is a must when eating falafel. The sweetness of the caulilower paired with the crispness of falafel and the sourness of the tahini sauce is chefs kiss.

Lebanese Arnabeet

Fries

Fries or hot chips are the perfect coupling, I like to air fry mine, but you can use any type of fries or hot chips that work for you. Who can say no to potatoes right? It is often served on the side.

Healthier Fries

Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips

These spicy Middle Eastern pink pickles are made with turnips, cauliflower, carrots, and red spicy peppers, and the saltiness adds another level of flavor, this is what drives us Middle Easterners to pair it with our falafel balls. Place a small amount on the side with your plate or wrap.

Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips

Lebanese Pita Bread

Pita Bread / Arabic Bread is perfect for scooping your meal or using it as a pita pocket or as a sandwich. Whichever way you use it, this is commonly served with falafel. (Warm pita bread is also nice too).

Homemade Pita Bread

warak enab in a white plate with one open showing the filling

Lebanese Grape Leaves

These stuffed Lebanese grape leaves are quite delicious as part of a mezze, they are filled with rice, herbs and vegetables and then simmered in a lemon broth. These are generally served cold and make a great addition to a group of small share plates.

Lebanese Grape Leaves Filled With Rice

FAQ

Can falafel be eaten on its own?

Yes, absolutely. Enjoy falafel on its own, or with a sauce, salad, or in a sandwich. Falafel is delicious enough to pop into your mouth without anything else, and a good homemade falafel is neither oily nor dry, making it enjoyable.

Is falafel free of gluten?

The answer isn't always straightforward. Whilst most homemade falafel are made with gluten free ingredients, some may call for the use of wheat flour. Commercially prepared falafel can risk ingredients containing gluten, but also cross contamination. This article answers the question in depth "is falafel gf?" complete with tips.

In conclusion, the best way to serve falafel, is either in a falafel sandwich aka falafel wraps, or with a combination of any of the above foods in a plate.

You may have noticed the trend of enjoying fresh veggies in some form or fashion, so a little bit of any of the above side dishes will definitely satisfy you.

If you're considering falafel for dinner click on that link for more ideas.

Want to explore some savory options, find yourself a Lebanese side dish in this list, it's filled with little delicious meals, some are good enough as a main.

What To Serve With Falafel (Best Side Dishes)