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.

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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.
Try a healthier version of air fryer falafel if you want to reduce the amount of oil used.
How To Serve Falafel?
Falafel can be served in several ways;
- The most popular is a falafel pita sandwich, aka, falafel wrap. 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 tarator (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, balela salad, 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.
The Best Falafel Pita Sandwich
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. Want to read about is falafel vegan? an 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
Cucumber Yogurt Salad
Eggplant Dip
Lebanese Hummus
Tips
Some of these dips can be found at your local grocery store (Middle Eastern).
Did you know you can freeze falafel mix! This helps to save time. Another time saver is pre-making the blend of falafel spices and herbs.
Toum
Middle Eastern Hot 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.
Fattoush
Authentic Tabouli
Quinoa Tabouli
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
Arnabeet Mekle
Fries
Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips
Lebanese Pita Bread
Lebanese Grape Leaves
FAQ
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.
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 gluten free?" 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.
Want to explore some savory options, this list of Lebanese side dishes is filled with little delicious meals, some are good enough as a main.
Did you enjoy this article? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below with your thoughts. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group
Mona
Yummy. Reminds me of being back in Lebanon.
Robert
Great options, this list is authentic, not like some other lists I've seen where unusual foods were listed (kimchi, really?)
Janelle Hama
haha, guess everyone has their tastes