Is Falafel Vegan?

Falafel is a traditional dish originating from the Middle East. It consists of deep-fried balls or patties of ground chickpeas mixed with various seasonings and served in a bread roll.

There are two main types of falafel: a falafel salad and a falafel sandwich. Both versions typically include tahini sauce and pickled vegetables.

Humble Falafel is traditionally eaten as part of a meal consisting of rice, salads, hummus, pickles, and flatbread. However, it is now commonly enjoyed as a snack, especially during Ramadan.

One of the major perks of living in Middle Eastern countries is the availability of falafel.

Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy falafel without worrying about the presence of meat products. Since the batter is made entirely from chickpeas, it does not contain any animal products. In addition, the seasoning used to coat the patties is free of animal products. Therefore, falafel is considered to be vegan.

There are no specific guidelines regarding which foods are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. However, many restaurants will provide options for vegetarian and vegan diners. You can find out whether a restaurant offers vegetarian or vegan dishes by asking before ordering.

If you do decide to eat falafel, you might want to avoid consuming large quantities of it. Although the patties are generally quite low in fat, they are high in carbohydrates. As a result, eating a lot of falafel can lead to weight gain.

Be careful not to consume too much of the tahini sauce, either. Tahini is made from sesame seeds and is rich in saturated fats. Eating too much of this sauce can increase cholesterol levels.

How To Make Vegan Falafel

Falafels are delicious little balls of chickpea flour stuffed with spiced ground meat or vegetables. They’re usually deep-fried, but you can bake them instead. You can serve falafels as appetizers or snacks, or you can stuff them inside pita bread and wrap them up to enjoy as a main course.

Ingredients

These vegan ingredients in the falafel recipe use chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, lemon juice, tahini paste, salt, paprika, coriander powder, baking soda, olive oil, and water. It’s made using a food processor, but you can also use a blender or hand mixer.

Instructions

To make a humble falafel recipe, start by soaking the dried chickpeas overnight. Then drain and rinse them before adding them to the food processor. Add the remaining ingredients except for the baking soda, and pulse until combined.

Next, add 1/2 cup of the mixture to a bowl and stir in the baking soda. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

Form the falafel mixture into small balls and place them on a plate covered with wax paper. Let them sit for 30 minutes before frying.

Fry the falafels in hot vegetable oil until golden brown, turning once. Serve warm with hummus, salad, or rice pilaf.

Chef’s Tips

This recipe makes great vegan falafel. There are lots of options available if you’d prefer to avoid eggs or dairy products. And there are plenty of recipes out there that will work for you. But I wanted to give you my favorite version of the falafel fluffier.

I’ve made this content of falafel several times now, and they never disappoint me. They taste amazing, and they’re super versatile. You can eat them plain, add toppings, or even bake them.

They’re also incredibly easy to make. Just mix the ingredients, let them chill in the fridge for 20 minutes, and fry them up. Done!

Make sure the oil is hot enough before adding the falafel fry oil. When the falafel goes into the frying pan they usually start sizzling. This ensures they stay nice and crispy.

To keep them from sticking to the pan, make sure the falafel is frozen for 20 minutes before frying them. Then place them in the freezer until they’re completely cooled.

Falafel is naturally gluten-free, so you can make them without worrying about cross-contamination. However, if you’d rather make them gluten-free, try replacing the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that is meant for pieces of bread and pastries.

Bake them instead. You can even bake this falafel! Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes then flip and bake on the other sides for 10-15 minutes.

Serving Falafel

Falafel craving is one of those foods that everyone loves. And since it’s made from chickpeas, it’s considered vegetarian. But did you know that you can serve falafel without meat? You can easily swap out the traditional meat filling with any number of delicious alternatives.

For example, you can serve your falafel on pita bread topped with lettuce, sliced cherry tomato, pickles, hummus, and tahini sauce. Or you can serve it in wraps or pitas with a side of salad.

Another tasty alternative is serving your falafel in a sandwich with hummus, pickled vegetables, and tahini sauce instead of using meat. There are lots of options available, so you can find the recipe that works best for your family.

Storing And Freezing

Leftover falafel is also great for freezing before frying or after. Just place the leftover falafel in a container, cover them with olive oil, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze them for up to 2 months. After thawing, heat them in a pan until crispy and serve them hot or cold.

Why Falafels Are Considered Vegan

Forms of Falafel are typically made out of chickpeas, but there are plenty of other options. You can use fava beans instead of chickpeas. Or try combining chickpeas with lentils or mung beans. And don’t forget about tofu! Tofu is a great meat substitute. It takes on the flavors of whatever you add it to, and it also adds moisture.

There are lots of reasons why falafel is considered vegan. First off, falafel is made out of legumes, so it doesn’t involve any animals.

Second, falafel is usually fried in vegetable oil, so no animal products are used either.

Third, falafel is often baked rather than fried, which means it won’t be contaminated with animal fats.

Fourth, falafel is generally eaten as part of a meal, which would mean that eating it wouldn’t require consuming any animal products.

Finally, falafel is sometimes served with hummus, which is made from garbanzo beans, another kind of bean.

So although Ingredients of falafel are traditionally made out of chickpeas, you can easily make it vegan by choosing other kinds of legumes. Try substituting fava beans for chickpeas, or even lentils or mung beans.

And don’t forget tofu! Tofu acts just like meat, and it absorbs the flavors of whatever you cook it with. It makes a great addition to falafel because it adds moisture and helps keep the falafel moist.

Falafel Doesn’t Contain Meat

Traditional Falafel Recipe doesn’t contain any meat, but it does contain chickpeas. Chickpeas are legumes and are considered a bean. Beans are part of the same family as peas and lentils, and all three types of beans are known as pulses. Pulses are high in fiber and low in fat.

So if you’re trying to eat healthier, then you should consider adding falafel to your diet. You won’t miss out on anything, since it tastes great and is super healthy.

In addition to being delicious, falafel is versatile. It can be used as a base ingredient for other foods, including sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta dishes, and stir-fries. It can even be added to pizza toppings.

Since falafel is made from chickpeas, it’s naturally gluten-free. However, if you’re allergic to peanuts, soybeans, wheat, or dairy products, then you may want to avoid eating falafel.

But if you do decide to try restaurant-quality falafel, you’ll find that it’s really tasty. And it’s especially good served warm, straight off the grill.

Are Falafels Suitable For Health Vegans?

Falafels are vegan-friendly. They don’t contain animal products or dairy. They are made mainly with whole food ingredients, including chickpeas. And they are baked instead of deep-fried.

But, if you’re following a plant-based diet for health reasons, you may want to consider avoiding falafels. They are fried in oil, which means they have a high level of saturated fats.

They also contain a fair amount of sodium. On the plus side, they are rich in protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and several important micronutrients.

You should give them a try. Just keep in mind that they are not necessarily a portion of healthy food.