Best Falafel Pita Sandwich Recipe With Salad & Sauce

Warm, crispy, and comforting our EPIC Falafel Pita Sandwich is stuffed with zesty sumac onions, Greek salad and drizzled with tangy Tzatziki and a delectable Indian mint yogurt sauce.

What is falafel?

Falafels are deep fried patties made from ground chickpeas, spices and herbs. A popular Middle Eastern and Mediterranean street food sandwich, the patties are typically served tucked inside the pocket of warm pita bread along with fresh veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Flavorful additions like tahini sauce, tzatziki sauce, hummus, and pickles add additional layers of flavor.

Why make homemade falafel pita sandwich?

• Customizable - By making the ingredients of the sandwich yourself, you can customize the flavors to your preference. Making it with homemade pita bread takes the sandwich up to a new level because homemade pita bread is thinner, softer and very aromatic compared to store-bought pita bread.
• Filling and delicious - The Falafel Pita Sandwich is not only warming and comforting but it also has multiple layers of flavors and textures. From the cooling crispy falafel, creamy tzatziki sauce to the warm pita bread - every bit is an explosion of flavor.
• Simple and great for make-ahead meals - You can make most of the ingredients ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. As a result, the falafel sandwich is ready to eat whenever you are.
• Easy to make - Ingredients are easily available in local supermarkets and no special techniques are required to make this dish.

What you need to make this Falafel Sandwich

Our Falafel Sandwich recipe is made up of six components that we list below.

• Lebanese Pita Bread - you can use store-bought or homemade pita bread.
• Falafel - You can make the falafel from scratch as explained below or a store-bought falafel mix can be used.
• Turkish Sumac Onion Salad - This is a very simple recipe made of red onion, parsley, lemon juice and sumac. If you do not have sumac, you can omit it. Alternatively you can also just use thinly sliced red onion.
• Tzatziki Sauce - This sauce can be store-bought or homemade.
• Greek Salad - Our Greek salad is made up of only a few ingredients like fresh tomatoes and cucumber in a delicious Mediterranean dressing. A simple tomato and cucumber salad or some romaine lettuce can also be substituted to get that fresh crisp crunch.
• Indian Mint Sauce - I love this sauce because you can make it sweet or turn up the heat if you want to. Really good Falafel sandwiches always have some sort of a sauce. You can also substitute this sauce with your favorite sauce e.g., sriracha or a garlic chili sauce.

Falafel Mix Ingredients

All the ingredients for the falafel mix can be easily obtained at any of your local grocery stores.

To make the falafel mix, you will need dried chickpeas, baking soda, yellow onion, grated garlic cloves or garlic powder, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro leaves, baking powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground black pepper, salt, toasted sesame seeds and oil for frying.

Note: Dried chickpeas are the core ingredient for falafel. Avoid using canned chickpeas, as their moisture content is too high for this recipe. Adding flour does not solve the issue as it dulls the chickpea flavor. Dried fava beans can be substituted for chickpeas as they were also used in authentic falafel recipes.

How to make authentic Falafel

Below is a step-by-step description on how to make falafel. For in-depth recipe details, please refer to our post on Falafel.

Step 1: Soak the dried chickpeas. Soak the dried chickpeas with the baking soda in a large mixing bowl, overnight.

Step 2: Make the falafel mix. Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, chopped onion, peeled garlic cloves, fresh parsley leaves, fresh cilantro leaves, baking powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground black pepper, and salt. Pulse until the mixture is finely minced but not pureed. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

The mixture is ready when a pressed handful holds its shape and doesn't crumble. Transfer the falafel mixture to an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 15 minutes.

Step 3: Shape the Falafel Balls. Add the sesame seeds and baking powder to the falafel mix. Mix. Using a small ice cream scoop or a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop out portions of the cold falafel mix and shape them into balls.

Step 4: Fry the falafel balls. In a small deep skillet or Dutch oven, pour at least an inch of oil for frying. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches a temperature of at least 350°F (175°C). Carefully add the falafel balls to the hot oil, a few at a time, to avoid overcrowding the skillet. Fry them until they turn a dark, golden-brown color all over, gently flipping as needed for even cooking. Place on a paper towel so that the falafel has less oil.

Air fryer falafel: Cover the falafel balls with oil using a cooking spray or oil. lightly grease the bottom of the air fryer to prevent sticking. Fry the falafel balls in single layer batches at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, flipping as needed.

Step 5: Assemble the sandwich. Warm the pitas first on medium heat in a saucepan. Slice the warm pitas in half. Pull open the pita pocket exposing the gap. If part of the pita bread is still stuck together (sometimes at the ends, carefully slice through the middle with a sharp knife so that the pita pocket is as big as possible. Add some Greek salad at the base. Top with some tzatziki and sumac red onion. Add 2-3 falafel balls in a single layer depending on the size of the pita. You can add the falafel whole or smash them flat if desired. Add more Greek salad, tzatziki, and sumac onions. Drizzle with the Indian Mint Sauce. Garnish with a drizzle of creamy tahini. Serve immediately.

Tips to make the best Falafel

• Use dried chickpeas: Use dried chickpeas, not canned. Canned chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) have too much moisture and a different texture.
• Soak as long as necessary: Soak the chickpeas for at least 12 hours. You may need to soak them longer (18-24 hours) if they need more time to hydrate. Drain them thoroughly to remove excess moisture.
• Blend do not puree: Pulse the falafel mixture in a food processor until it's minced but not pureed. Stop blending when a pressed handful of the mix holds its shape. If the mix is too wet, use a very small amount of chickpea flour, regular flour or breadcrumbs until the mixture is the correct consistency.
• Refrigerate the mix: Refrigerate the falafel mix for at least 15 minutes. This helps it firm up and makes shaping easier.
• Use an ice cream scoop: Shape falafel into uniform small balls using a scoop or measuring cup for consistent cooking.
• Make sure the oil is hot enough: Heat the frying oil to at least 350°F (175°C) for crispy results. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. If the temperature is too low, the falafel boils will be oily.
• Fry in small batches: Fry falafel in small batches to prevent overcrowding in the pan, which can lead to the oil temperature dropping and uneven cooking.

Tips to make the ultimate Falafel Sandwich

• Fresh Ingredients Matter: Pick fresh herbs and spices whenever possible. Using freshly chopped parsley and cilantro, along with aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and black pepper, will impart vibrant flavors to your falafel mixture. Using fresh pita bread makes a huge difference.
• Dry the cucumber for the Tzatziki Sauce: For the creamiest Tzatziki sauce, use thick Greek yogurt and drain the cucumber to make sure the sauce does not get diluted.
• Adjust the heat in the Indian Mint Sauce: Adjust the spiciness of the Indian Mint Sauce to your preference by varying the number of green chilies used. Start with fewer chilies if you prefer mild heat and increase for a spicier kick.
• If a part of the pita is stuck, slice apart with a knife: Sometimes the pita pocket will not open up completely. You might be able to open it up further if you use a knife to slice through the middle of the pita.

Nutrition

A single serving of this Falafel sandwich has about 333 calories, 17.0 grams of fat, 11.3 grams of protein and 30.2 grams of carbohydrates. 

This recipe yields approximately twelve servings. The nutrition guidance is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

Storage

I do not recommend storing Falafel sandwiches as the sauces and fresh ingredients like tomato will quickly make the bread soggy. Stored in an airtight container, leftover falafel will last about 3 days.

The best way to store a falafel sandwich is to make sauces, salad and falafel mix and fry the falafel and assemble the sandwich right before eating.

Make ahead tips

• Prepare the Falafel Mix in Advance: You can make this falafel recipe ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 2-3 days. Store the Falafel mix in an airtight container. When you're ready to enjoy your sandwiches, simply mix with sesame seeds and baking powder, then shape and fry the falafel patties as directed.
• Prepare Sauce and Salad Components: Stored in an air-tight containers, the Tzatziki sauce, sumac onions, and Greek salad will keep for 2-3 days.
• Warm the Pita Bread: You can quickly warm the pita pockets in the oven or on a stovetop griddle just before assembling your sandwiches. If the pita bread feels a little dry, just add a few drops of water before warming on the stovetop or oven.

How to serve the best Falafel Sandwich

A falafel sandwich is a delicious and satisfying meal on its own, but you can elevate the dining experience by serving it with various side dishes.

Classic choices include crispy French fries and refreshing tabbouleh salad. Add a tangy twist with Middle Eastern pickles or savor the smoky richness of baba ghanoush.

For a cool contrast, you can also serve addition yogurt sauce and Indian Mint Sauce on the side like a dipping sauce. I love dipping my falafel sandwiches into tahini sauce for that extra nutty creaminess.

Fresh fruit adds natural sweetness, while fluffy couscous and roasted vegetables offer diverse flavors.

Variations

There are countless variations of falafel pita sandwiches to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. In addition to flavorful falafel, you can stuff warm pita pockets with fresh veggies, cucumber salad in lime juice, red onion, and use spreads like roasted red hummus and tahini paste. Here are some of my favorite sandwich recipes:

• Greek-Inspired Falafel: Add a Greek twist to your falafel sandwich by including ingredients like crumbled feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and a Greek salad mix with oregano and lemon dressing.
• Mediterranean Falafel: Create a Mediterranean-inspired falafel sandwich by adding roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
• Vegan Falafel Sandwich: Make your falafel entirely plant-based by using a vegan Tzatziki sauce and omitting any dairy-based ingredients. You can also use vegan cheese or omit it altogether.
• Middle Eastern Fusion: Experiment with Middle Eastern fusion flavors by adding ingredients like baba ganoush (eggplant dip), pickled turnips, or harissa sauce to your falafel sandwich.

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