What to Serve With Falafel - 26 Yummy Dishes! - A Pinch of Adventure (2024)

If you’re a regular visitor on my site, chances are you’ve at least heard of falafel, it's one of my top shared recipe and for a good reason. This Middle Eastern food is made from chickpeas and then ground up and formed into a deep-fried ball or patty.

The crispy, herb-infused falafel is absolutely delicious by itself, but there’s a problem that I used to run into time and time again when dishing it up: what goes with falafel?

If you’ve been having this same issue, then this is your lucky day! I’ll help you solve this problem as we go over the best falafel pairings to take this delicious dish to the next level.

You’ll no longer have to wonder what to serve with falafel — so let’s dive right in!

Sauces & Dips

1. Easy Falafel Sauce (Lemon Tahini Sauce)

First things first: what sauce goes with falafel? Well, look no further than my lemon tahini sauce!

Not only is this falafel sauce authentic and delicious, but it’s also incredibly simple to make — requiring only five ingredients and five minutes!

Start by squeezing some fresh lemon juice. Then, simply whisk together your tahini, lemon juice, water, a bit of minced garlic and a pinch of salt! Sounds too good to be true, right? But that's really all there is to it!

This is the perfect zesty and creamy sauce to accompany your falafel, and it’s something you can make even if guests arrive on short notice.

I love this sauce so much that whenever I serve falafel, you’re sure to find a bowl (or two!) of this condiment on the side.

2. Tzatziki

Tzatziki sauce is always a hit, whether you’re serving it with some toasted pita or a selection of fresh veggies. But what many people often don’t realize is that this sauce pairs wonderfully with falafel, too!

The cool, creamy mix of cucumber and yogurt reminds me so much of warm summer afternoons. It’s simply the perfect partner to cut through a crisp and herby dish!

Personally I use regular full-fat Greek yogurt, which is easier to find and just as creamy as the traditional sheep or goat yogurt.

Trust me: give this combo a try, and you’ll never go back to plain falafel again.

3. Mint Yogurt Sauce

Cool and minty with just a hint of garlic — it’s insane how good this sauce tastes when paired with some hot and crispy falafel!

This sauce only requires a handful of ingredients (yogurt, mint, and garlic powder) so you can whip it up in under five minutes!

With this one, I like to serve my falafel on a bed of chopped iceberg lettuce and sliced cucumbers. Drizzle this sauce over the top, and chow down a serving (or two, or three!).

Phew, I'm drooling just thinking about it.

4. Authentic Lebanese Hummus

I’ll admit it: I might have a slight obsession with this falafel and hummus combo. But before you judge me, try it out for yourself — you’ll soon understand why!

Creamy hummus scooped up with a crispy falafel patty is simply out of this world.

Not only that, but the hummus is also dead simple to make; just five ingredients and five minutes.

Grab your handy-dandy food processor (blenders just don’t cut it!) and toss in your ingredients. Don't forget to reserve the liquid from the canned chickpeas, though; we're gonna need it.

Fire up your processor and slowly drizzle in about ¼ cup of the bean juice, followed by an equally patient stream of olive oil. And dinner is served. Easy-peasy!!

You now have delicious, creamy hummus that's just yearning for pita bread and falafel.

5. Baba Ganoush

This smoked eggplant dip has been my go-to order at Mediterranean restaurants for a long time, but I never thought I’d be able to recreate it at home.

As it turns out, it’s so simple to make that I’ve been kicking myself for not trying sooner!

Baba ganoush is quick to prep and cook and only needs eggplants, olive oil, lemon juice, and tahini.

Creamy and garlicky, this dip is exploding with flavors that complement falafel’s herby taste. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

6. Easy Homemade Pesto

In my opinion, pesto is an incredibly underrated falafel pairing. A fresh and herby pesto really brings out the intense flavors of a falafel — and as a bonus, takes barely any time at all to make!

Pesto is so versatile; I love to blend up a big batch and eat it throughout the week. That’s not to mention it’s incredibly healthy too!

7. Avocado Dipping Sauce

Avocado lovers: this one's for you. A hot and crispy falafel dipped into this cool, creamy sauce? The contrasting textures and flavors are about to blow your mind!

It’s so simple to make and takes only a few ingredients, making it the perfect partner for summer sharing platters!

Breads

1 Homemade Pita Bread

A delicious homemade pita bread is by far the falafel complement that I eat the most.

This soft, fluffy bread is a Middle Eastern staple, and it goes well with pretty much anything!

Pita bread is super easy to make and can be served in so many different ways. Here’s my go-to serving method: open the pita pocket and slide a crispy falafel inside, along with some diced cucumber or veggies of your choice.

To finish it off, top with a drizzle of your favorite sauce, and boom — a perfect, easy meal!

2. Za’atar Bread

This Middle Eastern flatbread is a delicious, flavor-packed rustic tart that pairs wonderfully with falafel.

Za’atar bread is traditionally a breakfast food, which is why you’ll often catch me starting my day with one that’s topped with piping hot falafel and a creamy sauce. Please, no judgment until you try it yourself!

It’s not just limited to breakfast, either! This combination is seriously delicious at any time of the day.

3. Pita Chips

Do you have some pita bread leftovers that are just lying around? Don’t put them to waste — turn them into pita chips instead!

The crunch of these pita chips paired with the soft and fluffy inside of a falafel is absolutely perfect. A big plate of pita chips and falafel is the ideal snack for a get-together (or even just for yourself).

Take it from me: you seriously have to try falafel with homemade pita chips. They’re worlds better than what you can buy from the store, and you can even play around with herbs and seasoning!

Salads

1. Tabouli

I don’t know about you, but my friends and family have endless debates about what salad goes well with falafel. Tabouli salad — now that’s a hill I’m willing to die on!

Hear me out: a traditional tabouli salad is one of the easiest ways to add a bit more bulk to your meal.

It’s also simple to make, tastes delicious, and will really level up your falafel from a simple snack to a full, balanced dinner!

Tabouli salad offers plenty of texture with all the fresh veggies that go into it. By far, this is my top pick for those summer nights when I want a satisfying meal but can’t stand spending long hours in a hot kitchen!

2. Fattoush Salad

Okay – I may be partial to tabouli, but there are also other salads that I love with falafel as well.

For instance, fattoush salad is something that I wish I had known about sooner!

It’s a veggie-packed chopped salad that’s already full of Lebanese spices, but it really reaches new flavor dimensions when topped with falafel.

The flavors work so well in tandem and the crisp veggies paired with the fluffy falafel provide incredibly contrasting textures!

3. Shirazi Salad

This cucumber and tomato salad is so full of color and flavor that it’s a treat for all your senses. I’ll be honest — this one is a little addictive.

Whenever I sit down to eat this, I find myself scooping heaps onto my falafel. The good news is that this salad is so healthy, I can chow down on it guilt-free!

4. Couscous Salad

A couscous salad is a delicious meal in and of itself, but adding some falafel to the mix? Now we’re talking!

Like many other salads on this list, couscous is light and fresh – making it an excellent partner to the dense quality of falafel. The pairing is simply wonderful.

Although it might seem like it takes forever to make, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. You can have a nice bowl of couscous salad in just 10 minutes, perfect for lunch or dinner!

5. Mediterranean Lentil Salad

Have you ever tried falafel with a Mediterranean lentil salad? If you haven’t yet, then you’re really missing out!

This salad is a gorgeous combination of all the colors, flavors, and textures you can imagine.

Traditionally, it contains bell peppers, green beans, lentils, feta cheese, lemon juice, and olive oil. Realistically, you can throw in any veggies you like!

It’s no surprise that this salad is rich in fiber and protein, and falafel pairs wonderfully with the flavors of the vinaigrette which makes for a satisfying and delicious meal.

When I first tried this, it quickly became my go-to for when I wanted something filling and nutritious!

Side Dishes

1. Vermicelli Rice

A bowl of steaming vermicelli rice pairs so well with a variety of foods – but in my opinion, there’s nothing better to serve it with than falafel!

That’s because falafel brings a complex flavor palette and unique texture to what would ordinarily be a simple rice dish.

The best part is that this rice is so quick and easy to make, you can be enjoying this meal in no time at all.

2. Mujadara

This Lebanese lentil soup is another seriously underrated dish to pair with falafel. I love dipping some crispy falafel patties into this flavor-packed, savory soup on a cold evening.

Mujadara is known as the “poor man's stew” because it is so cheap to make, which is another bonus in my books. Delicious warm food on a budget — what’s not to love?

3. Fried Potatoes and Onions

Crispy fried potatoes, onion, and falafel? Now, this is a match made in heaven!

I’ll happily admit that this is my late-night fried food craving snack (guilty!), and there are plenty of reasons why.

For one, it’s incredibly quick and easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. I also can’t help it if this is one of the most mouth-watering dishes I’ve ever tried!

Here’s how to make it even better: complement those hot and crispy potatoes, onions, and falafel with a cool and creamy sauce. It’ll be one of the most delicious meals you’ve ever tasted!

4. Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

Now this one may sound a little strange — falafel, which is typically made from blended chickpeas, paired with … more chickpeas?

Hear me out on this one. The texture difference between these two is what really makes it an incredible combination!

Salty, crunchy roasted chickpeas with a hot and fluffy falafel are truly as amazing as it sounds.

5. Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra)

If you’re tired of other potato dishes, give these spicy, pan-roasted potatoes a go!

The spice in the potatoes blends seamlessly with the herbs in the falafel, making this an insanely flavorful (yet balanced) meal.

Not only that, but these potatoes are super simple to make and require only a few ingredients. You’ll have a wonderful bowl in just under an hour!

6. Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)

Stuffed grape leaves? I’ll admit that I was also skeptical before trying this dish, but its inclusion on this list is solid proof that you should never be afraid to try something new!

These stuffed grape leaves have so many subtle flavors, with each one emphasizing the flavor notes in falafel.

I personally like to roll my falafel up inside the grape leaves along with any other fillings that are present – and then dip the whole thing in tzatziki. Trust me, the taste is incredible!

Toppings & Garnishes

1. Sumac Onions

If you’re as big a fan of onions as I am, then you’re definitely going to want to try this recipe!

The zesty bite of sumac onions alongside the falafel’s savory tang has got to be one of my favorite combinations ever.

In addition, these sumac onions are so simple to make and are a great addition to a variety of other meals.

I personally love to add them to a homemade pita bread pocket alongside my falafel!

2. Feta Cheese

Sometimes, you can be absolutely overwhelmed with the number of options available when it comes to what to eat with falafel.

During times like these, why not go for the basics and munch on your falafel with feta cheese?

Creamy, salty feta cheese works incredibly well with subtly herby flavors. On lazy days, I like to toss feta through some salad and serve this up with my plate of hot falafel. It’s simple, reliable – perfect!

3. Halloumi

This is another cheese that works wonders alongside falafel. The extremely unique salty-sweet flavor of halloumi shines a spotlight on the fragrant savory dish.

Aside from that, the textures contrast nicely too! A distinctively gooey, rubbery texture of halloumi combined with the crispy yet fluffy quality of falafel? That might just be heaven in food form!

4. Caramelized Mushrooms

Caramelized mushrooms aren’t just for burgers or steaks — try them with a plateful of falafel too!

I’m a mushroom lover, so I must say this is one of my personal favorites. It’s also because the rich, spicy flavor of these caramelized mushrooms is so great at bringing out falafel’s more subdued flavors!

Here’s how I usually prepare these together: I top my falafel patties with a spoonful of these mushrooms. And to make it a true masterpiece, I finish by drizzling a bit of creamy sauce over them both.

Trust me when I say that this pairing is an excellent snack (or even meal)!

5. Kimchi

I am a complete kimchi addict. I will eat this crunchy, spicy cabbage side dish with anything – and falafel is no exception!

The sharp, tangy bite of the kimchi adds new flavor layers to any falafel dish, so having the two together is always a treat.

Keep in mind though that you’ll only need a small amount of kimchi as it can really pack a punch – especially if you’re not used to spicy foods!

📖 Recipe