15 Fantastic and Inventive Plant-Based Falafel Dishes

Falafel is a Middle Eastern staple and makes the most amazing vegan go-to! It’s rich in protein and flavor and pretty easy to make for yourself at home.

Traditionally, it is made with chickpeas and deep-fried and is often served with salad, pita bread, and tahini sauce. That said, there have been many incarnations of falafel- baked instead of fried, made into waffles, and even pizza crust.

Whether you are a falafel traditionalist or purist or you are happy to stretch the boundaries a little, here are 15 OGP recipes that will give you some falafel inspiration.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Bean Archives!

1. Healthy Falafel

Source: Healthy Falafel

This Healthy Falafel by Katia Martin is packed full of nutrition and is super yummy. Top it with the tahini sauce, and you’re in falafel heaven! These are deep-fried, but they taste just as amazing when you bake them!

2. Chickpea and Pistachio Falafel

Source: Chickpea and Pistachio Falafel

This Chickpea and Pistachio Falafel by Sienna Formosa is so simple to make! The addition of falafels adds some crunch and a delightfully nutty flavor. You’ll have a hard time resisting these fresh out of the oven.

3. Falafel Waffle

Source: Falafel Waffle

Falafel waffle. Fun to say, delicious to eat. The result is a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside savory Falafel Waffle by Natalie Slater– no deep frying required! This hummus recipe is great with pita and veggies as well, just reduce the amount of tahini to a few tablespoons. This falafel waffle might be one of your new favorites! It’s got a great texture, flavor, and shape! Why not give it a go?

4. Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel

Source: Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel

This Baked Roasted Poblano Kale Falafel by Stephanie McKinnie is simply outstanding! Roasted poblano peppers give them a smoky, spicy kick, and since they are baked using a very small (optional, even!) amount of oil, they are much better for you than fried falafel. Not to mention every bit as delicious! You can dress these falafels up however you like, with pita bread, fresh veggies, and tahini sauce.

5. Sweet Potato Falafel

Source: Sweet Potato Falafel

This baked Sweet Potato Falafel by Lenny Wu is crispy and super flavorful! It’s also full of nutrients and perfect for prepping ahead. Made with sweet potato, chickpeas, and a delicious blend of seasonings, sweet potato will keep you full and satisfied. They’re also quite easy to make––you have to try them!

6. Baked Carrot Falafel

Source: Baked Carrot Falafel

Try this Baked Carrot Falafel by Mitra Shirmohammadi if you’re looking for a delicious vegan meal that’s loaded with veggies and free from gluten and grains. It’s crispy around the edges, soft inside, and packed with flavor.

7. Authentic Chickpea Falafel

Source: Authentic Chickpea Falafel

Light, crispy, and packed with herby aromas. The best ever chickpea falafel recipe. High in protein, and fiber, and 100% gluten-free. These fried Authentic Chickpea Falafel by Jamie Raftery are often served along with hummus, tahini sauce, and pita bread. They’re also great served with Zhoug, a spicy Syrian herb sauce.

8. Baked Lentil Falafel with Beetroot

Source: Baked Lentil Falafel with Beetroot

Who doesn’t love a good falafel?  Rhetorical question, no need to answer. Baked Lentil Falafel with Beetroot with a creamy hummus dressing by Maggie Wescott is an effortless meal that is bursting with flavor.  This easy falafel recipe is perfect served inside a gluten-free tortilla, on top of a kale salad, or eaten alone as a snack.

9. Falafel Salad With Chia Dressing

Source: Falafel Salad With Chia Dressing

Try this Falafel Salad With Chia Dressing by Andri Neocleous. This vegan salad dressing recipe is packed with nutrients due to chia seeds being one of the main ingredients. Chia seeds are a great addition to a plant-based diet as they are packed full of nutrients hence why they are often referred to as ‘superfoods’. As for the salad, you can be as experimental as you like with the salad ingredients. Anything you do, this salad is scrumptious!

10. Black Bean Falafel

Source: Black Bean Falafel

These Black Bean Falafel by Yana Chistyakova are full of protein and flavor! Seasoned with garlic, parsley, cilantro, salt, and pepper, they are the perfect savory snack or meal! They are great to pack in lunch boxes or bring on the go. You can also put them on salads, rice, veggies, or anything else you want! These black bean falafel taste delicious and are so easy to make! What more could you ask for?

11. Spicy Quinoa Falafel

Source: Spicy Quinoa Falafel

This Spicy Quinoa Falafel by Marie Reginato is a healthier take on traditional falafel. They’re made with all of the traditional falafel ingredients with the addition of quinoa and then fried with coconut oil in a saucepan. With a crispy outside and soft center, these quinoa falafel are heavenly. They are full of flavor and make a great addition to wraps and salads, but are also delicious on their own!

12. Oil-Free Falafel Patties

Source: Oil-Free Falafel Patties

These Oil-Free Falafel Patties by Molly Patrick are so delicious and this one is oil-free as well! They can be added to wraps, and salads, and make a great snack just on their own.

13. Sesame Encrusted Spinach and Almond Falafel

Source: Sesame Encrusted Spinach and Almond Falafel

Falafel is easy to make, delicious to eat and you really can put any type of special “spin” on the recipe. These Sesame Encrusted Spinach and Almond Falafel by Cassandra Star are made with chickpeas, almond meal, and spinach and encrusted with nutty, crunchy sesame seeds. Each falafel is bursting with color, protein, and flavor.

14. Baked Spinach Falafel With Tzatziki and Lemon Tahini Sauce

Source: Baked Spinach Falafel With Tzatziki and Lemon Tahini Sauce

This Baked Spinach Falafel With Tzatziki and Lemon Tahini Sauce by Mitra Shirmohammadi is crispy outside and soft inside, just how it should be! You only need 5 main ingredients and 4 spices and they take less than 30 minutes to prepare. They’re free from gluten, grains, dairy, eggs, and soy, making them a super allergy-friendly food!

15. Falafel Crust Pizza

Source: Falafel Crust Pizza

Two of the best foods ever combined into one: falafel and pizza! The crust on this awesome dish is unforgettable. You have to give this Falafel Crust Pizza by Stephanie Davies a try.

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!