10 Best Falafel Sauce Recipes (2024)

Table of Contents

What is falafel How is falafel served Is falafel served with tahini, tzatziki or hummus? Best falafel sauce ideas Creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce Thick Greek Tzatziki Dip Fresh Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing/Sauce Creamy Yogurt-Dill Sauce with Feta Easy Garlic Kebab Sauce Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Sauce) Garlic Dipping Sauce (Lebanese Toum) Turkish Red Pepper and Walnut Dip (Muhammara) Vegan Tzatziki Recipe Easy Lemon Tahini Falafel Sauce Ingredients Instructions Notes Nutrition You may also like Meet the Author FAQs References

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Wondering what the best sauce to serve with falafel is? I've got you covered with this handy list of 10 best sauce recipes, including the classic tahini lemon sauce, tzatziki, Mediterranean yogurt-based sauces and more.

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What is falafel
How is falafel served
Is falafel served with tahini, tzatziki or hummus?
Best falafel sauce ideas
Creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce
Thick Greek Tzatziki Dip
Fresh Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing/Sauce
Creamy Yogurt-Dill Sauce with Feta
Easy Garlic Kebab Sauce
Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce
Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Sauce)
Garlic Dipping Sauce (Lebanese Toum)
Turkish Red Pepper and Walnut Dip (Muhammara)
Vegan Tzatziki
Recipe
You may also like
Meet the Author

What is falafel

Falafel is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dish made with a mixture of ground chickpeas, onion, garlic, fresh herbs and spices. It is typically rolled into round balls or shaped into discs or patties and deep fried until golden brown. Falafel originates from Egypt where fava beans are traditionally used instead of chickpeas but it has become a popular dish in most Middle Eastern cuisines, including Lebanese, Turkish, Moroccan and Israeli.

Though typically deep fried in oil, falafel patties can also be baked or air fried for a healthier verison of this iconic vegetarian dish. Check out my Easy Air Fryer Falafel Recipe that uses canned chickpeas and as long as you have a food processor, it requires very little time to make. It comes out is wonderfully crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside!

How is falafel served

Falafel can be served in many different ways but it is ALWAYS better with a sauce, either for dipping or for drizzling. Here are the most popular ways to serve this Middle Eastern food staple:

On its own as appetizer, often sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with a side of a dipping sauce (check the sauce list below for options!)
As part of a mezze platter or Falafel Platter, accompanied by fresh pita bread, olives, veggies, pickles and dips
In a falafel sandwich, typically in a pita pocket with greens, veggies and tasty sauce
On top of salads served a bed of greens and veggies, drizzled with salad dressing or falafel sauce
In a tortilla wrap or in this Greek-inspired Falafel Gyro (homemade falafel is wrapped in pita with greens, tomatoes, red onion and tzatziki sauce)

Is falafel served with tahini, tzatziki or hummus?

The short answer is: it depends. In its most traditional form, falafel balls are served with thick lemon tahini dressing made with thick tahini paste (made of sesame seeds), fresh lemon juice, garlic and water (find out how to make it in recipe card at the bottom of this post). This sauce almost always accompanies falafel in Israel and Arab countried of the Middle East. However, because falafel is popular in the whole Mediterranean region and globally at restaurants and take out joints, it is often enjoyed with other sauces and dips, most typically hummus, tzatziki and other yogurt-based sauces.

Best falafel sauce ideas

No matter if you're serving your own falafel or make it from a store-bought mix, you will definitely need a bowl of delicious sauce to go with it. Here is a list of my favorite Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspired sauces that go exceptionally well with falafel.

Creamy Lemon Tahini Sauce

This super simple Lemon Tahini Sauce is the most traditional sauce served with falafel in the Middle East. It's tangy, nutty, garlicky and velvety smooth. It's also incredibly versatile - use it as thick dipping sauce ot thin it out with cold water to make it pourable which makes it perfect as delicious salad dressing. Learn how to make it in the recipe card below!

Thick Greek Tzatziki Dip

Thick Greek tzatziki dip is made with strained yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic and a secret ingredient that makes it super creamy. This authentic recipe is insanely good and perfect for dipping falafel in. Get recipe

Fresh Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing/Sauce

This lemon herb tahini recipe needs only 9 fresh, raw ingredients, and no cooking is involved. Just take your blender, add all ingredients and make this refreshing and earthy sauce in 5 minutes! You will have a nutty, tangy, and green tahini dressing in no time which pairs well with many dishes. Get recipe

Creamy Yogurt-Dill Sauce with Feta

This creamyYogurt-Dill Saucegoes together in just minutes, and is delicious as a dip, dressing, or sauce. Light and fresh, it pairs well with many Greek, Middle Eastern, and Mediterraneanfoods. Get recipe

Easy Garlic Kebab Sauce

Garlic Kebab Sauce is so easy to make at home. With only 5 ingredients this delicious creamy garlicky sauce is ready in just minutes. Serve this Greek garlic sauce slathered over falafel, beef kafta, hot doner, Greek chicken or even as a simple salad dressing. Get recipe

Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce

Learn how to make the best Turkish kebab shop chilli sauce with this homemade recipe. It’s so easy to make and packed full of flavour; you’re going to be pouring this sauce on everything! Get recipe

Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Sauce)

Haydari is a delicious Turkish Yoghurt Dip made with feta cheese, thick strained yogurt, fresh herbs, and chopped walnuts. This tangy dip is one of the most popular mezes in Turkey and also is widely served in Turkish restaurants with kebabs. Perfect for falafel, too! Get recipe

Garlic Dipping Sauce (Lebanese Toum)

Lebanese Garlic Sauce is a thick, creamy sauce with an intense garlic flavor. It is wonderfully delicious served on grilled meats, falafel and shawarma but it can be used on practically anything.This garlicky sauce is dairy-free. Get recipe

Turkish Red Pepper and Walnut Dip (Muhammara)

Muhammara is a savory Turkish red pepper and walnut dip flavored with pomegranate molasses and warm spices. Perfect for falafel, grilled meats or simple pita bread. Get recipe

Vegan Tzatziki

Thick and tangy, this vegan tzatziki is the ultimate summer side dish. Light and refreshing cucumber combined with creamy and garlicky vegan yogurt makes this delicious dip irresistible! Use oat milk yogurt for best results. Get recipe

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Recipe

Easy Lemon Tahini Falafel Sauce

This super simple lemon tahini sauce is the most traditional sauce served with falafel in the Middle East. It's tangy, nutty, garlicky and velvety smooth. It's also incredibly versatile - use it as thick dipping sauce ot thin it out with cold water to make it pourable which makes it perfect as delicious salad dressing.

5 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup tahini
▢ 2-3 tablespoon lemon juice (1 medium lemon)
▢ 1 garlic clove pressed or minced
▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
▢ 2-4 tablespoon cold water

Instructions

In a small bowl whisk together tahini, lemon juice, garlic and salt. The mixture will be thin at first but it will thicken after a few minutes.
Slowly add 2 tablespoons of water and keep whisking to thin the sauce out. If you want it thinner, add more water to reach the desired consistency.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze it, if you want. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

The amount of water will depend on the desired consistency. Add less water if the sauce is meant for dipping and more water if it's meant to be drizzled or used as salad dressing.

Some brands of tahini are thicker than others. If your tahini looks split (with a layer of oil on top), stir it thoroughly until smooth before using. I like Mighty Sesame Co Organic Tahini because it's smooth, creamy and easily sueezable which makes it ready to use.

Taste the sauce and adjust the flavor and consistency by adding more lemon juice, salt, garlic or water. I find that if this sauce sits for a while, it becomes thicker so I tend to add a drop of cold water again right before serving.

Nutrition

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Meet the Author

Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.

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FAQs

What is falafel sauce made of? ›

Lemon Tahini Sauce: A classic sauce made from tahini (ground sesame seeds), lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and water. It has a nutty flavor and creamy texture that pairs well with the crispy falafel.

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Is it better to use dried or canned chickpeas for falafel? ›

Used dried, NOT canned chickpeas.

They'll throw off the ratios in this recipe, and they'll make the patties too wet and mushy. In order to achieve the light texture of traditional falafel, you MUST use dried chickpeas here. Soak them overnight (but don't cook them!) before making the recipe.

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What is the best binder for falafel? ›

Many recipes use egg or flour as a binding agent. I prefer to chill falafel instead, as it keeps them nice and airy with no added filler. Don't skip the chill! It's necessary to ensure they maintain their shape.

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Why is my falafel not fluffy? ›

Falafel have to be crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy in the inside. They have to have enough fresh herbs and onion. Too much onion and your falafel will have a bad after taste. Too little and they won't be as moist and fluffy as they should be.

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Is falafel good for you or bad for you? ›

Falafel has several qualities that may benefit your health in various ways. To start, it's a good source of fiber and plant-based protein, two nutrients that work synergistically to help keep you full for longer throughout the day.

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What is falafel white sauce made of? ›

Preparation. Stir mayonnaise, yogurt, vinegar, pepper, sugar, dill, garlic powder, salt, and 1 Tbsp. water in a medium bowl. Do ahead: Sauce can be made 5 days ahead.

Why shouldn't you use canned chickpeas in falafel? ›

Turns out that dried chickpeas are essential to good falafel. See, canned chickpeas have already been cooked. Starch molecules within them have already burst and released their sticky contents, much of which get washed away in the cooking liquid, leaving the remaining chickpeas with very little clinging power.

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Why do you soak chickpeas for falafel? ›

Always use dry chickpeas.

Dry chickpeas, that have been soaked in water for 24 hours, will give you the best texture and flavor. Dry chickpeas are naturally starchy and will help your falafels to stay well formed. If you use canned chickpeas, your falafel will disintegrate in the frying oil.

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How do you speed up soaking chickpeas for falafel? ›

Soak for 24 hours, adding more water if necessary to keep the chickpeas covered, as they will double in size. For a quicker option, use the quick-soak method: place the beans in a pot, cover with water by about 3 inches, bring to a rolling boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour.

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Why do you put baking soda in falafel? ›

They compliment each other wonderfully as they share an earthy, slightly spicy flavor. Add cayenne for an extra kick. Baking soda — It may seem odd to add baking soda to a savory recipe, but it helps keeps the interior texture of the falafels fluffy.

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Why did my falafel fall apart in the oil? ›

Its the deep frying in oil that should cook the beans. The moisture in the pre cooked beans make the falafels soggy and fall apart whereas frying the uncooked chickpeas makes them crispier.

What is the difference between Egyptian falafel and Lebanese falafel? ›

Falafel is usually made with fava beans in Egyptian cuisine, where it most likely originated, with chickpeas in Palestinian cuisine, or just chickpeas or a combination of both in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the wider Middle East. This version is the most popular in the West.

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What is the best oil to fry falafel? ›

Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. This will give the falafel the characteristic taste of the Mediterranean. As long as you fry on a medium heat, the oil will be good for you. You just don't want the oil to smoke so be careful not to get it too hot.

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How to thicken up falafel mix? ›

A binding ingredient can help keep it together, especially if you are using canned beans instead of dried. And the perfect binding ingredient for falafel is flour. Nothing fancy, just plain all-purpose flour. Add a few tablespoons at a time to your mixture, until you can press it easily into balls or patties.

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How to tell if falafel has gone bad? ›

If the falafel has a sour or off-putting smell, that's an indicator it's gone bad. Discoloration or a slimy texture may also be warning signs.

Keep Reading ›

What is falafel made of? ›

Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas (or fava beans), fresh herbs, and spices that are formed into a small patties or balls. It's thought that falafel originated in Egypt as Coptic Christians looked for a hearty replacement for meat during long seasons of fasting or lent.

What is Lebanese falafel made of? ›

Falafel is a Middle Eastern recipe that is basically mashed chickpeas with herbs and seasonings formed into patties and fried. It's a traditional food in Lebanon that's made with only a few ingredients and served plain with tahini sauce, hummus, or garlic sauce for dipping, or as a falafel sandwich or falafel wrap.

Why is falafel green inside? ›

Falafel is typically ball-shaped, but is sometimes made in other shapes. The inside of falafel may be green (from green herbs such as parsley or green onion), or tan. Sometimes sesame seeds are added on top of the falafel before frying it.