What to Serve With Falafel Balls: 50 Sides
Falafel balls are deep-fried balls or patty made of ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both.
The dish originated in Egypt and/or the Levant region (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan) of the eastern Mediterranean. We’ve got the scoop on what to serve with falafel balls!
They are usually served in warm pita bread or wrapped in a flatbread with tomatoes, lettuce and tahini; but also as appetizers. It is widely popular throughout the Middle East.
Falafel is a Mediterranean dish and is a popular street food for many.
Here are 50 ideas to serve with delicious falafel balls. These side dishes make for the perfect meal!
1. Tahini Sauce
The Tahini sauce filled with rich nutty flavor through ground-up sesame seeds is a great choice for falafel balls.
It delivers a creamy texture that complements the crispiness of the deep-fried dish. It also works well as a dip, which will allow you to mix things up and have it with other types of food as well.
Creamy tahini is a great choice if you are looking to pair your best falafel with.
2. Hummus
Hummus is another great accompaniment due to its earthy and rich flavor as well as its ability to be mashed together with other ingredients to form an amazing spread.
There are so many different recipes for this classic dish out there depending on your preferences, but it’s probably best if you try them all!
Adding olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil to the top of your hummus is a great option for a creamy and splendid texture.
3. French Fries
For some reason, great falafel balls go really well when served with the perfect side of french fries.
It’s a combo that looks odd at first, but it actually works really well together and the two complement each other perfectly.
This is especially useful for children whose favorite dish is french fries.
4. Pickles
Pickles can make for easy sides that many people like to serve with falafel balls because they offer a sour taste to balance out the salty flavor of this food item.
5. Lemon Wedges
Another great addition due to its sourness, lemon wedges work best when you squeeze them over your falafel balls or dip them in order to get their juice into your dish.
The sharpness of the citrus fruit adds a kick that complements the spice of these deep-fried balls quite nicely!
Another way to incorporate lemon can be by adding the lemon zest into your falafel mix to add additional citrus flavors.
6. Pita Bread
Pita bread or a pita pocket might seem like a weird addition, but it is a great option to pair with falafel balls because it’s extremely absorbent.
One of the best ways to pick up your deep-fried ball is by grabbing the falafel with your pita bread and enjoying its flavor that way.
Or simply break apart the pocket and eat your food item that way! It makes for a great falafel sandwich or falafel burger.
This makes for a delicious meal! You can also add in some greek yogurt.
7. Pickled Vegetables
Pickled vegetables will add another layer of crunchiness to your falafel balls, making them taste better than ever before thanks to their unique texture.
If you don’t mind vinegar tasting dishes, this is definitely the way to go and you will only need basic ingredients! A great option for a pickled vegetable side dish is zucchini noodles.
8. Tabbouleh Salad
Tabbouleh salad goes really well with falafel balls because they both have lovely, distinct flavors.
The vegetables in the salad are crunchy and have a unique taste that complements the spices in falafel balls really well.
Adding lemon juice to this traditional falafel recipe will incorporate a citrus flavor and make it even more delicious! You can also create a falafel salad.
You can also make an israeli salad with a crispy falafel.
9. Salsa
Salsa is another great addition because of its earthy flavor as well as its ability to be mixed with other ingredients to form an amazing spread.
There are so many different recipes out there depending on your preferences, but it’s probably best if you try them all!
Salsa incorporates different types of vegetables, so make sure you have your cutting board ready and be prepared to dice these fresh veggies into small pieces.
Sweet red tomatoes are a terrific choice for your key ingredient in salsa. If you want to try something different, try creating pico de gallo with red onions for a flavorful dish!
10. Pesto Sauce
Pesto sauce will give your falafel balls a rich taste that also adds some extra saltiness into the mix – which makes it even more delicious than before!
This sauce, which takes little time to make, works well with most types of deep-fried food items, which means that it’s definitely worth checking out!
If you were wanting to use the pesto sauce as a side dish to accompany your falafels, a few great options are handmade pasta, rice noodles, and green peas.
11. Creamy Salad Dressing
Creamy salad dressing goes really well with falafel balls because they’re both creamy and work well as dips, which will allow you to mix things up and have it with other types of food as well.
Heavy cream is a great ingredient to use when trying to incorporate a creamy texture.
There are so many different ways to make a creamy salad dressing depending on the specific taste you are looking to create. Add this top of a salad with your own falafel.
12. Arugula
Arugula is another ingredient that will make falafel balls taste better than ever before by adding some extra saltiness into the mix!
This earthy leaf also pairs really nicely with falafel balls thanks to their unique flavor profiles. Try adding a little butter to your arugula, and pair it with your falafel for a complete meal!
13. Pickled Carrots (Diavlo)
Pickled carrots are another great accompaniment that many people like to serve with falafel balls because they offer a sour taste to balance out the salty flavor of this food item.
14. Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are also another great accompaniment that will combine well with your falafel balls.
They’re crunchy and have a unique taste that complements the spices in these deep-fried balls really well!
This food item is especially good if you like different flavors incorporated into your meal. The sweet flavors from the sweet potatoes can also make an excellent choice for dessert.
15. Fresh Parsley
Fresh parsley is another great option for either adding to your falafel mix or adding it to the top or side of your already prepared meal.
This delightful herb infuses your falafel with a plethora of flavors while also turning the inside into a stunning shade of vivid green.
If you were looking to substitute the parsley, try opting for cilantro instead to add to your main dish.
16. Hot Sauce
A delectable combination is created when hot sauce and falafel are combined together.
An accompanying flavorful sauce that can be poured on top of or used for dipping is usually offered with the falafel pita sandwiches or the falafel by itself.
The spices used in the sauce are vital and should be tailored to the individual’s preferences.
17. Baba Ganoush
Another great dip that many people like to eat is baba ganoush, which has an earthy taste to it as well as a spicy kick due to its unique flavor profile.
The creaminess of the dip will also help to balance out the saltiness in your falafel balls, which means you can enjoy these two foods together without feeling hungry shortly afterward!
To subtly enhance the spicy kick, try adding black pepper to the top of your prepared Baba Ganoush.
18. Sweet Pepper
Sweet peppers are another great food item to eat with falafel balls because they offer a crunchy texture as well as an earthy flavor that goes really well with deep-fried balls.
These vegetables also help to enhance the flavors of your dish by adding an extra layer of taste – which is why so many people like them!
A good reason why you should add this food item to your falafel meal is that red peppers are high in antioxidants, which help prevent heart disease and cancer.
19. Potatoes
Potatoes might seem like a really random addition, but they actually make for one o the best side to falafel balls because they absorb some of their saltiness and give it a milder taste.
This makes these two items perfect for people who love strong flavors or individuals who want to tone things down a little bit!
20. Spicy Sauces
As mentioned before, sauces are usually accompanied by a falafel pita sandwich or falafels by themselves.
If you were looking to make a homemade sauce, a great option for your key ingredient is called Harissa which is a hot chili paste.
There are plenty of options at your local grocery store to buy a sauce. If you were looking to add a side to your meal, try parmesan green beans and top the beans with your spicy sauce!
21. Onions
Onions go really well with a homemade falafel because they’re crunchy and have a very mild flavor that enhances the earthiness of these deep-fried spheres.
You can either slice them up into rings or dice them for different flavors that you might enjoy more! Red onion and yellow onion adds great flavor.
22. Tzatziki Sauce
The Tzatziki sauce is another type of creamy sauce that pairs really nicely with falafel balls because it’s extremely smooth and has a strong mint flavor to it.
People love using this food item as a dip or simply spreading it on top of their dish for added flavor!
23. Olives
Olives are perfect if you want to add some saltiness to your meals, which is why many people love to eat them with falafel balls.
This food item goes really well with earthy flavors, which is why olive oil is a popular choice for people who love using this type of product in their cooking.
Olives can also be transformed into a delicious snack called tapenade.
Olive tamponade is a great option for a side and becomes tastier when paired with french bread, or any bread you prefer!
24. Pita Chips
Pita chips are another fantastic addition that you can make if you want to add some crunchiness and extra saltiness into the mix!
They’re a nice side dish, or you can simply enjoy them on their own as a snack – it’s your choice!
25. Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are yet another great accompaniment that pairs extremely well with falafel balls because they’re incredibly flavorful and offer a crunchy texture when eaten together.
For a more fulfilling option, try pairing cherry tomatoes with mozzarella cheese for a handmade Caprese salad.
These vegetables also help to enhance the flavors of your dish, which is why so many people love eating them!
26. Carrots
Carrots go well with falafel balls because their earthy taste will help to balance out the flavor profile of this deep-fried food item.
This means you can eat these two together without feeling as though one of them is overpowering the other – which might not be a good thing!
27. Dill Pickles
Dill pickles are another type of pickle that pairs really nicely with falafel balls due to their strong flavor and crunchiness.
The sourness in these vegetables will also make it easier for you if you want to tone down the saltiness in deep-fried spheres by eating them together!
28. Water Chestnuts
Water chestnuts are totally different from the other vegetables on this list because they’re not fruity, but their crunchiness makes them a perfect addition to your meal!
These food items will help to enhance the overall texture of your dish while also improving its flavor profile by absorbing some of the saltiness in the mix!
Try adding your water chestnuts with baby spinach for a healthy and filling side!
29. Tomatoes
Tomatoes go really well with falafel balls because they have a strong earthy taste that works perfectly when they are combined with deep-fried spheres.
You can add these fruits to your meals or serve them as a good side dish – it’s completely up to you!
30. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers offer a fresh crunch that pairs extremely well with deep-fried falafel balls because their earthiness helps to calm down the saltiness in this dish.
You can slice these fruits up and add them to salads or deep-fried dishes if you want a different flavor profile! Another way to utilize bell peppers is by making Peperonata.
This Italian side dish is an easy-to-make combination of sweet bell peppers, olive oil, onions, and tomatoes!
31. Cabbage
Cabbage is another type of green vegetable that will help to balance out flavors in your meal if you eat it with falafel balls.
The reason cabbage works so well is that it contains a lot of water, which means it’ll help to absorb some of the salt from your dish as well as all those delicious spices!
32. Guacamole
Guacamole contains a ton of healthy fats that actually go really well with deep-fried falafel spheres!
You can use this green food item as a dip, or you can serve it on the side if you plan to offer falafel balls at an event.
This is especially common when people serve this dish during parties, so that everyone can enjoy it!
33. Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a great choice to pair with your falafel for a light and delicious side.
All the ingredients you really need to have for this easy dinner are cucumbers, vinegar, sugar, salt, and depending on your preference onion.
There are plenty of great recipe options to choose from online, so it is up to you whether you would like to make a more simple recipe or more flavorful.
You can also make a cucumber sauce to add on top of your crunchy falafel.
34. Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are a great healthy choice to make with your falafels and are especially a great option for anyone who is gluten-free.
Falafels are most commonly paired with pita bread for either making a sandwich or using the pita bread as your ‘utensil’.
A falafel wrap can easily be substituted for the pita bread whether you want to make a sandwich, or you wanted to use the lettuce wraps to scoop up your falafel.
Try pairing the falafel lettuce wraps with balsamic vinaigrette.
The balsamic vinegar will enhance all of the delicious flavors in your falafel, while also adding flavor to your lettuce. Lettuce wraps are also an awesome option if you were looking to meal prep!
35. Chicken Marsala and Lemon Rice
The creamy chicken marsala consists of delicious flavors from cooked mushrooms, dry marsala, chicken stock, and more.
An option for a flavor-packed side is lemon rice. This rice is mixed with different spices that enhance a citrus flavor within the rice.
If you were looking to create a full course meal, and the lemon rice and falafel were not cutting it, try pairing these two foods with a classic chicken marsala that tastes as if it came from your favorite Italian restaurant.
36. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice goes extremely well with falafel balls because it has a tangy yet sweet taste that really enhances some of the flavors in this deep-fried dish.
People usually add lemon juice to falafel balls in order to bring out the earthy taste of the dish while also mellowing down some of its saltiness.
37. Yogurt
Yogurt is another type of dairy product that pairs really well with a deep-fried sphere because it’s full of healthy fats and proteins!
This means that this food item will help your body absorb all the nutrients in deep-fried spheres while also improving their overall texture – no wonder people usually put yogurt into dishes like this!
38. Cheese
Cheese goes extremely well with falafel balls because it has a strong flavor!
People usually combine these two together when making sandwiches or burgers for dinners, but there are tons of other ways you can put these two dishes together!
The cheese will go really well with deep-fried falafel balls due to their similar texture while also enhancing some of the flavors in this dish.
39. Yogurt Sauce
The yogurt sauce is another type of food product that goes extremely well with falafel balls because it has a strong earthy flavor!
You can use yogurt sauce as a dip if you want people to be able to eat these falafel balls more easily – just make its on medium-high heat.
40. Pita Sandwich
A pita sandwich is a classic option for pairing with falafels. A falafel pita sandwich can be made in many ways depending on your preference.
A classic way to make this sandwich is by adding crunch fresh vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more.
If you were looking to meal prep, a great option is creating additional pita sandwiches with the extra protein.
For example, a sliced-up tender caramelized chicken will pair deliciously with your pita and even your falafel.
Try one of the sauces listed throughout this article to pair with your sandwich for a tasty and savory dish!
41. Brown Rice
Brown Rice is another great option for a great side dish to pair with falafel. It’s not only easy to make but is nutritious and packed with healthy benefits.
If you did not want to make brown rice, but still wanted to have rice as your side, there are other options such as cauliflower rice and plain rice that will both still pair deliciously with your falafel.
42. Sesame Seeds
To make your falafel even more delicious, coating in sesame seeds is an easy and tasty option to create.
When coating your falafel balls in the sesame seeds, make sure that you are being delicate with the fried ball, but still pressing the seeds into the falafel to ensure that they will stay on.
Coating the falafel balls in sesame seeds adds a country texture and a nutty and slightly sweet flavor!
43. Sour cream
Sour cream goes extremely well with falafel balls because it has a tangy yet refreshing flavor that’s needed to balance out some of the flavors in this dish.
The sour taste of this food product will go really well with deep-fried spheres if you decide to use it as a condiment, making your experience that much more enjoyable!
44. Paprika
Paprika is another type of hot pepper used in Middle Eastern cuisine that improves the spice levels and enhanced some of its other flavors if added to dishes like these!
People usually add paprika to fried meats and eggs for breakfast – just be sure to sprinkle some of the paprika onto the balls once they’re finished cooking!
45. Ginger
Ginger is a pungent food product that goes really well with falafel balls because it has a sweet and spicy taste that will enhance some of the flavors in this dish if you decide to use it as a condiment.
Make sure you have a sharp knife to use, as ginger is known to be a tough spice to cut through.
People usually add ginger into dishes like these for its powerful flavor, but this ingredient also contains many nutrients, so don’t be afraid to put some on your deep-fried sphere recipe at home!
46. Mint Leaves
Mint leaves go extremely well with fried meatballs because they have an earthy taste that enhances some of the other flavors in sauces or Marin used to cook these dishes.
These types of leaves are usually added to dishes like this so people can actually taste them, although they also contain many nutrients – it’s definitely worth adding these green leaves into your falafel ball recipe!
47. Basil Leaves
Basil leaves go extremely well with fried meatballs because they have an earthy yet slightly spicy taste that enhances some of the other flavors used in sauces or marinade to cook these dishes.
People usually add basil leaves into their recipes for fried balls to be able to taste them more easily because of their unique flavor.
However, this food product also has plenty of important nutrients that will improve overall health!
If you were wanting to incorporate basil leaves into a side dish, broccoli salad is a great choice and the basil leaves will enhance the fresh flavors within the salad
48. Chives
Chives go extremely well with fried balls because they have a pungent flavor that goes really well with other flavors in sauces or marinades used to cook these dishes.
You can use a food processor to chop up the chives.
People usually add this ingredient into their falafel ball recipe so they can taste it more easily – just be sure only to use dried chives when preparing this dish because fresh chives can actually cause allergies! You can also add in fresh herbs.
49. Mint Sauce
Mint sauce goes extremely well with fried balls because it has a sweet yet strong flavor that will enhance some of the other flavors in sauces or marinade if you decide to use it as a condiment for your dish.
People usually add the mint sauce into their recipes for deep-fried spheres due to its unique, powerful taste, although this food item also contains plenty of nutrients that are beneficial!
If you were looking to pair your mint sauce with an additional side dish, try any kind of pasta such as almond noodles, egg noodles, or parmesan-crusted noodles!
50. Tamarind
Tamarind goes extremely well with fried balls because it has a strong yet tangy flavor that will enhance some of the other flavors in sauces or marinade used to cook these dishes.
People usually add tamarind into their recipes for deep-fried spheres due to its unique taste, although this food product also contains plenty of important nutrients that are beneficial!
Tips
There are a variety of recipes for falafel so its important to find one you like with a mixture of chickpeas!
You can buy falafel mixture to help as well and add in chickpea flour for extra flavor. Mix everything in a large bowl.
You can even experiment with making warm falafel on a baking sheet. This will help it get golden brown.
Make sure you have baking powder, grape leaves, chili pepper, dry chickpeas, bread crumbs, and the rest of the ingredients. Plus, soaked chickpeas help them become more digestible.
You can also make gluten-free pita to go with it. If this is your first time deep frying make sure you have hot oil and fry falafel at medium heat temperature.
You’ll need to roll the mixture into a small ball or small patties and add 3/4 inch of oil to a saucepan. The smaller the pan the less inches of oil you’ll need. Use a slotted spoon when frying.
Once done you can leave it at room temperature to cool on a paper towel.
Final Thoughts
Those are just a few recommendations – there are so many other foods that go well with falafel balls because of their unique flavor profiles.
It all comes down to experimenting with different ingredients and seeing what works best for you, which is an exciting process!
Next time you want to make falafels remember to add these delicious recipes. Make any of these sides into falafel bowls. You can search for the best authentic falafel and delicious falafel recipes.
The end result will taste so good!
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