If you’re wondering what to serve with your falafel, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 51 of the most popular side dishes for falafel.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes for falafel include lemon rice, grilled vegetable skewers, pita chips, and baba ganoush. To keep things light, you can serve a salad like quinoa tabbouleh or fattoush salad. Or you can go for something more comforting like lentil soup or gazpacho.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Starch
Falafels by themselves can’t make a complete meal, so starchy, filling side dishes are a must-have.
You can go with something simple but refreshing like lemon rice, or stick with your falafels’ Mediterranean roots and whip up some traditional stuffed grape leaves.
Another traditional option is to stuff the falafels in pita pockets for an on-the-go meal.
Lemon rice
Lemon rice is a delicious way to turn plain old boring rice into an irresistible side for your falafel.
I always add a little extra lemon zest and juice than the recipe calls for to make sure I get loads of flavor!
Pressure Cooking Today’s recipe also uses fresh parsley for that extra bit of color and freshness.
Featured recipe
Instant pot lemon rice
Go Middle Eastern
Mujaddara (spiced lentils, rice, and onions)
Preheat the oven
Baked mushroom rice
Quinoa stuffed peppers
Quinoa stuffed peppers, as the name suggests, are simply bell peppers filled with a tasty mixture of quinoa and ground beef.
Serve these with your falafel and a dipping sauce to have a delicious and balanced meal.
Healthy, hearty, and oh so moreish!
And the best part? You can have this easy-to-make recipe prepped in under 10 minutes.
Featured recipe
Quinoa stuffed peppers
Keep it simple
Herbed lemon quinoa
Skip the quinoa
Greek orzo stuffed red peppers
Sweet potato fries
Crispy but tender, sweet Potato Fries make the perfect side dish for a falafel wrap, and you can flavor them however you like.
This recipe pumps up the flavor by tossing the fries with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Another flavor combination I like is Cajun seasoning.
And don’t forget your ranch dip!
Featured recipe
Sweet potato fries
Make it fun
Smashed sweet potatoes
Make it low-carb
Air fryer jicama fries
Stuffed grape leaves
Stuffed Grape Leaves, also known as Dolmas, are a finger food popular in the Mediterranean.
It’s a flavor-filled dish with fluffy rice, ground beef, and a variety of earthy herbs and spices.
The recipe includes many steps, but don’t be intimidated.
Each step is easy to follow.
This fabulous recipe from Feel Good Foodie is a family-approved!
Featured recipe
Stuffed grape leaves
Make it meatless
Vegetarian-stuffed grape leaves
Make it different
Cauliflower dolmas
Garlic pita toast
Homemade garlic pita toast is easy to make with just a few minutes of prep time.
Tuck your freshly cooked falafels into some freshly heated garlic pita toast, along with green leaves, chopped olives, banana peppers, and a splash of hot sauce.
Thank me later!
Or use the garlic toasts as to dip in some creamy hummus or baba ganoush.
Featured recipe
Garlic pita toast
Back to basics
Homemade pita bread
Keep it simple
Two-ingredient flatbread
Dipping sauce and condiments
Falafels on their own are tasty, but a good dipping sauce takes them up a notch. My favorite is tzatziki, for its creamy, cooling bite.
Avoiding dairy? Hummus and tahini are delicious options too.
And if you’re not a sauce person, try pairing your falafels with pickled vegetables for a tangy palate cleanser.
Homemade tzatziki
Falafel is great, but if there’s one complaint I tend to have, it’s that it can be dry.
Serving your falafel with a creamy dip or sauce means that’s never going to be an issue!
Tzatziki is a Greek dip made mainly from yogurt and cucumbers, making it super cooling and perfect for a scorching hot summer day.
Featured recipe
Homemade tzatziki
Make a classic
Lemon aioli
Make it spicy
Harissa yogurt dip
Kimchi
An Asian side dish that goes great with Mediterranean food? That’s Kimchi!
It’s such a versatile dish and you can pair with almost anything, including some crispy falafel.
Made from salted, fermented vegetables (usually cabbage and radishes) Kimchi has a unique flavor and a spicy kick to it.
You’ll love the added tang in your meal!
Foodie traveler Seonkyoung Longest has a quick and easy-to-follow authentic kimchi recipe.
Featured recipe
Quick kimchi
Add crunch
Cubed radish kimchi
Skip the heat
White kimchi
Pickled turnips
Who would be able resist these pink, beautifully pickled turnips?
They look great, and taste amazing.
But wait, there’s more!
Turnips are healthy, crunchy, and sweet too!
Check out this Middle Eastern pickled turnips recipe from Silk Road Recipes for a yummy and vibrant side dish.
Featured recipe
Pickled turnips
Make it basic
Pickled red onions
Add a fruity twist
Instant mango pickle
Baba ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a popular Levantine appetizer that consists of roasted eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, and a selection of other spices.
It’s creamy texture can be misleading and give you the impression it’s fatty, but It’s actually pretty low in calories coming in at just 87 calories per 100 grams.
The Mediterranean Dish’s authentic Baba Ganoush is a must-try!
Featured recipe
Baba ganoush
Go Greek
Melitzanosalata
Another classic
Hummus
Vegetables
I know falafels are already pretty healthy, but it can never hurt to make your meal healthier by serving a veggie side dish.
Roasted veggies are a popular choice but when the sun is out, I like to fire up the grill for some vegetable skewers.
And if you’re in a rush, simple steamed green beans or sauteed spinach leaves are your best friends.
Sautéed mushrooms
Sautéed mushrooms are the perfect accompaniment for some hearty falafel when you’re going for more of a dinner vibe.
They’re really easy to prepare and delicious all by themselves
You can also make extra and have the leftovers for breakfast with some eggs.
In this recipe by Oh Sweet Basil, you only need 5 ingredients (including one secret sauce you won’t be expecting) to get going.
Featured recipe
Italian sauteed mushrooms
Make it unique
Garlic herb-marinated mushrooms
Make it creamy
Tuscan mushrooms
Grilled vegetable skewers
These gorgeous and colorful veggies layered onto skewers are a summer classic, but you can also make them year-round on an indoor grill and enjoy them with your falafel.
You can use whatever veggies you like, as long as they can withstand grilling, so this side is GREAT for clearing out your fridge.
Psst… get your guests involved and have them make their own skewers.
Featured recipe
Grilled vegetable skewers
Skip the grill
Steam-fried vegetables
Fire up the oven
Za’atar roasted vegetables
Garlic broccoli
This garlicky sauteed broccoli dish is great when you’ve left everything to the last minute but don’t want to compromise on flavor.
The broccoli will be perfectly tender, and the mix of garlic and sesame seeds gives the dish a fun oriental spin.
All you need is 15 minutes to get it on the table!
Featured recipe
Garlic sauteed broccoli
Make it healthier
Steamed broccoli
Keep it fresh
Broccoli slaw
Salads
Falafels and salads make for a perfectly light but satisfying meal. You can never go wrong with a tabbouleh, but you can also go with something leafy, like arugula or spinach salad.
And if you’re not a fan of leafy greens, don’t fret.
Even a quick tomato and cucumber medley will do the trick.
Quinoa tabbouleh salad
Can you make a Tabbouleh with Quinoa? The answer is, “oh yes!”
In Mediterranean recipes, tabbouleh is traditionally made with bulgur – a grain made from cracked wheat.
But if you can’t find it at your local grocery store, quinoa is a great alternative.
Quinoa makes the salad gluten-free and gives you a healthy boost of protein and nutrients.
It’s light, refreshing, and a perfect pair to your fried or baked falafel.
Featured recipe
Quinoa tabbouleh salad
Go traditional
Classic tabbouleh salad
Make it autumnal
Sweet potato and quinoa salad
Fattoush salad
Another one of the many Mediterranean salads I enjoy eating is the “Fattoush” – a Levantine side dish mixed with lettuce, parsley, cucumbers, radishes, and other seasonal vegetables.
This dish is oil-free, gluten-free, and completely plant-based.
Super healthy!
Try this Lebanese fattoush from Mommy and Me Kitchen Adventures.
Featured recipe
Fattoush salad
Make a favorite
Caesar salad
Make it colorful
Garden salad
Panzanella salad
If you think croutons are the best part of a salad, this Italian salad is a must-try.
The croutons will soak up all the juices from the tomatoes and the tangy vinaigrette, making each bite oh-so-flavorful.
The Mediterranean Dish suggests using crusty loaves like country bread or ciabatta, but I’ve also tried this with toasted cornbread and it tasted fabulous.
Featured recipe
Panzanella salad
Make it quick
Balsamic tomato salad
Make it summery
Corn and tomato salad
Soups
If you’re craving for a warm and comforting meal, pairing your falafels with a piping hot bowl of soup is the way to go.
They go great with a rich butternut squash soup or a healthier cauliflower soup.
But not all soups need to be warm – a serving of gazpacho will refresh you on a hot summer day.
Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a refreshing no-cook cold soup made with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, grilled peppers, and cucumbers.
It requires zero cooking time, so it’s perfect as a last-minute side dish.
Serve with some freshly cooked falafel for a refreshing meal!
Head over to Spend with Pennies for this super easy gazpacho recipe.
Featured recipe
Gazpacho
Add a sweet twist
Corn gazpacho
Make it creamy
Cold cucumber soup
Lentil soup
Red and yellow lentils spiced with an Indian twist?
Super delicious.
Serve this lentil soup together with some baked falafel, and you’ll have everyone asking for a second serving… or more!
Psst… the garlic pita toasts are also super tasty dipped in this soup.
Featured recipe
Lentil soup
Make it silky
Carrot ginger soup
Make it basic
Tomato soup
The best side dishes for falafel
- Quinoa tabbouleh salad
- Kimchi
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Grilled vegetable skewers
- Gazpacho
- Garlic broccoli
- Sweet potato fries
- Lemon rice
- Stuffed Grape leaves
- Quinoa stuffed peppers
- Garlic pita toast
- Pickled turnips
- Baba ganoush
- Panzanella salad
- Fattoush salad
- Lentil soup
- Tzatziki
What To Serve With Falafel
Ingredients
- 1 portion Lemon rice
- 1 portion Lentil soup
- 1 portion Vegetable skewers
- 1 portion Stuffed grape leaves
- 1 portion Garlic pita toasts … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your falafel according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside them.
- Sides include quinoa tabbouleh salad, kimchi, sautéed mushrooms, grilled vegetable skewers, gazpacho, garlic broccoli, sweet potato fries, lemon rice, stuffed grape leaves, quinoa stuffed peppers, garlic pita toast, pickled turnips, baba ganoush, fattoush salad, and lentil soup.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
![25 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Matcha [Sweet And Savory]](https://pantryandlarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Matcha-recipes-200x200.jpg)
