Classic Falafel Sandwich Recipe

The falafel is a classic Middle Eastern food that's made of chickpeas, fresh herbs, spices, onion, and garlic, all ground up, formed into patties or balls, and usually deep-fried. Falafel can be enjoyed in many ways, such as atop a salad with hummus or tucked into a pita as a sandwich. A sandwich made with the crunchy patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy tahini sauce, all piled into a soft pita bread is pretty hard to beat. It makes the ultimate on-the-go lunch or late-night snack when you're out at the bars with friends.

Whether you love falafel or have yet to try it, we have a scrumptious sandwich recipe you need to try, brought to you by recipe developer Alexandra Shytsman of The New Baguette. The great news is that falafel is relatively simple to make at home, although it does require some planning in advance (to soak the chickpeas), as well as having a food processor handy. Our version is a slightly healthier take on the classic since the patties are baked. Baking falafel requires way less oil than deep-frying but does not sacrifice the flavor or texture.

Making falafel from scratch starts by soaking dried chickpeas. Because these chickpeas are not pre-cooked, soaking is necessary to soften them enough to be ground up. The day before you want to make falafel, place your chickpeas in a large bowl, and cover them with a few inches of water. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for at least 12 hours, or up to 24. (There are some recipes that call for canned chickpeas, which is not the authentic technique and results in mushy falafel. But, it is faster.)

Once your chickpeas are softened, gather the other ingredients — garlic, onion, fresh herbs, and spices — and get your food processor ready.

To start, rinse the chickpeas and drain them really well to avoid adding any extra moisture to the mixture. Transfer them to a food processor, then add the onion, garlic, and herbs, and grind everything until it is the texture of a coarse meal.

You can use a white or red onion when making falafel, as well as parsley or cilantro, or a mixture of both. The fresh herbs give falafel its signature green hue and verdant flavor.

Next, transfer the mixture to a large bowl, and stir in the spices, baking powder, and chickpea flour. The baking powder makes the falafel light and fluffy, while the chickpea flour helps bind everything together. When the mixture is ready, place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will ensure the falafel patties keep their shape during cooking.

To cook the falafel patties, preheat your oven to 450 F. Pour enough oil into a rimmed baking sheet to evenly coat the bottom. Using your hands, form the mixture into small patties. (If the patties are not holding their shape well, toss in a few more tablespoons of chickpea flour to bring the mixture together.) Then, bake the falafel for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them once halfway through until they're crunchy and golden brown on both sides. Alternatively, you can pan-fry the falafel in a non-stick skillet over medium heat for four to five minutes per side.

While the falafel cooks, gather the remaining sandwich ingredients — the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, tahini, and pita bread. To make the tahini sauce, whisk some lemon juice, water, and salt into the tahini, until it reaches a pourable consistency and has a bright, tangy flavor.

Last but not least, assemble the sandwiches by tucking a few falafel patties with some vegetables into pita pockets, and drizzling everything with the sauce. Alternatively, you can do away with the pita bread and make a salad instead. If you choose to go this route, combine the vegetables in a bowl, top with the falafel, and drizzle with the tahini sauce.