Best Falafel Burger Recipe with Lemon Tahini Sauce (2024)

Falafel burgers make a unique veggie burger option that’s out of this world! The combination of a flavor-packed chickpea patty, delicious sauce, crunchy topping, and fresh bread makes this the BEST falafel burger!!

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When making a transition to eating more plant-based meals, it’s super easy to miss your favorite foods.

One way to counter those cravings is to create delicious and amazing meals that make you forget all about your craving for a regular burger. Vegan falafel burgers definitely do this 💯!

This homemade falafel burger recipe is made using dried chickpeas which is the traditional way to make them. It’s partly why this recipe takes a bit of time to make!

This air fryer falafel recipe uses canned chickpeas instead for a quicker method!

Serve up your falafel burgers baked french fries or for something lighter, this summer berry salad!

🛒 Falafel Ingredients You Need

Don’t fret at the long list of ingredients!! Many are spices along with a few fresh ingredients and to be honest the recipe goes together fairly quickly.

The most time-consuming part is the soaking of the chickpeas and making the mixture for the patties. But I have to tell you, making falafel from scratch is better than any packaged mix I’ve ever eaten!

• Chickpeas: The main ingredient in falafel is dry chickpeas. They are soaked for 24+ hours in order to break down the compounds in the chickpeas and make them easier to digest.
• Lemon juice: For the best flavor use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Tahini: Tahini paste is a delicious paste made from ground sesame seeds and is used frequently in Middle Eastern cooking. It’s used to make a quick creamy tahini sauce for the burger.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is my go-to favorite healthy oil for salads and sauces and it’s excellent in the lemon tahini sauce to top off your vegan falafel burger.
• Pita bread: Mini pita bread make the best bread for your falafel burger! You can also use a more traditional burger bun if you want or serve it up in pita pockets.
• Cilantro and parsley: Fresh is essential for the color and flavor. I recommend flat-leaf parsley over the curly variety.
• Salad: An easy salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions adds crunch and flavor to your falafel sandwich.

🔪 How to Make Falafel Burgers

Making the ultimate falafel sandwich takes a little bit of planning ahead since you need to soak the chickpeas but don’t let that stop you.

After soaking, the recipe actually goes together quite easily and tastes great.

1. Soak the chickpeas for at least 24 hours. Cover them with about 2 inches of water.

2. Chop the tomato, cucumber, and red onion for the salad. into small diced pieces. Set them aside in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

PRO TIP: As the chickpeas absorb the water you may need to add more. Check back later and add more water as needed so the chickpeas stay fully covered.

3. Place all the ingredients for the tahini sauce except the water in a blender. Add the water to the blender in small amounts until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. I like mine on the thinner side so it easily drizzles.

4. Make the falafel. Place all the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor to make the chickpea mixture.

5. Pulse the food processor in bursts to chop up the ingredients.

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6. The final mixture is ready when it easily forms into a patty and loosely holds a patty shape. It may require adding a bit of water in order for it to come together.

PRO TIP: It takes some time to reach the desired consistency depending on the power of your food processor. Stop and let your processor rest if needed.

7. Use a half-cup measure to portion out the falafel to form into a patty.

8. Transfer the falafel mixture from the cup to your hand and shape it into a patty. It will be looser than cookie dough and somewhat delicate to handle. Once you get the desired shape, set it down and leave it until ready to cook.

9. Heat about a half inch of sunflower oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot use a spatula to gently pick up the falafel and place it in the oil. Let it cook on that one side until golden brown.

10. Turn the patties over in the pan to cook on the other side using a spatula.

PRO TIP: Use a fork to help move the cooking falafel onto the spatula. I find this makes turning it over easier and the falafel is less likely to break.

🧺 How to Store

Leftovers or Meal Prep: Allow the falafel patties to fully cool before storing them in a single layer in an airtight container. Place them in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw them out in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: Place thawed-out patties on a baking tray and heat in the oven at 350° F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

PRO TIP: If you want to use them one at a time I recommend placing some parchment or wax paper in between the patties when storing in the freezer so they are easier to take out individually.

🥗 How to Serve

Looking for some ideas for serving up falafel sandwiches? Here are a few favorites!

Change up the sauce! Create the best falafel sandwich to your tastes! Experiment with hummus, tzatziki sauce, roasted red pepper tahini sauce, creamy chipotle sauce, or avocado sauce.

Add any of your favorite veggies to the top along with some feta cheese (regular or vegan)!

Serve up with your favorite burger sides! Like thin-cut french fries or sweet potato wedges.

Vegan baked beans and zesty quinoa salad also go great!

💭 Expert Tips

• Be patient when blending the chickpeas. It may take time to break down the chickpeas into a consistency that will shape and hold into a patty especially if you don’t have a super powerful food processor.

• Make sure the oil is hot before adding your vegan falafel patties. The hot oil is what gives the patties their color and also helps cook them quickly so they maintain their shape in the pan. You can test your oil by adding a small bit of mix and if it sizzles up right away the oil is ready.

• Use a spatula to place your patty in the pan. The patties are naturally a little crumbly since they don’t contain flour or another binding agent. Using this method keeps your hands away from the oil to prevent burning, but also helps to keep the burger shape of the falafel.

• Wait until the patty is fully cooked on the first side so that it stays intact when you are turning it.

• Use a spatula and fork to flip the vegan falafel burgers over in the pan. Gently slide the spatula underneath and use the fork to push it on more easily. Then I use the fork to gently flip the burger over to prevent any oil from splashing.

❓FAQs

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📖 Recipe

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