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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    How To Make A Falafel Pita Bread Sandwich

    By Lily・Published: Nov 24, 2020・Updated: Jun 4, 2023・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Have you wanted to make falafel, but then thought how do I eat it? The best way to eat falafel is a falafel pita bread sandwich! This sandwich is highly customizable and easy to make.

    pita pocket with falafel and tahini yogurt falafel sauce

    So let's address the big elephant in the room. Falafel takes a lot of time to make from scratch because of the prep (the dried beans need to soak). And no, we can't use canned beans because they are already cooked, leaving you with falafel dough that's way too moist.

    Before making this recipe, you need to either prep ahead Lebanese falafel patties or have some frozen Egyptian falafel (tameya) in your freezer. If you have some frozen Egyptian falafel on hand, this meal turns into a 30-minute breeze.

    What Is a Falafel Sandwich Made Of?

    A falafel sandwich usually contains falafel, pita bread, vegetables, and a tahini yogurt falafel sauce. There are many different types of variations for each ingredient, so I go into a little more depth below.

    falafel pita bread sandwich recipe

    1. Falafel

    Lebanese fried falafel is what you most probably think of when you think of falafel. Below are 3 types of falafel you can use for a falafel pita sandwich - Egyptian ta'ameya (baked and fried) or Lebanese falafel.

    • fried falafel
      Lebanese Falafel (Authentic and Crispy)
    • tamiya egyptian fried falafel
      Tameya (Fried Egyptian Falafel)
    • baked egyptian tameya
      Egyptian Baked Ta'ameya

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

    Egyptian falafel is called tameya (also spelled ta'ameya or ta'amiya), and it's a popular breakfast food in Egypt. The fundamental difference between Lebanese falafel and Egyptian falafel is that ta'ameya uses chickpeas and split fava beans making the falafel texture a bit softer. Lebanese falafel uses just dried chickpeas (and like many falafel recipes on the internet).

    fried falafel for pita sandwich
    Fried Egyptian Tameya

    2. Pita Bread For Falafel

    There are many different types of pita bread from the thin large-diameter Lebanese pita to the thicker smaller diameter pita bread you might find at the supermarket. For this specific recipe, I use thick small diameter pita bread known as baladi pita bread.

    baladi bread vs pita bread
    Top is baladi pita bread (normally used in Egypt) and bottom is Lebanese pita bread

    If pita bread is hard to come by at the grocery store, try looking at a Middle Eastern grocery store. Also, pita bread is freezer-friendly, so when you do find some, stock up! Another option is to make homemade pita bread if you have time.

    Pita bread is great to eat with hummus, baba ganoush, and black olive tapenade. You can also use your pita bread to make pita chips.

    3. Vegetables

    This falafel pita bread sandwich recipe uses 3 vegetables: Persian cucumbers, tomatoes, and arugula.

    • Persian Cucumbers: English cucumbers can be substituted. Traditional cucumbers (cucumbers with a thick skin) can be peeled and used as well.
    • Tomatoes: Any type of tomato or grape tomato is suitable for the sandwich. I like to slice the tomatoes thinly so the sandwich bread doesn't get too soggy from the tomatoes.
    • Arugula: This is my favorite option for falafel because it has a peppery taste that compliments the falafel and falafel sauce really well.
    falafel sandwich vegetables

    4. Falafel Sauce

    Falafel sauce is as crucial as burger sauce. I can't eat a dry burger, nor can I eat a dry falafel sandwich.

    falafel pita sandwich

    Luckily, Egyptian falafel sauce, known as tahina, is easy to whip up with just 4 ingredients (not counting water). It's made with garlic, lime, tahini paste, yogurt, and water. Lebanese falafel pita sandwiches usually have tarator, another tahini-based sauce.

    • tahina yogurt falafel sauce
      Garlic Tahina Falafel Sauce
    • tahini dressing tarator sauce
      Tarator Tahini Sauce

    How To Make The Best Falafel Sandwich

    Falafel sandwiches come in a lot of forms, some of them being: a wrap, a pita pocket, or a flatbread sandwich. My two favorite ways to eat falafel are as a pita pocket and a flatbread sandwich.

    Falafel Pita Pocket Sandwiches

    I recommend using thick pita bread for the pita pocket sandwiches so the sandwiches won't fall apart. Don't overstuff the pita pocket sandwiches otherwise the bread will break.

    Personally, I add the veggies on the bottom, the falafel on top, and pour the falafel sauce at the end. Eat this sort of like a taco.

    pita pocket filled with falafel
    falafel pita bread sandwich recipe

    Falafel Flatbread Sandwiches

    I guess this is where my American side kicks in. Sometimes, I want to eat my falafel sandwich like a sandwich. It's similar to making a burger or turkey sandwich but using a pita flatbread. I find this method the easiest to do, but that's just me.

    When making a falafel flatbread sandwich, use a small diameter pita bread that's thick. Layer the vegetables on the bottom, the falafel on top, and spread the falafel sauce on the bread itself. Eat this kind of like a burger.

    pita sandwich
    pita bread sandwich

    Falafel Wrap

    In Lebanon, falafel sandwiches are made using thin Lebanese pita bread. Lebanese falafel, tarator, pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh parsley, and onion are rolled into a wrap. Falafel (and shawarma) sandwiches are popular street food, you can buy from street vendors. Eat this sandwich like a burrito (or wrap).

    Sides for Falafel

    • spicy Egyptian torshi
      Spicy Egyptian Cucumber Pickles
    • pickled turnips
      Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips (Takes Just 4 Days!)
    • homemade ful medames from scratch
      Egyptian Ful Mudammas
    • egyptian fried eggplant mesa'ah
      Egyptian Fried Eggplant With Tomato Sauce - Mesa'ah

    📋 Recipe

    falafel pita sandwich

    Falafel Pita Bread Sandwich

    Author: Lily
    Course: Sandwich
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Prep: 15 minutes mins
    Total: 15 minutes mins
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 2
    Wondering what to do with your falafel? Make a falafel pita bread sandwich! This falafel sandwich is a tasty and easy recipe.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 8 falafel
    • 2 pita bread store-bought
    • 1 Persian cucumber
    • 1 tomato
    • arugula or lettuce
    • 4 tablespoon falafel sauce

    Instructions

    Falafel Pita Pocket

    • Cut the pita bread in half.
    • Open the pita bread to form a pocket.
    • Stuff the vegetables and falafel inside.
    • Top with the falafel sauce. (I make the falafel sauce a little thinner for this method)

    Falafel Flatbread Sandwiches

    • Split the pita bread into two circles (a top and a bottom).
    • Place the bottom on the plate. Add the vegetables and falafel.
    • On the top pita, layer on the falafel sauce. Spread it around. 
    • Place the top pita bread onto the sandwich. Cut in half and enjoy.

    Notes

    1. The time to prepare this dish is assuming you have falafel and pita bread on hand. If using a pre-made falafel mixture, add an extra 15 minutes to the cooking time.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pita sandwich | Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 530mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g

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    About Lily

    Howdy! My name Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Hanan K.

      July 11, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      Can you use any type of falafel for this recipe? I noticed you have Lebanese falafel also on the blog, so was thinking to use that instead.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 11, 2021 at 4:24 pm

        Yes, all types of falafel work for this recipe. You can also use baked falafel.

        Reply

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