Tim Aitkins
Perfect Falafel Pita Pockets With Tahini Sauce
Tender homemade falafel, crisp vegetables, and creamy tahini combine for a classic Mediterranean meal.
January 20, 2026
No one likes a tough, dry falafel. That’s why this recipe—from Dunja Gulin’s Falafel Forever: Nutritious and tasty recipes for fried, baked, raw, vegan and more!—is now our new favorite. A 24-hour chickpea soak is time-intensive, but well worth the wait. The resulting falafel is tender, moist, and pairs beautifully with fresh, crisp produce and luscious tahini.
What you need:
For the falafel:
6 ounces dried chickpeas
5 tablespoons chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
1 bunch fresh parsley, leaves only
2 teaspoons ground coriander
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cumin
⅛ teaspoon chilli powder
1½ teaspoons salt
1 cup oil, for frying
For the pita sandwiches:
4 pita pockets
Tahini sauce
Raw vegetables (such as sliced tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, rocket, parsley, spring onions)
What you do:
- Cover chickpeas in water, and soak 12 hours. Drain, cover with fresh water, and soak for another 12 hours. Drain, rinse well, and let drain again for another 5 minutes.
- For the falafel, into a food processor, add chickpeas and process until a coarse texture is achieved. Add remaining ingredients (except the oil) and blend until mixture resembles a paste. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Using wet hands, roll chickpea mixture into walnut-sized balls. Deep-fry the falafels in hot oil for 4 minutes or until browned.
- Warm pita pockets, fill with vegetables, add falafel balls, and serve with the tahini sauce.
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