{"id":1851,"date":"2020-01-31T18:43:17","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T18:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=is_it_vegan&p=1851"},"modified":"2020-06-26T17:41:36","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T17:41:36","slug":"falafel","status":"publish","type":"is_it_vegan","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/is-it-vegan\/falafel\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Falafel Vegan?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Falafel\"Is It Vegan?<\/a> section of our site but, just like avocados<\/a>, jackfruit<\/a> and a whole host of other items, falafel falls into the category of \u201cclich\u00e9d vegan food\u201d. Of course, if they are a clich\u00e9 and are stereotypically associated with those on a plant-based diet, surely falafel is vegan, right?<\/p>\n

Well, good news if you are a fan of these Middle Eastern goodies: yes, falafel certainly is vegan and, even better news, there isn\u2019t too much you need to look out for in the way of potential non-vegan ingredients.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the ingredients of falafel, explain how it is made, and examine what \u2013 if anything \u2013 vegans should be aware of. We\u2019ll also present any other information relevant to these chickpea-based delights in relation to the world of plant-based eating.<\/p>\n

Vegan Ingredients = Vegan Falafel<\/h2>\n

As with many recipes, there are countless variations and local differences when it comes to making falafel. However, if we consider the core ingredients that just about everyone agrees with there are surprisingly few. In fact, it could almost be argued that there are none (beyond chickpeas).<\/p>\n

If you say the word \u201cfalafel\u201d to someone with a decent knowledge of food, they are perhaps most likely to think of chickpeas as an ingredient. Chickpeas are just about the only constant when it comes to these nutritious fried balls. Unless, that is, the recipe uses broad beans (which are also known as fava beans, or, if you want to get horticultural, Vicia faba<\/em>) instead. In fact, there is a very strong argument to suggest that falafel was originally made from broad beans, although in the UK you are now more likely to encounter the chickpea version.<\/p>\n

Typical Ingredients Found in Falafel<\/h3>\n

\"Chickpeas<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll return to that debate but for now let\u2019s return to the ingredients. All falafel uses mashed (usually food processor-blitzed) chickpeas, or broad beans, for their bulk. Where you go from there is up to you, but the following are the most common additions:<\/p>\n