{"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":"
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 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 In fact, there is a very strong argument to suggest that falafel was originally made from broad beans, although in the UK you are now more likely to encounter the chickpea version.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 <\/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 You don\u2019t need to be a culinary expert to note that all of the ingredients detailed above have strong vegan credentials.<\/p>\n All of the major brand and supermarket falafel and falafel mixes we checked were vegan friendly. The ingredients of the widely available Goodlife Falafel are listed below and are fairly indicative of what we see with other products, flavourings aside.<\/p>\n However, that is not to say that all pre-made falafel or ingredient-packs are vegan so either check the label or buy from a trusted health food shop of vegan retailer such as TheVeganKind Supermarket or GreenBay Supermarket. Given the ingredients are undoubtedly vegan, what could possibly go wrong?<\/p>\n Falafel is essentially a flavoured, shaped ball of mashed chickpeas or broad beans that are fried or baked. They are wonderful as a snack, as part of wider mezze or used as a filling for a pita bread<\/a>, sandwich, wrap or even a burger.<\/p>\n They originate in the Middle East, of which more later<\/a>, but are now enjoyed all over the world and are a tasty, delicious staple of many vegetarians and vegans. Given they are made from plants and cooked in plant-based cooking oils<\/a> (we have certainly never heard of them being fried in animal fats), is there anything those on a vegan diet should be wary of?<\/p>\n In general we would say no, but for a vegan who takes their principles and diet super-seriously, there are perhaps a couple of caveats. Note that neither of these apply if you are making your own falafel from scratch.<\/p>\n Firstly, most vegans would want to know that their food has not been cooked in the same oil, or using the same equipment, that has been used to prepare non-vegan items. Burger King\u2019s non-vegan \u201cRebel Whopper\u201d<\/a> fell down in this way. If you are eating falafel in a restaurant, at a friend\u2019s house or from a takeaway or food truck, it might be best to check that the oil your food is fried in is only used for vegan items.<\/p>\n You would expect that a friend would be aware you are vegan and know of the need to use separate oil\/equipment, but in a space-restricted van or pop-up it isn\u2019t inconceivable that non-vegan food could be cooked using the same fryer. That said, given falafel is frequently marketed and expressly sold as being vegan, you would certainly hope this wouldn\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n The second thing to note concerns additives and this is most likely to be a concern if you are buying a pre-made falafel or falafel mix. Obviously, if you are making your own from scratch you won\u2019t need to worry about this, whilst you would certainly expect a restaurant or other commercial vendor to use base ingredients rather than a shop-bought product.<\/p>\n Once again, given the fact that falafel is generally considered to be vegan and are widely eaten by those on a plant-based diet, it is unlikely that any pre-made falafel or falafel \u201cpowder\u201d would include animal-derived additives. However, it is certainly possible, such is the prevalence of preservatives, flavourings and other extracts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you have chosen vegan for ethical reasons<\/a>, veganism for environmental reasons<\/a> or because of the health benefits<\/a> of being vegan, being aware of the nutritional value of what you eat is important if you want to live a healthy vegan life. So, is falafel a good addition to a vegan diet: should it be a rare treat or is it best avoided altogether?<\/p>\n There are few vegan foods that we would truly put in the latter category because most things can be enjoyed in moderation (vegan chocolate<\/a>, we\u2019re looking at you!). However, can you eat falafel with abandon or is it more of a once-every-few-weeks-sort-of-food and, perhaps just as importantly, what nutrients do they offer?<\/p>\n By and large, we think most people would agree that falafel is pretty healthy. The vast majority of its mass is made up of chickpeas, with much of the rest made up of vegetables and phytochemical-rich herbs and spices. So far, so good. The only world of caution concerns the way falafel is traditionally cooked, with deep frying adding a significant amount of fat into the mix, even if the oil used is one packed with \u201cgood\u201d fats, such as rapeseed or olive oil.<\/p>\n The precise nutrition of falafel will vary depending on the recipe and how they are cooked but as a general guide the following serves well. This values below are based on the 2019 USDA data for 100g (a fairly standard serving) of homemade falafel, with the daily requirement based on average recommended UK values.<\/p>\nVegan Ingredients = Vegan Falafel<\/h2>\n
Typical Ingredients Found in Falafel<\/h3>\n
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Example of Ingredients Found in Goodlife Falafel<\/h4>\n
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Why Might Falafel Not Be Vegan?<\/h2>\n
Reused Oil<\/h3>\n
Additives<\/h3>\n
Falafel Is Vegan, But Are They Healthy?<\/h2>\n
Falafel Nutrition<\/h3>\n