The traditional way to make falafel involves soaking dried chickpeas and then grinding them up. Then, they are seasoned with garlic, parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper. The mixture is finally shaped into balls or patties and deep-fried. Expert falafel makers rarely use flour to hold the balls together. The most common way to eat falafel is in a pita with garnishes of tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled onions. Finally, the sandwich is topped with hummus, tahini, and/or spicy sauces.

However, we are breaking tradition and getting creative with our falafel. After all, it is believed that the original falafel was made with fava beans. Why not try making falafel with all sorts of different beans or adding interesting ingredients such as beets, walnuts, pistachios, and sweet potatoes? Instead of frying, we can bake our falafel. We can turn the balls into burgers, sliders, or large loaves.

Chickpeas and fava beans come together to create a succulent falafel patty that is then seasoned with fennel, cumin, and coriander seeds. Enjoy it in a burger bun, on top of a salad, or in a lettuce wrap.

Deep Dish Falafel Pizza starts with a falafel-inspired crust of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices. Once crispy from the oven, it’s topped with vibrant beet hummus and vegetables of your choice. The finishing touch is a layer of cheesy tahini sauce that gets spread over the vegetables once they’re roasted. This dish is a show-stopper, for sure!

Falafel Waffles are a work of genius. They‘re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Best of all, no deep-frying is required to make these savory waffles. Topped with a hummus “syrup” and fresh garnishes, you’ll love these waffles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If falafel tastes great wrapped in pitas, it follows they would be awesome wrapped in tortillas. Served with a homemade green sauce containing tahini and lots of cilantro, this is one delicious fusion dish.