Whip up these incredible falafel wraps for a vibrant, flavorful meal that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a delightful lunch. Packed with aromatic spices and served with a cool, tangy feta tzatziki, these wraps are sure to become a new favorite. They offer a wonderful balance of warm, spiced falafel and refreshing, creamy sauce, all bundled up in a soft pita.
Imagine tender, golden falafel nestled in warm pita bread, drizzled with a luscious, herby feta tzatziki and your favorite fresh toppings – it’s pure culinary joy.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Warmly spiced, earthy, fresh, and tangy.
- Textures: Crispy falafel, soft pita, creamy sauce, crisp vegetables.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 30 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
What You’ll Need
For these delightful falafel wraps, you’ll be bringing together a few key components. The heart of the dish is the falafel itself, made from chickpeas and a fragrant blend of herbs and spices, ready to be baked to golden perfection. To complement this, we’ll create a wonderfully creamy feta tzatziki sauce, adding a refreshing and tangy counterpoint. Finally, you’ll need soft pita breads and your choice of fresh toppings to assemble these irresistible wraps.
Ingredient Notes
- Chickpeas – Canned chickpeas are perfectly fine for this recipe and offer convenience. Be sure to drain and rinse them well.
- Fresh Parsley – This is essential for that bright, herbaceous flavor in the falafel. Use fresh, not dried.
- Fresh Cilantro – Adds another layer of fresh, aromatic complexity to the falafel mixture.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are key for a robust flavor in both the falafel and the tzatziki.
- Ground Cumin – Provides a warm, earthy depth that is characteristic of falafel.
- Ground Coriander – Complements the cumin with its slightly citrusy and sweet notes.
- Greek Yogurt – The base for our creamy tzatziki, Greek yogurt provides a wonderful tang and smooth texture. Full-fat is recommended for richness.
- Feta Cheese – Crumbled feta lends a salty, briny kick to the tzatziki, making it extra special.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and acidity to both the falafel and the tzatziki.
- Pita Bread – Soft, pliable pita breads are ideal for wrapping everything up. Whole wheat or white both work well.
Add-ins and Substitutions
While this recipe is wonderful as is, feel free to customize it to your liking! You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the falafel mix for a little heat, or finely chopped red onion to the tzatziki for extra texture. For a different herb profile, try adding a little fresh mint to the falafel or tzatziki.
How to Make Delicious Falafel Wraps with Creamy Feta Tzatziki
Creating these falafel wraps is a straightforward and rewarding process. You’ll start by preparing the falafel mixture, forming them into patties, and then baking them until they’re beautifully golden and slightly crisp on the outside. While the falafel bakes, you can whip up the incredibly simple yet delicious feta tzatziki. Once everything is ready, you’ll assemble your wraps, layering the warm falafel, cool tzatziki, and your favorite fresh additions.
Here’s how to bring it all together:
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Falafel Mixture: In a food processor, combine the drained and rinsed chickpeas, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt, and pepper. Pulse until the mixture is well combined but still has a little texture, not a smooth paste.
- Form the Falafel: Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Add the lemon juice and mix everything together with your hands or a spoon. The mixture should hold together when squeezed. If it seems a little too wet, you can add a tablespoon or two of flour; if too dry, a tiny splash of water. Form the mixture into about 8-10 small patties or balls.
- Bake the Falafel: Place the falafel patties on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and slightly firm to the touch.
- Pro Tip: Don’t over-process the falafel mixture; a slightly chunky texture makes for the best falafel!
- Prepare the Creamy Feta Tzatziki: While the falafel is baking, combine the Greek yogurt, crumbled feta cheese, minced garlic, chopped fresh dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir well until everything is smoothly incorporated. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Warm the Pita: Gently warm the pita breads. You can do this in a dry skillet over low heat for a minute per side, or briefly in the oven with the falafel during the last few minutes of baking.
- Assemble the Wraps: Lay a warm pita flat. Spread a generous spoonful of the creamy feta tzatziki down the center. Top with a few baked falafel patties. Add your favorite fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, or red onion. Fold the pita in half or roll it up to create your delicious wrap.
Recipe Tips
- Ensure your chickpeas are thoroughly drained and rinsed to prevent a watery falafel mixture.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet; give the falafel patties some space so they can bake evenly and get crispy.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning in both the falafel mix and the tzatziki before assembling for perfectly balanced flavors.
- The key to good falafel is not overmixing; you want a texture that’s slightly coarse, not a smooth puree.
FAQs
- Can I make the falafel ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the falafel mixture up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Form and bake them just before serving for the best texture. The tzatziki can also be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Can I fry the falafel instead of baking? While this recipe is designed for baking, you could shallow fry the falafel patties in about 1/2 inch of hot oil over medium-high heat until golden brown on all sides, about 3–4 minutes per side.
- What if my falafel mixture is too wet? If the mixture feels too soft to form patties, add a tablespoon or two of all-purpose flour or chickpea flour to help bind it.
Serving Suggestions
These falafel wraps are a meal on their own, but they also pair wonderfully with a fresh side salad! Consider a simple cucumber and tomato salad, a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette, or even some roasted sweet potato wedges for a heartier meal. A dollop of extra feta tzatziki on the side for dipping is also a fantastic addition.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can absolutely get a head start on these Delicious Falafel Wraps. The falafel mixture can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. The Creamy Feta Tzatziki can also be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This makes assembly on busy weeknights a breeze. Once assembled, it’s best to enjoy the wraps immediately for the freshest texture.
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Delicious Falafel Wraps with Creamy Feta Tzatziki
- Total Time: Approximately 55-60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Whip up these incredible falafel wraps for a vibrant, flavorful meal that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a delightful lunch. Packed with aromatic spices and served with a cool, tangy feta tzatziki, these wraps are sure to become a new favorite. They offer a wonderful balance of warm, spiced falafel and refreshing, creamy sauce, all bundled up in a soft pita.
Imagine tender, golden falafel nestled in warm pita bread, drizzled with a luscious, herby feta tzatziki and your favorite fresh toppings – it’s pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Falafel
1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted dry
1 cup packed parsley leaves and stems
1/2 cup roughly chopped red onion
1 garlic clove
1 Tbsp. tahini
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. ground coriander (optional)
1/2 tsp. each sea salt and black pepper
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour (sub chickpea flour for gluten free)
3 Tbsp. avocado oil (sub extra-virgin olive oil)
Feta Tzatziki
4 oz. feta cheese
1/2 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 to 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 medium English cucumber, grated on a box grater (no need to peel)
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill
Cracked black pepper
For Serving
4 naan breads or pita, warmed
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Thinly sliced red onion
Harissa-Honey (1 Tbsp. harissa mixed with 1 Tbsp. honey)
Instructions
Prepare Falafel Dough
Combine chickpeas, parsley, red onion, garlic, tahini, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander (if using), salt, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse until combined, scraping down the sides, until it forms a crumbly dough, not a paste.
Gradually add the flour, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing until the dough is no longer wet and can be molded into a ball without sticking to your hands.
Place the dough in a bowl and chill for 1 hour.
Prepare Feta Tzatziki
Clean the food processor. Add feta cheese, Greek yogurt, and lemon juice. Blend until smooth, slowly adding olive oil to help the mixture blend.
Transfer the feta mixture to a bowl. Stir in the grated cucumber, fresh dill, and black pepper to taste. Chill until ready to serve.
Cook Falafel
Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Scoop out tablespoonfuls of the falafel dough and gently shape them into small discs.
Place the falafel discs in the hot skillet. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, flipping when the bottom is deep golden brown, until they are crispy. Remove the falafel from the skillet to a plate.
Assemble Wraps
Spread a warm naan or pita with the feta tzatziki. Top with three falafel discs. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion as desired. Drizzle with harissa-honey if using, and serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure your chickpeas are thoroughly drained and rinsed to prevent a watery falafel mixture.
Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet; give the falafel patties some space so they can bake evenly and get crispy.
Taste and adjust the seasoning in both the falafel mix and the tzatziki before assembling for perfectly balanced flavors.
The key to good falafel is not overmixing; you want a texture that’s slightly coarse, not a smooth puree.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes (baking time from blog post, recipe instructions say 5-7 mins frying)
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
