This Falafel Platter with Tzatziki Sauce is loaded with crispy, delicious falafel, a cool Tzatziki sauce, salty feta, veggies and pita wedges for the win!
Happy New Year folks!
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!
I feel like it’s been forever since we chatted here at the BHK. I missed you guys!
We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s with friends and family, and I got the little boost of energy I needed while I was away, to hit the ground running in 2019!
Have I got delicious plans for us this year my friends!
Today, I’m starting the year with one of my favorites.
I enjoy this Falafel Platter with Tzatziki Sauce as a lunch, dinner or just for plain old snacking.
The platter is loaded with crispy, delicious falafel, a cool Tzatziki sauce, salty feta, veggies and pita wedges for the win!
What is falafel?
Falafel is a deep-fried ball made from ground chickpeas, fava beans or a combination of both with added onions, garlic and spices. Falafel balls are commonly served in a pita.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Falafel Platter with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe:
I use dried chickpeas that have been soaked overnight in water for my falafel. I have tried using canned chickpeas in the past, but the balls are a lot mushier and tend to fall apart easier when frying.
To keep things a bit healthier, I use canola oil to fry the falafel balls. Fill a deep pot with about 3 inches of canola oil and heat the oil to 375 degrees for frying.
The platter includes a variety of fresh grape tomatoes, spring mix, Feta cheese, a mix of green and Kalamata olives, the Tzatziki sauce, pita wedges and the falafel balls.
I make this platter often for guests and it always gets rave reviews. It’s perfect for date night in (unless you’re married to Mr. Picky like me), your next book club get together or your next girlfriend’s luncheon! Hope y’all give it a go! Enjoy!
Ingredients
Falafel
- 1 cup dried chickpeas
- 1 cup yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- canola oil for frying
Tzatziki Sauce
- 2 5.3-oz. containers plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium English cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Additional Platter Items
- Feta cheese
- green and Kalamata olives
- variety of grape tomatoes
- pita wedges
- spring mix
Instructions
Falafel
- Add the dried chickpeas to a large bowl. Cover by at least 2-3 inches with cold water. Soak overnight, then drain.
- Add drained chickpeas, onions, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper and cayenne to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until the mixture is blended, but not pureed.
- Sprinkle in the flour and pulse a few times. Add the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for about 2-3 hours.
- Remove mixture from refrigerator and form into walnut sized balls. If balls are not staying together, add a bit more flour. (I found 3 tablespoons of flour worked perfectly.)
- Heat about 3 inches of canola oil in a deep pot to 375 degrees. Fry 4-6 balls at a time, a few minutes on each side (about 2 minutes each side), until lightly golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.
Tzatziki Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk together until well combined. Chill.
Happy New Year Mary Ann! So glad you had a lovely break and holiday with your family. And you’ve returned with one delicious looking recipe. Those falafel balls look so crispy. This platter would be a big hit in my house!
It’s one of my favorites Leanne! I was late to the falafel game, but I’m making up for it now as I’m older. I’m still trying to talk Tom into giving it a try, but no go! Happy New Year to you too!
Happy New Year, Mary Ann! I’d say you are off to a great start already with these falafels. They look delicious! Glad your holidays were filled with family and lots of rest! :)
Thanks Kathy! So many delicious things to share this year! I’m so excited! Happy New Year my friend!
You definitely know the way to my heart–a huge platter with falafel and feta. I can’t get enough of either and I would eat every bite on that platter all by myself :). Happy New Year, Mary Ann!
So glad you love it Kelsie! Happy New Year to you too!
Happiness on a plate! I love falafel and tzatziki! I love that your holiday was relaxing and family & friend filled! That’s the best! Happy New Year, my friend!
Thanks Annie! Happy New Year to you too!
Happy New Year, Mary Ann! What a yummy way to start January! Love falafel so this platter is totally calling my name! Pinned! Can’t wait to see more of your delicious recipes in the coming months :)
Thanks so much for pinning Dawn! I could devour this whole platter myself!
What a great way to start out the new year! This whole platter looks so appetizing, I want it right now! Happy New Years!
Can’t beat falafel Kevin! Happy New Year to you!
I could dig into this platter today!! I hope you enjoyed your time off Mary Ann! Happy New Year!
It was a much needed break and I enjoyed every minute Katherine! Hope you enjoyed your holiday too!
Happy New Year!!!! I certainly hope you had a wonderful holiday, my friend! I’m so glad you are back in action – I mean just look at this platter! I am falafel OBSESSED, so this platter is right up my alley! Seriously, you have included all the things I love here, Mare! And those falafels look like crispy HEAVEN! I wish I could reach through my screen and devour everything! Pinning! Cheers! Can’t wait to see what you cook up this year!
Thanks so much Chey! Hope you and Boy had a wonderful holiday season! Lots of delicious things in the works for 2019! Can’t wait to see what you’ll be sharing too! Happy New Year!
Such a great platter and one that would please (just about ;) everyone! I’m always looking for things for my vegetarian daughter that we can all enjoy, so this will be on the menu soon :)
Hope you all enjoy it Jennifer! Tom is not budging!
Happy New Year, Mary Ann! And boy, what a way to start it off!! This is platter perfection – I want to reach through my screen! Can’t wait to try these recipes!!
Happy new Year Marissa! So excited to share all the deliciousness this year! Can’t wait to see what you’ll be sharing too!
This would definitely be dinner for me! It looks wonderful!
Thanks Chris. Me too!
Such a gorgeous platter, this is the perfect way to kick off the year!
Thanks Laura! Happy New Year!
This is the platter of my dreams Mary Ann! Those falafel look SO good!
Thanks Alida! I’m a total fan of falafel!
What a great way to start off the new year. Your falafel balls look crispy and delicious, as does your entire platter. I had a similar platter at one of the hotels in Disney World last year but it didn’t look near as nice as the one you created. I’m looking forward to see what else you will be sharing with us in the coming year.
Thanks so much Karen! So many delicious recipes lined up for 2019! Thanks so much for following! Happy 2019!
I love this, Mary Ann. This is my kind of meal! We have a falafel place near work so we have falafels every other week. I have not had much success making falafels – they are always too mushy – so really appreciate the tip about using dried and not canned. Can’t wait to try this! Happy New Year!
It makes such a difference Geraldine! I had the same problem when I started making falafel, but then I read somewhere to use the dried. It’s a game changer! Hope you enjoy! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year MaryAnn , I almost missed this delicious platter . I love tzatziki and falafel and now I can make it myself. Pinned!
Same to you Gerlinde! Hope you had a wonderful time with your guests! Enjoy!
These are the prettiest falafels, Mare, with the perfect sides to make it a meal! I’ve made so many different falafels in my years of being a vegetarian…. and I gotta say, it’s so interesting how they can be so vastly different. I love how you’ve discovered how to get them to hold together! And they look perfect! Delicious work Mary Ann! (and I’m loving your new videos! – way to go you!)
Thanks so much Traci! I definitely found them easier to handle when I used the dried chick peas instead of the canned. I’ve got a good friend Matt who’s been a total doll helping me with my videos! Trying to figure out my new camera lens and do videos too has been more work than I anticipated!
Hi! I just made this recipe and the flavour was so good but it was too salty for me. I will defenitely try it again but with half the salt.
By all means, adjust any ingredient to your liking Ana. Thanks so much for trying the recipe and reporting back!