This falafel platter recipe brings together the rich flavors of the Middle East in a vibrant, colorful spread. With homemade crispy falafel, fresh vegetables, and creamy falafel sauces, it will be the star of your next dinner party or picnic.

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If you enjoy the flavors and textures of this dish, you can also try making a falafel sandwich, falafel gyros, or a falafel bowl, all of which are simple, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
I love the homemade crispy falafeI in this recipe. It is vegan and gluten-free, making it a healthy choice for everyone. The light tzatziki sauce adds a refreshing tang, complementing the falafeI perfectly. The maple dijon tahini sauce brings a sweet and savory element that is truly unique.
The harissa hummus provides a spicy kick, which balances the sweetness of the tahini sauce. The easy, minty chopped tomato and cucumber salad adds a fresh and vibrant touch. The combination of these ingredients creates a combination of flavors that is hard to resist.
The best part is that the instructions are easy enough to follow even for beginners and will allow you to make the most delicious and beautiful platter. It will definitely impress your friends and family during your next dinner party.
🧾 Key ingredients
Homemade vegan falafel is the star of this platter. Made from chickpeas, herbs, and spices, these little balls are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are packed with protein and fiber, making them a nutritious and satisfying addition to the platter.
Maple dijon tahini sauce adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the platter. This sauce is made from tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds, which is a great source of healthy fats and essential nutrients. You can also use any other delicious tahini sauce.
Tzatziki and harissa hummus are two dips that add a creamy texture and a spicy kick to the platter. Both are made from simple ingredients and are packed with flavor.
A chopped veggie salad made with vegetables such as cucumbers and cherry tomatoes adds a fresh and crunchy element to the platter. It balances all the other elements of the platter.
Pita bread and crackers are the perfect vehicles for all the delicious dips and spreads on the platter. They add a satisfying crunch and help to balance out the flavors of the other ingredients.
Olives add a salty and briny flavor to the platter. They are a great source of healthy fats and they add a nice contrast to the other flavors on the platter.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥘 Equipment
The most important piece of equipment you’ll need for the falafel platter is a good quality 20-inch wooden platter or board to arrange all the items on top of. It is good enough to serve 6 to 8 people. You will also need bowls, small ones for dips, and medium ones for salads. Additional bowls or ramekins for any other elements like olives, onions, etc. are also necessary. A few spoons for the dips and tiny forks or toothpicks for the small items like olives are also needed. Do not forget to have napkins ready for your guests.
👩🍳 Instructions
Preparing the ingredients
STEP 1
Ensure you have all your ingredients ready. If your falafel is freshly cooked and hot, place it in a bowl or plate. If you are cooking them last, just add a bowl as a placeholder while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
STEP 2
Prepare your sauces and hummus. These will be placed in their own bowls on the board. To make the harissa hummus, mix harissa paste with your hummus.
STEP 3
Prepare your starches. You should have at least two. Cut flatbread or pita bread into quarters or thirds, or just use pita chips.
STEP 4
Prepare your veggies and pickled items. Also, have your vegan cheese and olives ready to be added to the platter.
Making the falafel platter
STEP 1
Start by placing your falafel in the middle of the board. Fan your starches around the falafel, with one pile higher and one lower.
STEP 2
Place your sauces and wet pickle ingredients in their own bowls on the board. Ideally, place one in each corner.
STEP 3
Add your second starch around the diagonal corner sauces and fill the space around the corner bowl, all around it, and between the offset bowl of sauce.
STEP 4
Start adding your veggies and pickled items. Work around the space you have and leave a little space for the vegan cheese and olives.
STEP 5
Add in the cheese and olives to fill the remaining spaces. Try not to have the same of one ingredient too close to another.
STEP 6
Finish off with your preferred touches, such as fresh herbs, fruits, extra veggies, or sauces. Enjoy your delicious and healthy vegan falafel platter!
💡 Expert tip
The freshness of the falafel is crucial to the success of this dish. If you are cooking them last, add a bowl as a placeholder while you build the rest of the platter. This ensures that the falafel is served hot and fresh, enhancing its flavor and texture.
🔄 Variations
Add a Middle Eastern touch with Baba Ganoush or Muhammara. If you want to experiment with a different flavor profile for your falafel platter, consider replacing the maple dijon tahini sauce with Baba Ganoush or Muhammara. These dips, made from roasted eggplants and bell peppers respectively, will give your platter a unique and vibrant twist.
Bring in some color and variety with different hummus variations. If you are a fan of hummus, why not try different variations like classic hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, sunflower seed hummus, or roasted beet hummus? Each type of hummus will provide a unique flavor and texture to your platter.
Add a pop of color with different vegetables. If you want to make your platter more vibrant, consider adding vegetables of different colors like carrots, radishes, or cucumbers. These vegetables are not only colorful but also hard enough to be used for dipping.
🥣 Serving ideas
Falafel platter is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in various ways. It pairs beautifully with many side dishes. Try serving it with a delicious lentil tabbouleh salad, rice pilaf, or a classic fattoush salad for a wholesome, balanced meal.
Plus, it makes a wonderful starter for hearty main dishes. Consider pairing it with a lentil chickpea curry, a comforting vegan moussaka, or an easy vegan stuffed bell peppers.
It pairs well with a variety of vegetable sides. Try serving it with grilled eggplant, roasted tahini cauliflower, or julienned carrots, or a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad.
❄️ Storing tips
Storing and reheating a falafe platter is a simple task that ensures you can enjoy this delicious meal for days to come.
To store the leftovers, you should first allow the food to cool completely. Then, separate the ingredients. Keep dry items like falafel and bread away from damp items like sauces or vegetables. Sauces served in small bowls or jars can be covered with a lid or plastic wrap. If you have fries on your platter, store them separately from everything else. All these items should be stored in the fridge in covered containers and can be kept for up to five days.
Unfortunately, due to the variety of ingredients and their different textures, this falafel platter is not suitable for freezing. The freshness and crispness of the vegetables and bread would be compromised, and the sauces may separate or become watery once thawed.
To reheat the leftovers, place the falafel and fries in the oven on low until they are crispy again. The vegetables and sauces can be served cold or at room temperature, so there is no need to reheat them. Remember, the key to enjoying this platter even days after is proper storage and reheating.
🤔 FAQs
A falafel mezze platter is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that features an assortment of small plates filled with various foods and flavors. It is designed for communal sharing and grazing. You can think of a falafel platter as the Middle Eastern version of a Charcuterie Board or a crudite platter.
Eating a falafel platter involves tearing a piece of pita bread and using it to scoop up some hummus or other dips on the plate. You can add some falafel balls, tabouleh salad, and pickled vegetables to your plate. Drizzle some tahini sauce over the components and mix and match them to enjoy a variety of flavors and textures.
The main components of a falafel platter include freshly cooked falafel, sauces like maple dijon tahini sauce, tzatziki, harissa hummus, a variety of vegetables such as cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olives, and starches like pita bread or crackers.
Yes, you can prepare the platter in advance. However, it is best to have the falafe freshly cooked and hot. All the other ingredients can be ready to go. If you are cooking the falafe last, just add a bowl as a placeholder while you build the rest of the platter.
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The Ultimate Falafel Platter
Ingredients
Homemade Falafel
- 1+½ cup Chickpeas (dry not canned) dried
- 1 Onion (medium)
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 0.8 oz Fresh parsley
- 0.6 oz Fresh cilantro
- 1+½ tsp Ground cumin seeds
- 2 Tbsp Sesame seeds
- 1 tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- ½ cup Cold water
Maple Dijon Tahini Sauce
- ½ cup Tahini
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 4 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp Maple syrup
- ½ cup Water
- 2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
Tzatziki
- 8 oz Cucumber
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Fresh dill or dried
- ½ cup Yogurt
- ½ cup Sour cream
- ½ Tbsp White wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- ⅛ tsp Black pepper
Harissa Hummus
- 1 cup Homemade hummus
- 1 Tbsp Harissa paste
Chopped Veggie Salad
- 9 oz Cherry tomatoes
- 4 oz Cucumber (medium)
- 2 oz Bell Pepper
- ¼ Onion
- ¼ cup Fresh mint leaves
- ½ cup Fresh parsley
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Other items
- 2 Tortilla, flat bread, pita
- 16 Crackers
- ½ Cucumber
- 8 Cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup Olives
- ½ Purple onion
- 4 Mini orange sweet pepper
- 4 leaves Lettuce
Instructions
How to make homemade falafel?
- Soak dry chickpeas in cold water overnight. Don’t cook them.
- Drain them and add them to a food processor. Add peeled and roughly chopped onion, garlic cloves, parsley, cilantro, salt, black pepper, cumin, baking soda, and water.
- Blend until you got a creamy but not completely pureed texture.
- Take a large bowl and empty the food processor into it. Chill the falafel mixture in the fridge for at least 1 hour. This is easier to form a ball after that.
- Use a spoon or your palms and form balls or patties out of the chilled mixture.
- Preheat a large pan over medium heat. Add sunflower oil or coconut oil (something that is high-heat resistant and suitable for deep frying).
- Gently place the balls in the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry them for approx. 5 minutes. They should be brown but not burnt and vibrant green in the middle.
- The final falafel balls should look like the ones in the below picture.
How to make maple dijon tahini sauce?
- Peel the garlic clove and measure all ingredients.
- Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor (tahini, dijon mustard, maple syrup, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and water).
- Blend it until you get a smooth sauce. The desired consistency is like a thick flowing paste. Add a tablespoon of water to adjust it if needed.
How to make tzatziki?
- Wash the cucumber, but you don’t need to peel it. Use a large hole cheese grater and grate it.
- Take a bowl and place the grated cucumber in it. Sprinkle it with salt and wait 5-10 minutes for the cucumber to release water.
- When you see water, squeeze the grated cucumber in between your palms. Take your time with this step. If you leave a lot of moisture in it, you’ll have a runny sauce.
- Take another bowl and add all sauce ingredients (yogurt, sour cream, white wine vinegar, olive oil, finely chopped garlic, dill, salt, and black pepper). Mix them well.
- Finally, add the grated cucumber and mix again. Now it is ready to be added to your platter.
How to make harissa hummus?
- This vitamix hummus recipe makes 3 cups of hummus, but we mixed only 1 cup with 1 Tbsp of harissa paste for this falafel platter.
How to make a chopped veggie salad?
- Wash tomatoes, cucumber, and bell peppers. No need to peel any of them. Finely chop them into small equal pieces.
- Peel onion and chop them into same-size pieces.
- Chop fresh parsley and mint leaves finely.
- Add all chopped ingredients with olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Add a bit of salt if needed.
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