Easy Falafel Sauce Recipes

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Cumin, lemon, tahini, and garlic on a white wooden backdrop.

Tahini has a nutty flavor and a creamy texture. It is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It's rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, as well as calcium, and iron. When mixed with garlic, and lemon, it makes the most delicious falafel sauce.

Lemon juice adds a bright and tangy flavor. It's natural acidity cuts through the richness of tahini, and extends the shelf life of this lemon tahini falafel sauce. The juice also helps to thin out the consistency of the sauce. The citrusy aroma is another benefit from using fresh lemon.

Garlic adds depth of flavor and a kick to this falafel sauce recipe. Plus, it has numerous potential health benefits, such as reducing immune system support.

Ground cumin adds an earthy flavor and smoky notes to this lemon tahini dressing. It is also believed to have potential digestive benefits.

Ice water is used to thin out the sauce.

See recipe card for quantities.

🍋 Substitutions

Tahini - use cashew, coconut, or soy yogurt instead as desired

Lemon - use apple cider vinegar instead if you have no lemon

Spicy - add sriracha for a spicy lemon-tahini falafel sauce

Miso - mix 2 teaspoons miso in 1 tablespoon water and add this to the sauce for more umami flavors

Herbs - whisk ¼ cup chopped fresh, leafy herbs (parsley, cilantro, dill, basil) into the falafel sauce to brighten the flavor and add some greens

Visit my Vegan Condiment Recipes page for more easy dairy-free sauces.

📖 Instructions

Minced garlic, and lemon juice in a white bowl next to a small white bowl with ground cumin and a white bowl with tahini.

Step 1. Transfer the lemon juice to a medium bowl. Press the garlic into the bowl using a garlic press, or mince and add. Whisk to combine.

Minced garlic, lemon juice, and ground cumin in a white bowl next to a small white bowl with tahini.

Step 2. Add cumin, and salt. Whisk to combine.

Minced garlic, lemon juice, ground cumin, and tahini in a white bowl next to a pyrex measuring cup with ice and water.

Step 5. Add the tahini and whisk the mixture until fully incorporated.

Falafel sauce in a white bowl with a whisk with tahini, garlic, and lemon.

Step 4. Add 2 tablespoons ice water at a time and whisk the falafel sauce until smooth. The mixture may seize but it will eventually become creamy and smooth. Use up to 6 to 8 tablespoons water, or the amount needed for the desired texture.

💡 Expert Tips

For doubling the recipe, I recommend using a food processor or blender instead. Add all the ingredients (minus the water) to the canister of a food processor or blender and pulse or blend until fully incorporated. Then gradually add the water through the drizzle basin or feed tube until the desired consistency. You can also easily add fresh herbs using this method for a blended herby falafel sauce.

The mixture may seize when whisking, but don't panic. It will eventually become creamy and smooth as you keep whisking and adding water as needed.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What is falafel sauce made of?

Lemon Tahini Sauce: A classic sauce made from tahini (ground sesame seeds), lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and water. It has a nutty flavor and creamy texture that pairs well with the crispy falafel.

Is falafel served with tzatziki or tahini?

Falafel is typically served in a pita sandwich along with hummus, tahini sauce, tzatziki, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled veggies. They are also often served as part of a mezze platter.

Is tahini healthier than peanut butter?

Peanut butter and tahini are both a good source of heart healthy fats. Peanut butter has slightly more protein. Both are naturally gluten-free.

📖 Recipe