Is Falafel Vegan?
Yes — And Gluten-Free Too
Yes — traditional falafel is 100% vegan. Made from ground chickpeas, fresh herbs, garlic, and spices with zero animal ingredients, falafel is one of the best naturally plant-based foods in the world. It is also naturally gluten-free in its traditional form — no wheat, no flour. Here is everything you need to know, written by Almaz Foods, a Lebanese frozen food manufacturer in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
Traditional Falafel Contains No Animal Products Whatsoever
The core ingredients of authentic Lebanese falafel are: chickpeas, fresh parsley, fresh coriander, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander seed, and salt. Not a single one of those is an animal product. No eggs as binders. No dairy. No meat.
This makes falafel suitable for vegans, vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians, ovo-vegetarians, and anyone following a plant-based diet. It is one of the few street foods in the world that is completely, unambiguously plant-based in its traditional form.
- Chickpeas (whole, soaked overnight — not dried powder)
- Fresh parsley (gives the bright green interior)
- Fresh coriander (essential to Lebanese flavour)
- Onion, garlic (fresh, not powdered)
- Cumin, coriander seed, black pepper
- Salt, vegetable oil
- Zero preservatives, zero artificial additives, zero animal ingredients
Is Falafel Gluten-Free?
Traditional falafel is naturally gluten-free. Chickpeas contain no gluten, and authentic recipes use no wheat flour, breadcrumbs, or wheat-based binders. When made the traditional way — from whole soaked chickpeas with fresh herbs — falafel is safe for people avoiding gluten.
However, not all falafel products are gluten-free. Many commercial and supermarket falafel brands add wheat flour or breadcrumbs to reduce cost, improve texture, or extend shelf life. These versions contain gluten and are not suitable for coeliacs.
- ✓Whole soaked chickpeas — no wheat flour
- ✓No breadcrumbs or wheat binders
- ✓Naturally gluten-free
- ✓Zero artificial additives
- —Often contains wheat flour or breadcrumbs
- —Modified starch (may contain gluten)
- —Dried chickpea powder instead of whole chickpeas
- —Preservatives and colour additives
Always check the label. Almaz Foods Traditional Falafel and Falafel Burger contain no wheat — but our Kubbeh range does contain bulgur wheat and is not suitable for coeliacs.
Is Falafel Healthy? Nutrition Facts
Falafel is not just vegan — it is a genuinely nutritious food. Chickpeas are one of the highest-protein legumes available, making falafel an excellent plant-based protein source for vegans who may struggle to hit protein targets from diet alone.
- Calories: ~290 kcal
- Protein: 13–14g (excellent for a plant food)
- Dietary fibre: 6–8g (supports gut health)
- Carbohydrates: 22–26g
- Fat: 12–16g (mostly unsaturated from chickpeas and vegetable oil)
- Iron: ~3mg (~17% of RDA) — valuable for vegans who avoid meat
Baked or air-fried falafel is lower in calories and fat than deep-fried. Almaz Foods falafel can be oven-baked at 200°C for 20 minutes or air-fried at 180°C for 12–15 minutes from frozen.
Is Falafel Halal?
Yes. Because traditional falafel contains no meat, no alcohol, and no animal-derived additives, it is inherently Halal-compliant. There is no slaughter method involved and no Haram ingredients.
Almaz Foods produces falafel in a Halal-compliant environment. We use no pork, no lard, no gelatin, and no alcohol in any ingredient or processing aid across our entire Kirkcaldy production facility.
How to Serve Vegan Falafel
Falafel pairs beautifully with other plant-based foods, making it naturally versatile for vegan cooking:
- Falafel pitta with hummus, cucumber, tomato and rocket — the classic Lebanese street food
- Falafel mezze board with hummus, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, and warm flatbread
- Falafel grain bowl with quinoa, roasted vegetables, and tahini dressing
- Falafel salad with mixed greens, pickled red cabbage, lemon and olive oil
- Falafel wrap with vegan tzatziki, cucumber, and fresh herbs
Try Almaz Foods Vegan Falafel
Made from whole soaked chickpeas in our SALSA-certified Kirkcaldy kitchen. Vegan, gluten-free, zero preservatives. Cook from frozen in under 20 minutes. Available in 500g retail pouches and 1kg catering bags.