Juicy vegan falafel burger in a pretzel bun served with creamy tahini sauce and crispy, tender sweet potato fries. The best falafel burger I’ve ever had!
Imagine a juicy vegan falafel burger on a soft pretzel bun, finished with a silky tahini sauce and a side of perfectly seasoned sweet potato fries.
This is my go-to recipe for the start of barbecue season. You can grill the falafel if you like, but pan-frying works wonderfully at home and produces a crisp exterior with a tender inside.
I recently made these using a frying pan before switching to a grill pan — both methods taste fantastic. Dust off your grill pan or skillet, thaw your pretzel buns if frozen, and let’s get cooking.
Full disclosure: I planned four small burgers and a big tray of fries for two people, but my husband and I ate everything. No regrets — they were that good.
What makes this burger so satisfying is the combination of textures and flavors: golden falafel patties with a crisp crust and soft center; a rich, creamy tahini sauce; fresh salad leaves and tomato; tangy pickles; and a few jalapeño slices for heat, all contained in a soft pretzel bun with a firm crust.
Pair the burgers with sweet potato fries seasoned with Middle Eastern spices, and add hot sauce or ketchup on the side. A spoonful of green harissa folded into the burger adds a lovely spicy note if you want more heat.
This truly feels like the ultimate vegan burger — hearty, flavorful and satisfying. If your mouth is watering, you’re ready to make it.
How to Make Vegan Falafel Burger with Tahini Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries
This isn’t a 30-minute throw-together meal, but with a bit of prep you can speed things up. If you already make baked falafel or keep extra patties frozen, assembling these burgers goes much faster. Make a big batch of falafel ahead of time and freeze what you don’t use — that cuts cooking time in half.
The rest is simple: bake the pretzel buns and sweet potato fries, blend the tahini sauce, slice fresh vegetables, and pan-fry or grill the falafel patties until crisp. Serve everything assembled and enjoy. For tahini lovers, double the sauce — you’ll want extra for dipping the fries and drizzling over the burgers.
Vegan Falafel Burger with Tahini Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
For the falafel burgers and sweet potato fries:
- 4 pretzel buns (frozen)
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil + 1 tablespoon for frying
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 baked falafel patties (or freshly made)
- 4 salad leaves
- 4 slices tomato
- 4 slices red onion
- 4–8 pickle slices
- 4–8 jalapeño slices (optional)
For the tahini sauce:
- 100 g (½ cup) tahini paste
- About 60 ml (⅓ cup) warm water
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Hot sauce or ketchup (optional)
Instructions
-
Pretzel Buns: Preheat the oven to 200 °C (390 °F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Let the pretzel buns rest for 15 minutes if instructed on the package, then bake according to package directions (about 15 minutes) until warmed through.
- Sweet Potato Fries: Cut the sweet potatoes into even fry-shaped pieces. Toss with olive oil, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray and bake for 15 minutes, flip, then bake another 10–15 minutes until cooked and slightly crisp. Baking time will vary by thickness.
- Tahini Sauce: Blend tahini, warm water, garlic, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth and pale. Adjust consistency with more water or tahini to reach a pourable sauce.
- Assemble the Burgers: Pan-fry the falafel patties in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes per side (skip if freshly baked). Slice the pretzel buns and place salad leaves on the bottom halves. Add the falafel patties, drizzle tahini sauce, then top with tomato, jalapeño, pickles and onion slices. Serve with sweet potato fries and extra tahini sauce for dipping. Add hot sauce or ketchup if desired.
Notes
For extra heat, add a spoonful of green harissa to the burger. Serve with a chilled ayran-style drink or your favorite beverage for a refreshing contrast.
Equipment
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 57 g
| Protein: 16 g
| Fat: 6 g
| Fiber: 13 g
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