30-minute Falafel Sandwich (With Sweet Potato)
on Oct 08, 2025
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This might well be the best falafel sandwich. Made in just 30 minutes, the golden, crispy falafel are made from chickpeas, spices and – the ‘secret’ ingredient – sweet potato! Stuff them into pita or fresh rolls with hummus, dressing and snow pea shoots for an easy and light dinner that’s just a little bit different.
Fancy falafel
I’m not a vegetarian or vegan, but I could eat this falafel sandwich every day of my life! It’s something about the crispy outside and the mildly nutty and sweet, satisfying centre stuffed into soft bread with smooth, creamy hummus and fresh and crisp pea shoots.
The main difference between this falafel sandwich and other recipes you might see is that the falafel includes sweet potato as well as the classic chickpeas. I like it for the subtle, natural sweetness to balance the nutty chickpeas and savory spices.
I usually shallow pan-fry the falafel for the ultimate crisp, but if you prefer you can air fry them instead. I’ve included instructions for both methods below.
📌Recipe snapshot
- Prep time: Just 15 minutes.
- Recipe makes: about 30 falafel patties (enough for about 10 sandwiches)
- Great for prepping ahead. You can either store the uncooked falafel in the fridge for a few days until ready to cook, or you can freeze them for another day.
- Vegetarian recipe (vegan if you swap the yogurt for tahini dressing)
- Pan-fry or air fry the falafel – your choice!
About the ingredients
Here’s all you need to make the easy falafel for the sandwiches:
- A sweet potato: microwaved until soft. Or you can roast it, if you prefer, although this cooking method will take longer. You’ll need one medium sized sweet potato or two smaller ones.
- A can of cooked chickpeas
- A finely chopped onion
- Garlic and various other spices (cayenne pepper – optional, cumin, coriander, paprika)
- Flour, baking powder and salt: The baking powder will help you get a lighter, fluffier falafel. A little flour holds the mixture together.
- Lemon juice: to brighten the flavor
- Sesame seeds: These are optional, but they add a little extra flavor and texture sprinkled over the top.
And here’s what you’ll need to assemble your sandwiches:
- Hummus: You can either use my simple homemade hummus recipe, or just grab a tub of store-bought hummus for convenience.
- Bread rolls or pita bread: Aside from pita bread, good choices are Turkish bread, focaccia bread, lavash, naan bread, tortilla wraps, brioche rolls or fresh, crunchy French bread such as baguette.
- Snow pea sprouts: These are crisp, juicy and mildy sweet. They’re delicious on a falafel sandwich! However, if they’re not available where you live, good substitutes are regular pea sprouts or shoots, alfalfa sprouts, watercress or baby spinach. In fact, any salad greens would work, especially crunchy types such as iceberg lettuce.
- Cherry tomatoes and salad onions: Chop these and toss them together for a kind of simple salsa that will work perfectly in your sandwich.
- Greek yogurt: A big spoonful of Greek yogurt will finish off your sandwich perfectly. If you want to be fancy, go with lemon tahini dressing instead.
How to make the perfect falafel sandwich
Start by cooking your sweet potato. In the microwave is the easiest way. Just wash the sweet potato, peel it and pierce it a few times with a small knife or skewer. Then microwave it for about 10 minutes or until tender all the way through.
Roughly mash the tender sweet potato with all the other yummy ingredients.
Let the mixture chill out in the fridge for a while before molding it into little nugget-shaped falafel.
Then shallow pan fry in olive oil for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden and crisp.
How to build the falafel sandwiches
Once the falafel are cooked, here’s how I build my sandwiches:
- Start by spreading a generous amount of hummus over both sides of your pita or sandwich bread.
- Next is a big handful of snow pea shoots (sprouts), or your chosen substitute.
- Spoon over some of your chopped tomatoes and spring onions.
- Lay 3 or 4 of the cooked falafel on top (depending on how many fit onto your bread!).
- Finish by spooning over a little Greek yogurt, or, if you have time, drizzle over some of this amazingly delicious lemon tahini salad dressing.
Helen’s Top Tips
- While the sweet potato is cooking in the microwave, you can use this time to prepare the falafel toppings.
- If you prefer to air fry the falafel, simply spray the air fryer basket lightly with olive oil, then cook for 15 minutes at 375F/190C, turning half way through.
- Not really in the mood for a sandwich? Another option is to serve the falafel on top of the pea shoots and with all the other toppings on the side.
A few serving ideas
Eat the sandwiches by themselves, or make them into a larger meal! I recommend:
- Greek potato salad
- Cucumber, tomato and feta salad
- One pan vegetable couscous
- Simple orzo salad with pesto
Recipe FAQs
This recipe makes quite a large amount of falafel, so you can keep the dough in the fridge for a few days quite comfortably. I prefer to keep the uncooked dough in the fridge and then quickly pan-fry however many I want to make rather than frying them altogether then keeping in the fridge. However, if you prefer, it is possible to pre-cook them all, then quickly reheat them in a hot pan when you want to eat them.
Yes, you can freeze the uncooked falafel between sheets of baking paper in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before pan-frying as normal. You could also freeze them after cooking. Just defrost in the fridge then crisp up again for a couple of minutes on each side in a hot pan or air fryer. You can even cook straight from frozen although they’ll take a few minutes longer.
More easy sandwiches
- Try this Italian style vegetarian sandwich and find out why it’s one of my favorite sandwiches of all time.
- This dutch oven pulled chicken makes a very tasty sandwich, perhaps with avocado and your favorite sauce on top.
- A sandwich doesn’t get more delicious than this toasted ciabatta sandwich with artichokes and bacon.
- Make a 15-minute meal out of these crispy halloumi burgers.
30-minute Falafel Sandwich (With Sweet Potato)
Ingredients
For the falafel
- 1 medium to large sweet potato, peeled
- 1 can chickpeas, cooked (14 ounces)
- ½ medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ lemon, (juice)
- sesame seeds for scattering over, (optional)
- ½ cup olive oil , (for cooking) You'll need only about ⅓ of this for each batch of 10 falafel.
- 10 bread rolls, or enough for however many you're serving (The bread can be pita bread, slices of focaccia or ciabatta, Turkish rolls, or just nice slices of artisan bread.)
For the toppings (amounts are approximate and depends how many sandwiches you want to make at one time)
- 3 cups hummus, either around two batches of this homemade hummus or just use store bought (recipe for the homemade hummus is also below in the notes section)
- 12 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 5 salad onions, sliced into small lengths
- 5 ounces snow pea shoots, (also called snow pea sprouts) Note you can use any kind of sprouts or something else fresh and green such as watercress, arugula/rocket, baby spinach or even just crisp lettuce.
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, (for a small amount for each sandwich)
Instructions
- Pierce the peeled sweet potato a few times with a sharp knife or fork. Cook in a microwave for about 10 minutes or until soft (you can roast them if you prefer at 400F/200C for about 45 minutes or so or until soft).1 medium to large sweet potato
- In the meantime, mash the chickpeas and other falafel ingredients (apart from the sesame seeds, if using) in a medium to large bowl with a potato masher or fork.1 can chickpeas, ½ medium onion, 1 garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ lemon
- When the sweet potato is soft, mash it into the other ingredients in the bowl. Then cover the mixture and chill in the fridge for at least half an hour.
- Take spoonfuls of mixture about the size of a walnut and form into balls. Flatten the balls into a patty. If you like, press a few sesame seeds into them on both sides.sesame seeds for scattering over
- Heat up 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil on a medium high heat in a large frying pan or skillet. When quite hot, fill the pan with patties (about 10 for a large frying pan). Let them cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy.½ cup olive oil
- Mix the chopped tomatoes with the salad onions. Spread the sandwich bread with a few tablespoons of hummus, then top with some of the tomato/onion mixture and 2 to 3 handfuls of the greens. Then top with about 3 of the crispy falafel (for each sandwich). Finally, drizzle a spoonful of Greek yogurt over the top before closing the sandwich. Enjoy!10 bread rolls, 3 cups hummus, 12 ounces cherry tomatoes, 5 salad onions, 5 ounces snow pea shoots, 1 cup Greek yogurt
Air fryer version – what temperature?
Thank you and I really am enjoying your recipes.
Hi Dick! So happy you’re enjoying the recipes! Oops, sorry about the temperature omission! I’d go with 180–190°C (350–375°F) for 12-15 minutes, turning half way. I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
Hi, I made them last evening and they were really tasty. I only came up with 11 though, just enough for me and my kids for one dinner. I also thought they would be crispy and harder but they are really soft and mushy. Easy and tasty, thanks
Glad you enjoyed them, Cara! They’re crispy on the outside soft in the middle when I make them!
I was wondering what is the baking powder for? They don’t really get bigger on the pan. Have you ever made them without the baking powder?
Hi Cara, and great question! Some falafel recipes don’t use baking powder. I haven’t made any without, but the baking powder is supposed to lighten them up a little and keep them moist. They can end up a bit more ‘dough like’ without it.
HI, How many sweet potatoes for one can one chickpeas? Thanks
Hi Cara! You need one medium to large or two small sweet potato and one can of cooked chickpeas (a standard 14 oz can, or 9oz net). I hope that helps!
Thanks, I wrote this comment before seeing the list of ingredients on the bottom of your post. Sorry
No worries!
I had exactly that kind of week this week! These falafels definitely would have saved the day they look perfect 🙂 I love sweet potato combined with hummus! It’s such a great flavour combination!
Hi, Lilli! So glad you like these and hope your week got better!
Love falafels! Also, love the fact you’ve used sweet potato- so delicious! I will be trying these out soon! 🙂
Hi, Jessica! And thanks so much! Do let me know what you think if you do give them a try!
Ah, falafel. It’s been far too long since I’ve enjoyed the amazing taste of falafel. I really should try to make it one day. The only time I’ve had it is when ordering at a restaurant.
Funny you mention the rain. It’s been raining all day where I live. I don’t really mind, though. I like when it’s rainy and stormy. But I also like to enjoy the outdoors, much like you do. So when it rains for days and days and days, I too get a little bummed. Glad the weather has cleared up for you!
I think this may have been my first attempts at falafel, but I don’t think it’s going to be the last. It isn’t so easy to find it where I live, so I guess that’s a good enough incentive!
Thankfully the weather here has cleared up to the point where you’d be forgiven for thinking it was summer. Honestly, I don’t know how these Australians have the gall to say that they have a winter!
Yum! These look great. Cooking is always the highlight of my weekend 🙂
Thanks, Alexandra, and thanks so much for passing by and saying hi!
I have butternut squash falafel on my blog and we eat them on a fairly regular basis but why have I never thought of using sweet potato? I adore them. Definitely on the list to make!
Oh, I think butternut squash would produce almost the same end product! I should try mine with the squash next time!
I am such a sucker for anything with sweet potato! And I have never ever made a falafel at home! Obviously I am so behind! I will be making these soon!
Oh, yes, please do try making some falafel, Annie! I thought they were really easy to make, and so worth the effort anyway. I’d like to try making some classic ones, too. You probably can’t beat those. 🙂
Helen – I adore falafel but have never thought to use sweet potatoes – or any potatoes in them for that matter – ooh this combo with cumin, coriander and paprika sounds incredible! I am so glad the clouds parted and the sun got y’all to the farmers market so you could bring us this wonderful recipe -thanks btw for sharing it!
And now I have this line …when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year …stuck in my head! I have a friends DVD -guess I know what I will be doing this evening! 🙂
Hahahaha! Sorry about the song, but at least I know you will now have an entertaining evening!
The falafel worked really well – they were different to ordinary falafel, and I’m not sure anything can really beat those, but they were certainly good. Give them a try some time!
First of all, I’m obsessed with Friends and have watched each episode like 100 times and own all the seasons! Second of all I’m also obsessed with falafel and I love all things sweet potato! These are like my match made in heaven! I hope you are having a better week! I’ve been having a bad few weeks so I know how you feel. I think these sweet potato falefels will bright everything up though!
Thanks for the good wishes, Isadora … to be honest I was just being a whinge-bag that weekend. I really have nothing to complain about … haha!
So glad I presented you with a match made in heaven today … and hope this week is looking up for you 🙂
Aaaauch terrible feeling Helen 🙁 But I guess it happens to most of us hehe 😉 Also, I was like 4 in the 90’s and I had to sing to that lol yes.
AAAAAAAAAND how I love falafels! And sweet potatoes! These look yummy!
Yup, I do feel old now. 😉
So glad you like the falafel, Consuelo! 🙂
Ugh, my weekend felt pretty similar 🙂 I can totally relate to wanting a nap, but knowing my list of things to do is long and this is my last chance before the week starts … it is a little discouraging! I had some “tiny squabbles” too. It does make feeling forgiven so much better!
Can you bring me some of these? They are everything I enjoy food wise! Chickpeas, sweet potatoes … oh my goodness, yes please! Pinning these!
I think I have the answer, Mary Frances … I think we should campaign for 3-day weekends. Then we can ‘mooch’ all we like for one of those days, hey?!
Yup, I can bring you some of these. You just need to wait a handy 24 hours or so while I get there! 🙂
i do love a good falafel, i usually crumble mine through a salad! never tried a sweet potato version before, definitely something i need to recreate in my kitchen!
Ooh, great idea to crumble falafel through a salad! I’ll have to try that one! 🙂
I’m pretty sure I need this in my life. ASAP!
I think you do, Aimee!! Hello and thanks so much for passing by! 🙂
Yum!! I love falafel. The sweet potato version looks and sounds delicious.. so so amazing. .. love it!!
I know, me too … it’s one of my favourite snacks. So glad you like it, too! 🙂
LOVE Friends – I always watch it when it’s on TV even though I’ve seen all the episodes hundreds of times. Sorry to hear you had such a glum weekend, but it sounds like the farmer’s market really made it pick up! These falafel sound delicious 🙂
Thanks for the good weekend wishes, Louisa! At least this weekend is turning out much better so far, so all’s good! 🙂
hehe okay firstly I did have the Friends theme stuck in my head but I’ve just put on another song to cancel it out 🙂 Secondly what a great idea using sweet potato for felafel! 😀
Oops … sorry about that one! I’m just a big tease …
So glad you like the falafel! 🙂
I’ve totally got the theme song stuck in my head now! Ahh- memories! And I’m so with you on hummus…everybody should be making their own. I forget how easy and absolutely worth the extra couple of minutes it is. I want to try this sweet potato falafel- looks delightful!
Hi, Sarah! You know, I just made some more hummus as an afternoon snack and it literally took me five minutes. I didn’t even use the recipe and it turned out perfectly. So happy you like the falafel!
I’ve had a week like that… nothing terrible but nothing great either. The falafel look amazing and so flavorful. A nice way to end a ho hum weekend.
Great description, Pam – no hum! So glad you like the falafel!