Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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We all love falafel and we all love curries, so why not combine them?! This vegan Falafel Curry is a creamy dream come true!Serve it with fluffy basmati rice and homemade naan for the ultimate Indian-inspired feast!

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

I love falafel and I love curries, so I figured why not combine them? The result was a rich and creamy vegan Falafel Curry. And it turned out to be one of my favorite curry recipes ever!!

How to make falafel curry

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2)
Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (3)
Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (4)

The falafel

Whenever I make falafel, I always make a huge batch, because they freeze well and it’s not much more work to make a larger batch. Naturally, frozen falafelwill turn out to be a bit drier than fresh ones, so using them in thiscurry is the perfect opportunity, because itmakes the Falafel super softagain. Problem solved!

The base of the sauce

The sauce for this falafel curry is really easy to make and I also like to use this base for a variety of different curries. Add chickpeas, veggies, potatoes instead of falafel and boom… whole different curry!

You’ll only need two main ingredients for the sauce: tomato purée and coconut milk. It makes the creamiest and easiest sauce ever. I just love the combination of these two main flavors. To that, we add ginger powder, garam masala, salt, and fresh ginger. Aaand we’re done.

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (6)

I’ve made a huge pan of falafel curry for an Indian-inspired dinner party lately and everyone loved it! Although there have been various curries, this one has been the star of the evening :)

Once you’ve made the falafel, the curry itself isn’t any work really. It’s a super quick and easy, but awesome dish!

Serve the Falafel Curry with …

  • basmati rice
  • golden turmeric naan
  • garlic naan
  • spelt chapati
  • 4-ingredient sesame naan
Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (7)

Falafel Curry FAQ

Do I have to make the falafel myself? Can I use store-bought Falafel instead?

It depends! Make sure the falafel are not too soft, otherwise they will fall apart in the curry. If your falafel are on the softer side, you can also fry them separately and add them to the curry shortly before serving.

Can I use canned chickpeas for the falafel?

You can, but make sure the falafel don’t end up too soft. Otherwise, follow the advice above to prevent them from falling apart in the curry.

I don’t have onion powder or ginger powder. What can I use?

You can use fine diced onions and ginger instead (fry them in the oil with the falafel). Or you can use totally different spices such as garam masala! Feel free to play around with different spices! The basic curry sauce of coconut milk and tomato purée is very forgiving.

I want to prepare this curry in advance. Any advice?

No problem! Fry the falafel in a separate pan and add them to the curry shortly before serving. That way they won’t get super soggy. If you have rather dry falafel (e.g. when you’re using frozen falafel), feel free to let them sit in the curry longer to give them back some moisture.

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (8)

More delicious vegan curry recipes

  • 15+ Amazing Vegan Curries
  • Chickpea Curry
  • Coconut Curry with crispy tofu
  • Palak Tofu
  • Dal Makhani

I hope you enjoy this curry as much as I do! Let me know if you give it a try!

If you don’t want to miss out on new recipes,sign up for my weekly newsletter, join me onInstagramandFacebook.

Cheers, Bianca

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe

Elephantastic Vegan

Combining the best out of two cuisines to create a Falafel Curry. Vegan & Gluten-free, creamy and delicious. Great with Naan and Basmati Rice.

4.82 from 11 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Fusion, Vegan

Servings 2 servings

Calories 691 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon plant-based oil
  • 14 Homemade Falafel *
  • 1 cup tomato purée **
  • 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt and more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ginger powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 inch piece ginger root
  • fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat the plant-based oil and add in the Falafel once the oil is hot.

  • Fry them for about 2-3 minutes on medium-high heat and reduce the heat to low.

  • Add in the tomato purée, coconut milk, salt, ginger powder, and garam masala.

  • Stir and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes (while slowly turning up the heat again). This is the point where you can adjust the curry to your taste by adding more coconut milk, salt, etc…

  • Peel the ginger root piece and cut it in very thin strips.

  • Once the curry is hot and it has reached your desired consistency, transfer it to a bowl and top it with the ginger strips and fresh cilantro.

Notes

*If you’re using other homemade or store-bought falafel for this curry they might fall apart, so add them later to the pan and handle them carefully.

**I used store-bought tomato purée (with salt, no additional herbs) for this recipe – it’s often canned or in cartons, not to confuse with tomato paste which is thicker in consistency.

Serve with: The Curry is best served with some Homemade Naan and basmati rice. Check out the post for more side dish recommendations!

Nutrition

Calories: 691kcal

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

This post was first published in April 2015. Updated in May 2019.

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (10)

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn referral fees if you make a purchase through my link. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help me keep this site up and running!

Vegan Falafel Curry Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What are vegan falafels made of? ›

What are the ingredients? Traditionally, falafel is made from dried chickpeas and/or includes fava beans. I opted for a more simple version, using canned chickpeas so you don't have to wait for the chickpeas to soak overnight or worry about not being able to find ingredients.

How do you thicken vegan curry? ›

All types of flour work well for thickening, including wheat flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour. However, you should keep the flavor of your dish in mind when choosing a thickening agent. Coconut flour works well in dishes like Thai curries while chickpea flour melds well with bean stews.

Can vegans eat curry sauce? ›

A Magic Curry Sauce That Goes With Everything

This Vegan Magic Curry Sauce is a breeze to make and surprisingly light to eat with even with the coconut milk base. The most amount of time you will spend on this recipe is probably gathering all the ingredients at the beginning.

Can falafel be non vegan? ›

Yes! Falafel is considered vegan by almost any definition as these tasty fried chickpea balls are entirely plant-based. Sometimes, however, falafel is served with non-vegan additions like feta cheese or tzatziki sauce, both of which contain dairy.

What is a good egg substitute for falafel? ›

Chickpea Flour - Chickpea flour firms up as it heats - making it a fantastic binder - it's also yellow in appearance, so your senses won't get confused. Use for: Burgers, falafel, pancakes, flatbreads and scones. How much: 1 egg = 3 tbsp chickpea flour + 3 tbsp water.

Is Trader Joe's frozen falafel vegan? ›

It's Trader Joe's, it's falafel and it's Vegan, what the hell, I guess I'll try it. You only live once! So right off the bat I notice the direction stating that the preferred method of cooking is the microwave. What?

Will coconut milk thicken a curry? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Is light coconut milk ok for curry? ›

If you want a healthier option, go for a lite coconut milk brand that is low in fat. However, the fat content does affect the milk's texture and flavor, so it's best to opt for full-fat coconut milk when you're making something creamy.

How to make curry thick without cornstarch? ›

Two tablespoons of flour (30 mL) mixed with two tablespoons (30 mL) of a cooking fat like butter can thicken curry. Remove a cup of curry (240 mL) and mix it with your flour and cooking fat mixture. Return the curry to the main pot and mix it in to thicken your curry.

Which curry is usually vegan? ›

Some vegan-friendly North Indian curries include chana masala (chickpea curry in a tomato sauce), aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower in a ginger garlic turmeric sauce), baingan bharta (mashed eggplant), bhindi (okra), cabbage, and aloo matar (potatoes and peas in a spiced tomato sauce).

Why do vegans not eat soy sauce? ›

In theory, soy sauce is vegan, as it is only made up of soybeans, wheat, water and wheat which are all, of course, vegan-friendly. However, some manufacturers add ingredients that compromise soy sauce being vegan, using flavour enhancers which are derived from fish or meat.

What curry paste is vegan? ›

Vegan Curry Sauce
  • Pataks Tikka Masala Medium Paste 283G. Write a review. ...
  • Pataks Jalfrezi Curry Paste 283G. Write a review. ...
  • Pataks Rogan Josh Paste 283G. Write a review. ...
  • Pataks Korma Curry Paste 290G. ...
  • Pataks Medium Hot Madras Paste 283G. ...
  • Pataks Balti Paste 283G. ...
  • Pataks Aubergine Pickles 312G. ...
  • Pataks Madras Paste Pots 2X70g.

Why is hummus not vegan? ›

Whether homemade or store-bought, a handful of hummus brands may contain dairy products like cheese or yogurt—though it's definitely rare. For example, some brands may sneak parmesan cheese into their pesto-flavored hummus. Sugar is another common ingredient that might make an appearance in commercial hummus recipes.

Why is tahini not vegan? ›

Because it's made with sesame seeds, which, of course, come from a plant and not an animal, tahini is vegan. It's as simple as that. That said, there are sometimes other ingredients, like oil and salt, added to the store-bought versions.

Why can't you use cooked chickpeas for falafel? ›

Turns out that dried chickpeas are essential to good falafel. See, canned chickpeas have already been cooked. Starch molecules within them have already burst and released their sticky contents, much of which get washed away in the cooking liquid, leaving the remaining chickpeas with very little clinging power.

What are falafels made of? ›

Falafel are deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, sometimes both, plus fresh herbs and spices. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food sold from vendors or fast-casual spots in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel, where it's the national dish.

Are veggie falafel healthy? ›

Falafel has several qualities that may benefit your health in various ways. To start, it's a good source of fiber and plant-based protein, two nutrients that work synergistically to help keep you full for longer throughout the day. hormones like cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1, and peptide YY ( 2 , 3 , 4 ).

What is a good meat substitute for falafel? ›

Falafel is deep fried patties or balls which are made from chickpeas, herbs, spices, onion and dough. They have a bold and spicy flavour and are suitable for anyone following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

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