Which fried chickpea patty dish is hummus often served alongside? Falafel.
Falafel is a Levantine dish made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or a mixture of both. The legumes are soaked, ground with herbs and spices, shaped into balls or patties, and deep-fried until crisp outside and tender inside.
Hummus and falafel are frequently paired in Levantine meals, especially as part of a meze spread or inside pita with salad and pickles. Hummus provides a smooth, tahini-rich contrast to falafel’s crunchy texture. The pairing is common, but hummus is also served with grilled meats, fish, eggplant, and bread.
A common mix-up is confusing falafel with kibbeh. Kibbeh is generally made with bulgur and ground meat, while falafel is a legume-based fritter. Recipes also vary by region: chickpeas dominate in much of the Levant, while fava beans are especially important in Egypt.