health
Perfectly Textured
Herbs, spices and love may be the secret to great falafel, but which supermarket versions hit chickpea perfection and which are over-processed duds?
TL;DR
- Many supermarket falafels were delicious but some had complex ingredients lists, with a few exceptions using only chickpeas, herbs, spices, and sodium bicarbonate.
- The worst falafels were highly processed, containing ingredients like dehydrated potato flakes, pea protein, refined soya bean oil, and stabilisers.
- Ramona's Original falafel was highlighted as the best overall for its traditional nutty texture, value, minimal processing, and authentic recipe, despite being very salty.
- Vemondo Plant! Middle Eastern falafel was praised as the best bargain, offering moist and flavourful balls with a complex spice blend at an incredible value.
- Other falafels reviewed included Gosh! Moroccan spiced falafel (sweet), M&S fresh herb aromatic falafels (benefited from reheating), Biona organic falafel balls (best splurge, simple ingredients), Tesco green pea falafels (pea-heavy), Asda sweet potato falafels (sweet flavour, contains stabiliser), Cauldron Moreish-ly Moroccan falafels (gooey, spiced, slightly gummy), Waitrose Plant Living hand-shaped Moroccan-style falafels (sweet, long ingredients list), and Co-op red pepper falafel (poor texture, floury).