International Falafel Day | Funny Holidays

Favorite Middle Eastern specialty, falafel, is a food that, like many other authentic dishes, has its own day of the year. That day falls on June 12th and has been symbolically celebrated in many parts of the world since 2012.

For those who may not know, falafel is a dish that resembles meatballs in shape but is made from fava beans or chickpeas and actually contains no meat at all. It is fried in oil or deep-fried and served wrapped in pita bread, with salad, sauces, and famous spices such as tahini, coriander, cumin, za'atar, and others. It is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and absolutely delicious. It is equally popular among meat lovers and, especially, among vegans and vegetarians.

Opinions are divided about who and when came up with the idea of preparing fava beans or chickpeas in this way. It is certain that it originated in the Middle East, and it is believed that Coptic Christians, Egyptian Christians, were the first to include it in their menus as a meat substitute during fasting.

Later, when the dish migrated to Europe and America, chickpeas also became part of the recipe. However, regardless of its widespread popularity, falafel remains the main association with Middle Eastern cuisine, where it is an essential part of every meze platter and a staple of fast food offerings across the entire region, from Egypt and Jordan to Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.

In recent decades, Israel has promoted it the most as its national dish. The popularity of falafel in the Middle East is also evident from the fact that the famous McDonald's in this part of the world has developed its own version of this dish, called the McFalafel.

Days dedicated to food are always fun to celebrate because they usually involve enjoying the preparation and consumption of food. Therefore, if you are a fan of this dish, the options are very simple - visit a Middle Eastern restaurant, treat yourself to street falafel in an authentic fast food joint in town, or stop by the supermarket, buy the ingredients, and prepare this specialty yourself, for example, following the falafel recipe by the legendary Jamie Oliver.