“There are so many variations of falafel, but ultimately it comes down to the freshness of the ingredients.”
Ibrahim Al-Kaddo of Stephen Street’s What The Falafel? lets us in on the secret to making the perfect Falafel.
Can you shed some light on your background and how What The Falafel came into existence?
I have always had a love for food but I am not usually in the kitchen. Growing up our family had a love for falafels and my mother would have an amazing recipe. Thanks to this early upbringing, decades later we decided to open a falafel restaurant.
What is the secret to the perfect Falafel?
Admittedly there are so many variations of falafel, but ultimately it comes down to the freshness of the ingredients. As we get regular deliveries and had pick our ingredients, this is what gives the falafel that amazing taste.
Any special tips for making falafel that you’d like to share with us? Any unusual ingredients which go unexpectedly well with a falafel?
Add chilli flakes to the mix if you like them to pop in your mouth. Also falafels are great for dipping, so go crazy with different sauces and spreads!
I love siracha and peri peri sauce mixed and spread on the falafels.
Does your menu have any seasonal changes?
No, we produce the same great product year round. We love falafel and that is our core but we do want to introduce some meats to our menu. These will be delicious, healthy sandwiches, and we look forward to launching that part of our menu soon.
Where did you eat your favourite falafel in the world (excluding your own)?
We have some great choices in Europe, particularly from those who like us have brought recipes from back home and enhanced them. Growing up in the UK I have had some great falafel choices and these would be a mix of originally Egyptian and Lebanese recipes.
37 Stephen Street Lower
Dublin 2
