Vegan and Gluten-Free Falafel: An Easy Win for Your Menu
Vegan at table one, gluten-free at two, one crispy falafel that works for both of you.
Dietary requests are part of every service now. One table needs vegan, the next needs gluten-free, and the one after that asks for no dairy or eggs. Creating a separate dish for each request takes time, space and staff your kitchen may not have.
That’s where a wholesale vegan and gluten-free falafel comes in. One product can answer several of these requests at once, without adding extra prep to your day. At Cheeky Pea, we make ours for cafés, pubs and caterers in Sydney and beyond.
Why Dietary Requests Put Pressure on Kitchens
Every separate dish you add for a dietary requirement means more ingredients to stock, more prep and more risk of waste if it doesn’t sell. During a busy service, it also means more chances for mistakes.
Gluten-free requests in particular need to be taken seriously. A diner who orders gluten-free is trusting your kitchen to get it right. The simplest answer is a single menu item that covers several requirements, and is good enough that every customer wants to order it.
Why Wholesale Falafel Works So Well
Falafel is naturally built on plant-based ingredients like chickpeas, herbs and spices, so it’s an easy fit for vegan menus. A quality foodservice falafel can cover much more than one requirement, and still be delicious. It’s a really different experience to the falafel most people get at kebab shops or from the supermarket. Around 40% of our mix is fresh herbs, which keeps every falafel moist inside and crunchy outside.
Our raw frozen RF20 falafel is suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and meat-free. Our RF40 sliders, 120g patties, half-cooked and fully cooked falafel are also vegan and gluten-free. That’s one product ticking several boxes on your menu.
Keeping the Whole Dish Gluten-Free
There’s no gluten in our kitchen at all, and our falafel is coeliac friendly.
A gluten-free dish depends on more than one ingredient. The oil it’s cooked in and the bread or sides it’s served with all play a part, which is why many kitchens that offer gluten-free options choose separate fryer oil and gluten-free accompaniments.
It Contains Sesame
Being vegan and gluten-free doesn’t mean falafel is free of every allergen. Our falafel contains sesame, and we list it clearly so kitchens have the information they need for their menus. For more on Australia’s allergen rules, see Safe Food Production Queensland’s guide to Plain English Allergen Labelling.
Menu Ideas That Stay Vegan and Gluten-Free
Falafel pairs naturally with plenty of vegan and gluten-free sides. Here are a few popular ideas:
Bowls: falafel on rice or quinoa with roasted vegetables and a dairy-free dressing.
Salads: falafel over leafy greens, cucumber, tomato and pickled onion.
Gluten-free wraps: falafel in a gluten-free wrap instead of a wheat pita.
Platters and grazing boards: falafel with hummus, vegetable sticks and gluten-free crackers.
Burgers: a 120g falafel patty in a gluten-free bun.
With the right sauces, dressings and breads, each of these dishes can stay fully vegan and gluten-free. For more inspiration, see our brilliant ways to add falafel to your menu.
Three Flavours, More Choice
OG Green | Butternut Pumpkin, Turmeric & Ginger | Beetroot
Dietary-friendly options don’t have to be boring. With three flavours, you can add variety and colour to the plate. All three flavours are vegan and gluten-free, just like our OG Green RF20. All three come in raw frozen, while half-cooked and fully cooked falafel are available in OG Green only.
Choose the Format That Suits Your Kitchen
We offer raw frozen falafel in 20g balls, 40g sliders and 120g patties, as well as half-cooked and fully cooked options. Our RF20 balls cook from frozen in 3–4 minutes in a deep fryer at 170°C.
For cooking times, carton sizes and a side-by-side comparison, read Raw Frozen, Half-Cooked or Cooked Wholesale Falafel: Which Fits Your Menu?
What We Hear From Kitchens
Chefs and venue owners tell us our falafel gave them an easy yet delicious solution for vegan and gluten-free requests. One product covers several dietary needs, and it’s a dish the whole table can enjoy.
Why Kitchens Choose Cheeky Pea
Cheeky Pea was founded by Adi Walter in 2018, and every falafel is made in-house at our Matraville manufacturing kitchen in Sydney. Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients, it’s premium enough to lift your menu and practical enough for real service.
Make Dietary Requests the Easy Part of Service
One quality falafel can help you look after vegan and gluten-free diners, without adding extra dishes, prep or waste. Try it in your own kitchen and see how it fits your menu.
You can also reach us through our contact page.
Let’s Roll Together!
About the author Adi Walter founded Cheeky Pea in 2018 and oversees production at its manufacturing kitchen. Before starting Cheeky Pea, Adi spent years working in hospitality, from cafés to catering to fine dining.
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