Every 100 kcal of falafel brings 4 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 51st of the 54 legumes in this database and 523rd of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 13.3 g per 100 g ranks 11th in its group.
Around 16% of the calories in falafel come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
By weight, fat outweighs protein in falafel: 17.8 g of fat per 100 g against 13.3 g of protein, a ratio of 0.7 to 1.
Set against chunky peanut butter, another legume entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.9 g less protein (chunky peanut butter has 7.7 g per 2 tbsp).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving quoted here is counted by piece at 51 g, and it covers about 14% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Deep frying adds a lot of fat that the underlying chickpeas do not have.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of falafel
Protein and calories in Falafel for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
13.3 g
333 kcal
3 patties (serving used here)
51 g
6.8 g
170 kcal
1 patty (approx 2-1/4" dia)
17 g
2.3 g
57 kcal
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in falafel
The nine essential amino acids in Falafel, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
0.944 g
0.48 g
71
lysine
0.856 g
0.44 g
64
valine
0.562 g
0.29 g
42
isoleucine
0.567 g
0.29 g
43
threonine
0.492 g
0.25 g
37
phenylalanine
0.707 g
0.36 g
53
methionine
0.187 g
0.1 g
14
histidine
0.364 g
0.19 g
27
tryptophan
0.134 g
0.07 g
10
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
SampleWhat goal trends look like after a week
109 g
Average per logged day
4 of 7
Days goal met
71%
Complete-protein share
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Sample figures for one made-up week against a 110 g goal, not your data. Red bars met the goal. Your own log fills this in with Premium.
13.3 g. The 3 patties serving used on this page weighs 51 g and so carries 6.8 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of falafel?
4 g. That figure divides its 13.3 g of protein per 100 g by its 333 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in falafel complete?
No. On its own, the protein in falafel is short of at least one essential amino acid; other protein sources across the day fill the gap.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of falafel?
About 14%. One 3 patties serving has 6.8 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #172455 (Falafel, home-prepared), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.