Vendor Profile | Arabian Bites

We’re super excited to announce that Melbourne based small business, Arabian Bites is now apart of The Food Lovers Marketplace. They specialise in making dry falafel mix which can be transformed from packing to table in under 20 minutes Founder, Mona (pictured below), shares her story with us.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business

Arabian Bites came to life after I was made redundant from CSIRO in 2014 and I was always told I make the best falafel so I thought maybe I can do something with this. I found a commercial kitchen that I could work from and my journey started there. I started doing farmers markets and I had a great response from customers. I even won a small business award. I put the business on hold after having my youngest son in 2016 and only recently during Covid I started it again.

I wanted a point of difference to just the standard, original falafel and that’s how the other flavours came about. The different flavours are subtle but with a delicious twist. Arabian Bites falafel are super easy to make – just add one cup hot water, mix well and let sit for 15-20 minutes then shape and fry (or bake). For best results shallow frying works best.

What makes your products unique?

The falafel is fava bean based (higher in fibre and protein than chickpeas), all ingredients added – no more to add, Victorian produce, bigger size (serves family of four), all natural – no preservatives.

My falafel do not contain any artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives – all natural. They are also gluten free, MSG free, Vegan)

Who are your products best suited for?

Unskilled home cooks, kids learning to cook, those looking to add Middle Eastern flavours to their repertoire, etc. Everyone. All the above plus vegans/vegetarians, gluten free diets. People that are time poor and want a easy healthy meal.

What's next on the horizon for you?

I would love to see Arabian Bites expand both nationally and internationally. I would love to grow my product range with meals that are super healthy but quick and convenient.

I have just introduced the tahini sauce because it is the perfect accompaniment to falafel. They are made for each other. In the near future I would also like to add condiments such as zaatar paste and pickled turnips that complement the falafels.

How to use the falafel mix - ready in 15 minutes

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The Food Lovers Marketplace

Empowering Australian Small Business

The Food Lovers Marketplace is an Australian-owned, e-commerce marketplace that connects small food businesses, home food business, artisan producers, beverage makers, farmers and more with customers in their local area and around Australia. Customers can search for food producers, view their products, chat with them and place an order. We’ve broken down the barriers, building a bridge between consumers and producers. The platform provides the right tools to empower Australian small business.

The Food Lovers Marketplace

A community of people who love food. We are an Australian owned and operated, online marketplace that connects artisan food & beverage producers, caterers and home-based food businesses with consumers within their local area. Through geolocation search, you can find, home bakers, beverage makers and platter creators, chat directly to them, customize your order and support small business.