Afia, a Mediterranean food company driven by a mission to make food powerful, announces its new product line, Mediterranean Falafel Bowls, available in select retailers this Fall. The new line expands on Afia’s popular frozen falafel pouches, available nationally, by offering grain bowls inspired by traditional Middle Eastern recipes that feature 3 of the same great tasting Traditional Falafel in each single-serving microwavable meal.
Each flavor is based on a favorite family recipe of Afia Founder Farrah Moussallati Sibai, drawing inspiration from across the Eastern Mediterranean, from Syria and Lebanon to Northern Africa. The R&D team spent months working to evoke beloved flavors of heritage dishes, modernized for the frozen aisle and American consumers. Each meal is certified Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, preservative free, and ready in about 4 minutes.
“Each meal is based on recipes from my mother-in-law’s generation old black recipe book, but we know there are infinite variations on these classic dishes across countries and even within families,” said Moussallati Sibai. “Our meals pay homage to that variety, while staying true to the ingredients and flavors that remind us of home.”
Roasted Peppers & Tomato, the top rated flavor in market research, features pearl onions, roasted peppers and zucchini as well as 3 Afia falafel over rice infused with a rich za’atar tomato sauce, and is inspired by Burghul bi Banadoura, a classic dish that has both Lebanese and Turkish roots.
The new Sweet Potato & Kale Mediterranean Falafel Bowl draws inspiration from dried fruits and smokey rice in dishes like Mandi that are popular around the Arabian peninsula and North Africa, with sweet potatoes, kale, corn, chickpeas, raisins, and dried cranberries with falafel over characteristically yellow turmeric rice tossed in a lemon vinaigrette.
Moussallati Sibai’s favorite flavor is the Zesty Artichoke & Quinoa bowl, based directly on her grandmother’s recipe for Riz bi Fool, which directly translates as “rice with beans.” It features bright green fava beans and whole slices of artichokes with falafel over sumac rice in a zesty lemon dill dressing.
The final flavor of Crispy Onion & Lentil is heavily inspired by Mujadara, a signature Middle Eastern comfort-food dish of lentils, rice, and deeply caramelized onions served here with falafel, parsley, red quinoa and a savory pomegranate dressing.
“Mediterranean food is booming in restaurants, and consumers are learning how wide-ranging the Mediterranean diet really is, and they’re looking for options in groceries that go beyond hummus, olives, and feta,” Moussallati Sibai said. “We can’t wait for consumers to be transported by these flavors that say home to us, and to bring those flavors to America.”
