The Best Vegan Gyros Recipe to Try Today

Vegan gyros can be a delicious and satisfying alternative to traditional meat-based gyros. These have a savory and well-seasoned flavor, achieved using seitan but you could also substitute tempeh, tofu, or other plant-based meat substitutes. The simple ingredients include a blend of herbs and spices such as oregano, garlic, cumin, and paprika to mimic the flavors of traditional gyros. The texture is quite similar to meat, offering a chewy and hearty bite. Bring the international food court into your own kitchen, the healthy, meatless way with this Vegan Gyro Recipe! 

This vegan gyros recipe is recipe from Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, who is the creator and host of The Healthy Voyager web series, site, and overall brand. An award winning healthy, special diet and green living and travel expert, holistic nutritionist, plant based vegan chef, best-selling cookbook author, media spokesperson, sought after speaker, consultant and television personality, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is a respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle and travel as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. The Healthy Voyager aims to help people live well, one veggie at a time! Follow her at @HealthyVoyager

Vegan Gyro Recipe

Meatless Gyro Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 pound sliced seitan
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 pita bread rounds (store bought or recipe above)
• 1/2 cup shredded lettuce, mix of romaine and iceberg
• 1/2 cup diced tomato
• 4 Pita Rounds

For the vegan gyro meat, this recipe uses seitan because it has great consistency and flavor that mirrors that of real vegan meat. If you don’t have access to seitan, you could use chickpeas instead.

Gyro Sauce Vegan Tzatziki

• 1 cup plain vegan yogurt
• 1 cup of vegan sour cream
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh or dried dill
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make Vegan Seitan Gyro

To make vegan gyros:

In a skillet with the olive oil, sauté onion and garlic over medium heat. Cook until soft over low heat stirring constantly. Add sautéed onion & garlic to a mixing bowl with seitan, lemon juice, oregano and cumin and mix thoroughly. Place on a cookie sheet and set on the rack of preheated broiler.  Broil 3 to 5 minutes on each side, turning once, or until desired doneness. Make sure to not dry it out.

To make the vegan Tzatziki sauce:

Blend the plain yogurt and sour cream until creamy.

Peel cucumbers, then cut in half lengthwise and take a small spoon and scrape out seeds and discard. Slice cucumbers, then put in a colander, sprinkle on 1 tablespoon salt, and let stand for 30 minutes to draw out water. Drain well and wipe dry with paper towel.

In food processor, add cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, dill, and a few grinds/shakes of black pepper. Process until well blended, then stir this mixture into the yogurt/sour cream mixture. Taste before adding any extra salt, then season as needed. Place in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving so flavors marry. This will keep for a few days or more in the refrigerator, but you will need to drain off any water and stir each time you use it.

Cut around edge of each pita bread and pull open to form pocket. Fill each pita with half the lettuce and tomato, fill with seitan & top with Tzatziki sauce. Your vegan gyros are ready to serve!

Printable Recipe Card

Conclusion

Taste preferences, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle choices are all reasons to enjoy vegan gyros. Some people simply prefer the taste of plant-based foods or find that a vegan diet suits their personal health and wellness goals better. Either way, these vegan gyros are so delicious, you will make them again and again!

The vegan gyro is complemented by traditional toppings like fresh vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, onions), and sauces like tzatziki made with dairy-free yogurt, garlic, cucumber, and dill. The combination of the seasoned protein, crisp vegetables, and creamy sauce in a warm pita bread provides a flavorful and enjoyable eating experience.

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