Vegetarian Gyros (Video)

These Vegetarian Gyros make a quick and unbelievably tasty version of the popular Greek sandwich. Even meat-lovers will enjoy them!

This Vegetarian Gyro is one of the tastiest vegetarian meals ever! It is easy to make, and you won't need any fancy ingredients. This sandwich is loaded with fresh vegetables, roasted chickpeas, and tangy tzatziki. You don't want to miss this recipe!

Video Tutorial

What's a Gyro?

Gyro is a Greek dish (pita sandwich) made with lamb or pork meat, usually served wrapped in a warm pita bread, together with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, tzatziki sauce, and sometimes a few potato fries. To make the gyro vegetarian, I used spiced roasted chickpeas instead, which pair really well with the rest of the ingredients.

Main Ingredients

For the Roasted Chickpeas:

• Cooked Chickpeas. You can boil the chickpeas yourself or use canned chickpeas.
• Olive oil.
• Seasonings. Sweet paprika, salt, and cayenne.

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

• Yogurt. Plain, unsweetened yogurt is needed. You can use Greek yogurt for an extra thick texture.
• Cucumber.
• Lemon Juice.
• Olive Oil.
• Dill. Fresh works best. Use dried dill if you can’t find fresh.
• Salt.

For the Gyro:

• Pita Bread. Regular or whole wheat.
• Veggies. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, spinach, and sweet peppers make great toppings.
• Feta Cheese. I also love to add feta cheese to the gyros because it pairs great with the other ingredients.

How to Make Vegetarian Gyros

1. Bake the Chickpeas. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Remove the skins from the chickpeas, if desired. Add the olive oil, paprika, salt, and cayenne. Mix everything well and transfer it onto a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

2. Make Tzatziki. While the chickpeas are in the oven, make the sauce by mixing the tzatziki ingredients together in a small bowl.

3. Prep the Veggies. Slice the tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, onions, and any other vegetables you are going to use.

4. Assemble the Gyro. Warm the pita bread (in the oven or microwave). Spread a generous amount of tzatziki and add the roasted chickpeas, feta cheese, and veggies on top. Fold the gyro* in half and serve.

*Follow my instructions below if you’d like to learn how to fold the gyro.

How to Fold a Gyro

I found that using aluminum foil is the easiest way to fold the gyro and keep it in place. Watch the video below for detailed instructions.

Helpful Tips and Tricks

About Tzatziki Sauce. Although I prefer making my own tzatziki, you can use store-bought tzatziki as well. I’ve noticed they sell it in many large supermarkets, usually next to ready-to-go salsa and guacamole.

About Roasted Chickpeas. You can use your favorite seasoning instead of the mix I used. I especially enjoy a seasoning called Berbere. This seasoning has a great mix of spices and adds a nice touch to dishes.

About Customizing. Make this sandwich to suit your taste buds! Add extra vegetables, extra cheese, skip the onions... Seriously, it's so easy to make the PERFECT gyro!

How to Make it Vegan

To turn this Vegetarian Gyro into a Vegan one, all you need to do it use unsweetened cashew or almond yogurt instead of regular yogurt, and also skip the feta cheese.

How to Store Vegetarian Gyros

Once assembled, the gyros have to be eaten right away because tzatziki sauce will turn the bread into a soggy mess after 30 minutes. So, make as many as you are planning to eat. Store the roasted chickpeas, tzatziki, and chopped vegetables in the refrigerator, and when you are ready to enjoy, you can make this gyro in minutes.

More deliciousness:

• Chicken Gyro
• Tzatziki Sauce
• Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)
• Greek Salad Dressing