This post is sponsored by House Foods. All opinions are my own.
Stuff a warm pita bread with tender spiced tofu, lettuce, tomatoes, and vegan tzatziki to make these delicious grilled tofu gyros!
I’ve always been of the opinion that there’s no reason for vegetarians to feel left out when it comes to grilling. The majority of plant-based foods taste delicious when grilled, and while it takes a little bit of finesse, grilled tofu is no exception. Here I’ve marinated it in a blend of Greek inspired seasonings and umami ingredients to make it worthy of your grill.
You can certainly use tahini sauce or hummus instead of vegan tzatziki, but I encourage whipping some up if you can access plain non-dairy yogurt. I tested this with both coconut yogurt (my fave) and almond yogurt (something I eat begrudgingly) and thanks to the punchy vinegar and dill flavors, it tastes great either way.
I put some french fries in my tofu gyros because they’re sometimes included and I am a potato lover. Optional! Any grilled vegetables you happen to be cooking up would also be nice additions here. I rounded my pita bread out with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, some extra fresh parsley, and a few slivers of red onion.
If you give this grilled tofu gyros a try, let me know! Making it is as simple as firing up the grill, picking up some pita bread and House Foods tofu at the grocery store, and whisking together a simple marinade. I hope you enjoy this gyros minus the meat!
Sprinkle the shredded cucumber with salt and place it in a colander to drain for 10-15 minutes.
Stir together the yogurt, oil, garlic, salt, and vinegar in a bowl. Take the cucumber and squeeze out any more excess liquid using your hands or cheesecloth. Stir it into the mixture until well-incorporated. Finally, stir in the fresh dill. Season to taste and store cold.
For the savory grilled tofu:
Open the tofu, drain liquid from the package, and then wrap it in a clean towel, placing a heavy object on top of it to press out excess liquid from it. (Or use a tofu press). Let the tofu press for 10-15 minutes.
Preheat your grilling implement and make sure the grates are cleaned and well-seasoned with oil.
Mix together all of the ingredients for the tofu marinade until smooth. Cut the tofu width-wise into 8 approximately-equal slices. Use a baking dish or a large plate to pour the marinade over the tofu slices, then turn them over to coat both sides.
Grill the tofu pieces on an outside edge of the grill (don't use the hottest part; low-and-slow helps make the tofu a little chewier and crispier). Cook for 6-8 minutes per side, flipping halfway through. You want to see the tofu getting a little bit crisp on the outside with nice browning.
If desired, brush the tofu with a little bit more of the extra marinade after cooking.
For the grilled tofu gyros:
If desired, warm the pitas on the grill or however you prefer. Add two slices of tofu to each pita, along with plenty of lettuce, tomato, tzatziki, French fries if using, and any other toppings of choice. Enjoy hot.
Notes
Nutrition facts exclude French fries and assume only half of the sauce is used.
Beef flank steak: While traditional gyros are made with lamb, beef is a wonderful, crowd-pleasing alternative. Cucumber: Peel, grate, and strain this before incorporating into your tzatziki sauce so the condiment doesn't get too watery.
In this traditional kebab dish, the lamb is seasoned, pressed into a cylinder, and continuously rotated until fully cooked. When the lamb is too lean, layers of fat are sometimes added. Lamb is the most common and traditional meat used in Gyros.
Following World War II, Gyros made with lamb (called as döner kebab by some restaurants) was present in Athens. It was likely introduced by immigrants from Anatolia and the Middle East. The Greek version is normally made with pork and served with tzatziki, and became known as gyros.
To sum it up, the typical gyro truly contains a lot of protein and several vitamins and minerals, making it pretty healthy. As an outcome, you can order some and offer it to your guests as a whole meal with a side of veggies for a tasty dish to enjoy for lunch or supper.
Contrary to popular belief, authentic Greek gyros are NOT processed meat. Traditionally, gyros are made from slices of marinated chicken, or lamb, stacked on a vertical rotisserie, and slow-cooked to perfection.
One of the main concerns about gyro meat is its relatively high fat content, especially when made with lamb or a combination of lamb and beef. Saturated fat, in particular, increases LDL cholesterol levels and elevates the risk of heart disease. However, this issue can be mitigated by choosing leaner meat options.
In the United States, gyro meat is often ground beef, but in Greece, it's a blend of lamb and beef. Tzatziki sauce is a refreshing and flavorful accompaniment that adds a pop of freshness to the sandwich.
Generally, chicken is a lean meat that is a good source of protein, low in fat (especially if you choose skinless, white meat), and it provides essential nutrients. Gyro meat, traditionally made with a mixture of ground meat (often lamb or beef), fat, and seasonings, tends to be higher in saturated fat.
Arby's Traditional Greek Gyro features a blend of beef, lamb and Mediterranean spices sliced from a spit rotisserie and placed on a warm flatbread with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki sauce and Greek seasoning.
Gyros, which are inspired by the Turkish doner kebab, aren't native to Greece. According to estimates, gyros didn't make their way there until the 1920s. Though popular in the U.S., lamb gyros are hardly consumed at all in Greece.
Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.
Greek gyros are served in a pita, stuffed with tomato, red onion, a few French fries, and a healthy dose of tzatziki (a Greek sauce or dip made with yogurt and cucumbers). In the U.S., lettuce is sometimes added to the mix, and the addition of French fries is usually only found on the side.
Gyro meat is generally considered to be gluten-free. This is because the heart itself does not contain any gluten-containing ingredients. However, it is essential to check the labels of any sauces or toppings added to the gyro meat, as some may contain gluten.
You'll start your gyro meat by finely chopping the onion and garlic. Combine both of those in a bowl with ground beef and lamb, butter or bacon grease, eggs, milk, lemon juice, breadcrumbs, and seasonings.
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Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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