Let’s Celebrate!

OMG, yesterday we released the website, this website, this whole new platform, and I’m so excited to today be able to share all of the wonderful recipes, content etc that I have been wanting to share with you all for so long. It’s Friday, life is good and it’s time to celebrate all of this with… Greek Souvlaki! This is not the traditional souvlaki though, this is so much more. I have made mouthwatering vegan gyros, homemade pita bread, tzatziki and fries, and so much more. Read further to get the recipe. And you all, welcome here!

What is souvlaki?

Souvlaki is a very popular Greek fast food. In some areas (like Athens where I’m from) we say souvlaki for the whole concept of souvlaki with the skewers, gyros, pita bread, tzatziki etc, while in other parts of Greece they refer to the small pieces of meat grilled on skewers. No matter, this is so delicious ad something I have grown up with. Since I’m not eating meat anymore, I have made a whole new vegan version of my gyros with pita! “Gyros with pita” is a dish with Greek pita bread where you fill the pita bread with gyros, tzatziki, red onion, tomato and fries. So so good!

What kind of vegan gyros have I made?

Mushroom gyros! Yes, you heard right! This vegan gyros is so fantastic and something you really should try in combination with the rest ingredients. It just gets so soft, so moist, so full of flavor and so much alike… real souvlaki!

What about the pita bread, the tzatziki and the fries?

There’s a difference between pita breads depending what country you get it from. Greek Pita bread is not the (Lebanese) one you cut on the side to fill it with. Greek pita bread is flatter and you place the filling on top of the bread to then fold the sides and eat it… more like a tacos? You get the recipe for the Greek pita bread in this post.

I have also already written a very explaining post about Greek tzatziki - and how you get it authentic and perfect. You get the tzatziki recipe here.

For the fries, I recommend you to make your own. It’s really not the same thing buying frozen fries, frying them and using them for the Greek souvlaki, so I’ll tell you how simple it is to make Greek fries (“tiganiti patata”) by yourself.

THIS RECIPE IS:

• Vegan

• Greek

• Delicious

• Moist

• Perfect summer food

• Festive

Vegan Gyros with Pita

Approx 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili flakes or chili powder

1 tsp sweet paprika powder

2 tsp oregano

2 tsp thyme

Approx 1,5 tsp salt

Black pepper

4 tbsp olive oil 

1 big garlic clove

450 g mushrooms

3 potatoes

Plenty of frying/cooking oil

Greek pita bread*

Greek Tzatziki*

1 ripped tomato

1/2 red onion

HOW TO MAKE:

• Heat oven to 225 degrees C. Line a baking sheet.

• Place all the seasoning in a bowl. Stir it all together. Add the pressed garlic and 4 tbsp of olive oil. Combine it all together to a dressing.

• Rinse of the mushrooms and slice them thinly. Place them on the baking sheet and spread over the dressing. Preferably using your hands, rub in the dressing into the mushrooms. Add a little bit more olive oil if needed. At last, spread over a little bit of salt and place in the oven until the gyros is brown and a little bit crispy. That takes approx 20’

• Meanwhile, prepare your tzatziki, cut the tomato and slice the red onion. Also, time to make the fried potatoes.

• Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slice or more like potato wedges (this is a matter of taste). Rinse off in cold water and let them dry (by letting them drain in a strainer or wiping them off).

• Pour the oil into a sauce pan. Heat it up thoroughly. When hot, carefully add the potatoes and fry them. Stir them around with a fry spatula.

• When done, let them drain on paper. Spread over some salt, and then they’re done!

• When all of the ingredients for the souvlaki are done. Simply start by taking a pita bread. Place some gyros on top, than tzatziki, red onion, tomato and fries. Fold the sides and hold it like a tacos. Dig in!

*NOTES:

• You can obviously use bought pita bread, but just be sure you pick the real Greek pita bread and not the Lebanese style. Read more in the middle part of this post.

• Make your own tzatziki. Read the middle part of this post and get the recipe there.