These vegan gyros are made with thin slices of marinated tempeh roasted in the oven, then tucked into pita with your favourite Greek-inspired toppings. They’re an easy vegan dinner for a busy weeknight!
Are they yeer-os or gy-ros ? I don’t know, but what I do know is that these vegan tempeh gyros are going to rock your world. If you’re stuck in a dinner rut and find yourself making the same recipes again and again, vegan gyros will add some excitement back to your meal planning routine.
And they are easy . While the tempeh marinates, you can prepare all the toppings. Once you’re done with that, pop the tempeh gyro “meat” in a high-temperature oven until it’s caramelized on the edges. Let everyone assemble their gyros, serve with a side of Sweet Potato Fries , and dinner’s done.
What Are Gyros Made Of?
Traditional gyro meat is made with ground meat that’s combined with seasonings, formed into a loaf, and cooked on a spit. Rather than attempting something similar with a vegan meat substitute, I opted to use tempeh.
Using sliced tempeh makes this vegan gyro recipe much less complicated than forming a loaf and slicing it up. Plus, the thinly sliced tempeh does an excellent job absorbing all the flavours you add to it anyway, so there’s no need for the extra step!
I steamed the tempeh to mellow its flavour and allow it to absorb the marinade, which is full of the traditional spices used in gyro meat. And, since you probably don’t have a spit or rotisserie at home, the tempeh is simply roasted in the oven at a high temperature to get it perfectly browned.
Notes on Ingredients
Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions and the FULL recipe with amounts and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
For the vegan gyro “meat”:
- Tempeh – I recommend using a soy tempeh, not the kind made with rice or flax, as the bits of grains or seeds will come loose when you slice it. Learn more: How to Cook Tempeh
- Lemon juice – Use freshly squeezed, not the kind that comes in a bottle.
- Liquid aminos – Coconut aminos , tamari, or soy sauce are fine too.
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Ground cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Dried oregano
- Black pepper
- Sea salt – I always use sea salt instead of table salt; I prefer the flavour and it has extra minerals, too.
- Nutmeg
- Oil mister or cooking spray
For serving:
- Pita bread – Vegan naan would work, too!
- Lettuce
- Diced or sliced tomato
- Sliced red onion or quick-pickled onion
- Vegan tzatziki sauce or tahini dressing – Tahini dressing isn’t an authentic topping, but it’s delicious here!
How Do You Steam Tempeh?
Cut the tempeh into slabs that will fit into your steamer basket. Set the steamer basket over a pot of boiling water; the water shouldn’t touch the basket.
Place the tempeh into the steamer basket, cover it, and let it steam for 20 minutes.
How to Make Vegan Gyros With Tempeh
The tempeh only needs a few minutes to marinate, so this isn’t the kind of recipe you’ll need to plan far in advance. If you’d like, you can steam the tempeh the day before, though.
Make the marinade. Whisk all of the gyro ingredients except the tempeh and oil or cooking spray in a large resealable container or a zip-top bag.
Slice the tempeh. Once the tempeh is cool, slice it into thin strips.
Marinate the tempeh . Place the tempeh slices in the marinade; cover the container or seal the bag, then gently turn or shake to make sure the tempeh is coated. Let the tempeh marinate for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Prepare . Preheat your oven to 475ºF, then line a baking sheet with foil and spray it with oil or cooking spray.
Bake . Arrange the tempeh on the prepared baking sheet and spoon the onions and remaining marinade over the top. Roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are nicely caramelized.
Serve . Serve the tempeh gyros with pita bread, quick-pickled red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and your other favourite toppings.
Tips for Success
These simple tips and hints will help you make perfect tempeh vegan gyros:
- Slice the tempeh thin, but not too thin . You don’t want the tempeh strips too thin or they’ll crumble, but if they’re too thick, they won’t fully absorb the marinade. Between 1/4- and 1/2-inch is perfect.
- Stick with the marinade recipe. You might wonder if there’s enough liquid in the marinade. I get it! I tried this recipe with double the liquid, and the flavour ended up less intense, as the spices weren’t as concentrated.
- Switch things up. In addition to using the tempeh gyros in pita wraps, you can use them in Buddha bowls , salads, or pair them with cauliflower rice and Balsamic roasted vegetables .
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Place leftover tempeh gyros in an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or a skillet set over medium heat.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
You can freeze the vegan gyros strips, but not the assembled wraps. Store the tempeh strips in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months; thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.
Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounce) packages tempeh , cut in half to fit into a steamer basket
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons liquid aminos
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt , add more to taste Dash of nutmeg
- Oil mister , or cooking spray
For serving:
- Pita bread
- Lettuce
- Diced or sliced tomato
- Thinly sliced red onion , or quick-pickled onion; see below
- vegan tzatziki sauce , or tahini (it’s less authentic, but super good with this)
Instructions
- Set the tempeh in a steamer basket set over simmering water; steam for 20 minutes.
- While the tempeh is steaming, whisk together all of the remaining gyro ingredients except the oil or cooking spray in a large resealable container (like Tupperware) or a gallon-size zip-top bag.
- When the tempeh is done steaming, remove it from the steamer basket and let it cool for a few minutes, until you can safely handle it. Transfer it to a cutting board and cut it into thin strips (somewhere between 1⁄4- and 1⁄2-inch is good here; too thin and they’ll crumble!).
- Place the cut tempeh in the marinade; cover the container or seal the bag and turn it over a few times to make sure all of the tempeh is coated. Let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes or until all or most of the liquid has been absorbed, gently shaking halfway through the marinating time.
- While the tempeh marinates, begin preheating your oven to 475ºF.
- Line a baking sheet with foil, then spray the foil with oil or cooking spray. Place the tempeh strips on the baking sheet and spoon the onions and remaining marinade (if any) over the top. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are nicely browned.
- Serve with pita bread and your desired toppings.
Notes
- Sliced red onion
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Sumac (optional)
Tempeh Gyros
Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounce) packages tempeh cut in half to fit into a steamer basket
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons liquid aminos
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt add more to taste Dash of nutmeg
- Oil mister or cooking spray
For serving:
- Pita bread
- Lettuce
- Diced or sliced tomato
- Thinly sliced red onion or quick-pickled onion; see below
- vegan tzatziki sauce or tahini (it’s less authentic, but super good with this)
Instructions
- Set the tempeh in a steamer basket set over simmering water; steam for 20 minutes.
- While the tempeh is steaming, whisk together all of the remaining gyro ingredients except the oil or cooking spray in a large resealable container (like Tupperware) or a gallon-size zip-top bag.
- When the tempeh is done steaming, remove it from the steamer basket and let it cool for a few minutes, until you can safely handle it. Transfer it to a cutting board and cut it into thin strips (somewhere between 1⁄4- and 1⁄2-inch is good here; too thin and they’ll crumble!).
- Place the cut tempeh in the marinade; cover the container or seal the bag and turn it over a few times to make sure all of the tempeh is coated. Let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes or until all or most of the liquid has been absorbed, gently shaking halfway through the marinating time.
- While the tempeh marinates, begin preheating your oven to 475ºF.
- Line a baking sheet with foil, then spray the foil with oil or cooking spray. Place the tempeh strips on the baking sheet and spoon the onions and remaining marinade (if any) over the top. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are nicely browned.
- Serve with pita bread and your desired toppings.
Notes
- Sliced red onion
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Sumac (optional)
Nutrition
Tempeh Gyros https://jessicainthekitchen.com/vegan-tempeh-gyros/ August 19, 2022
Air fryer baked sweet potatoes are super sweet, tender, and perfect for topping with all your favourite baked potato fixings. Best of all, they’re done in half the time it takes to bake sweet potatoes in the oven!
There’s something magical about baked sweet potatoes. Somehow, that time in the oven transforms them into a tender, caramelized delight—and you don’t even need to add sugar, butter, or anything else to get that deliciousness.
Unfortunately, achieving that perfect texture and flavour takes time. You have to wait and wait and wait some more, and sometimes you run out of patience, take the potato out of the oven, and it’s hard and bland. Well, air fryer baked sweet potatoes are the solution to this age-old problem!
Because air fryers cook with convection—and because of their size and design compared to regular convection ovens—you can bake sweet potatoes in them in half the time. They’re every bit as sweet, soft, and pillowy as traditional baked sweet potatoes, but without all the waiting.
(Love cooking with your air fryer? Me too! Be sure to check out my Air Fryer Roasted Garlic , Air Fryer Orange Tofu , and Crispy Air Fryer Tofu !)
Notes on Ingredients
Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions and the FULL recipe with amounts and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
- Sweet potatoes – I prefer garnet sweet potatoes.
- Oil – Whatever you have on hand!
- Sea salt – I like using the flaky kind for a little bit of crunch.
What Kind of Sweet Potato Is Best?
There are two categories of sweet potatoes: moist and dry. Moist sweet potatoes are red or orange on the outside, while dry sweet potatoes are tan or purple (like Japanese sweet potatoes). When it comes to baking, you want a moist sweet potato.
Moist sweet potatoes contain an enzyme that breaks their starches into sugars, which is how you get that supremely sweet, caramelized flavour. In contrast, dry sweet potatoes have a starchier texture and aren’t as sweet when cooked.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes
Here’s what you’ll need to do to make baked sweet potatoes in an air fryer:
Prepare . Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes well, until the water running off of them is clear. Pat them dry and prick them all over with a fork; this lets the steam escape.
Season . Use your hands or a brush to coat the outsides of the potatoes with oil, then sprinkle them with salt.
Air fry. Place the potatoes in your air fryer basket, leaving space between them so the air can circulate. Air fry at 390ºF for 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool and serve . Open the air fryer and let the potatoes cool until they can be handled comfortably, about 5 minutes. Remove the sweet potatoes from the air fryer basket and slice them open. Fluff the inside with a fork, then add a pat of vegan butter or your favourite toppings.
Tips for Success
There’s not much to this recipe, but these hints and tips will help you make sure it turns out perfect.
- Buy potatoes that are the same size and shape . This will ensure that they’re both done baking at the same time.
- Adjust the cooking time if needed . Fat sweet potatoes may need more time, while long, thin ones may need less time in the air fryer.
- Don’t crowd them. If you want to bake more than two sweet potatoes at once and don’t have an air fryer large enough, cook them in batches instead of crowding them.
My Favourite Sweet Potato Toppings
In the photos here, you’ll see my absolute favourite way to enjoy sweet potatoes. Heat oil in a skillet, then combine black beans, onions, garlic, bell peppers, and salsa with garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, sea salt, and black pepper. Spoon this over the potatoes and top with avocado slices, vegan sour cream and a generous sprinkle of vegan cheese. Drizzle chili crisp over the top.
But I have so many more ideas for you. Here are a few to try:
- Steamed broccoli and peanut sauce
- Sautéed apples and granola
- Cashew cream and fresh herbs
- Vegan chili and cheese
- Easy Chickpea Tikka Masala or your favourite curry
- Vegan cheddar and coconut bacon
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
These air fryer baked sweet potatoes will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. You can reheat them in your air fryer or in the microwave.
I also like repurposing leftover baked sweet potatoes for different meals. Use them to make soup, dice them and add them to Thai Red Curry with Tofu , make mashed sweet potatoes, or combine them with black beans for easy tacos.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes! Let the baked sweet potatoes cool completely, then store them whole in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge and reheat them in the air fryer or microwave.
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes , I prefer garnet sweet potatoes
- 1-3 teaspoons of oil
- Generous sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
- Wash, clean and pat dry your sweet potatoes.
- Prick your sweet potatoes all over with a fork.
- Using your hands or a silicone brush, rub the oil all over your sweet potatoes, then sprinkle the salt all over.
- Place in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 390F for 30-35 minutes.
- Once done, open your air fryer and let it cool slightly until it’s cool enough to handle without burning yourself, about 5 minutes. Remove from the air fryer basket, and slice open in the centre. Using your fork, fluff the inside a little bit. Add a pat of batter if you’d like, serve and enjoy!
