Wrap It Up!

Are you Team Shawarma or Team Gyro?

I have always been Team Shawarma because it's been a major part of my childhood. Shawarma stalls are abundant in the UAE. I'd like to think that it's the ultimate street food. The shawarma I grew up with had chunky slices of tender and juicy meat. Lettuce, tomato, fries, and a tahini-garlic sauce are encased in warm pita bread. My family would order two shawarmas for each person with a side of pickles, falafels and samosas.

I found out about gyros after coming to Canada. Now, I can't get enough of gyros! To me, they both looked the same. So, was there a difference? Yes! Although they are both delicious wraps, it's the seasoning and fixings that separates these two apart. A gyro has that tzatziki sauce and vegetables while shawarma uses a blend of aromatic spices and garlic-hummus sauce to tie the wrap together.

Both shawarma and gyro are delicious, so why not make a food baby? I decided to season the meat with shawarma seasoning and drizzle the contents with a refreshing yogurt-based sauce. I present you the shayro!

Ok, the name is still a work in progress but you get what I mean. But let me tell you, this shayro already has a soft spot in my heart. So flavourful and easy to make, which gave me ample of time to play with the plating.

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VEGETARIAN GYRO

Adapted from Saudi Food Eman

Ingredients:

Shawarma seasoning

• 1/2 tsp of turmeric

• 4 cardamom pods

• 2 tsp chilli powder

• 2 tsp coriander powder

• 2 tsp cumin powder

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp ground black pepper

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tbsp sriracha

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp vinegar

The filling

• 2 cups beyond beef OR 6 boneless chicken thighs, sliced

• 1 cup fries, fried or baked

• 1 medium cucumber, diced

• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced

• 1 cup spring greens mix

The wrap

• 5-6 pita bread or Arabic style bread

The dressing

• 1/2 cup greek yogurt

• 1/2 tbsp sriracha

• 1/4 cup hummus

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Instructions:

1. Let's start off making the shawarma seasoning. In a bowl, combine the turmeric, cardamom, chilli, coriander, cinnamon, salt, pepper, garlic, coriander, olive oil, sriracha, lemon and vinegar.

2. Combine your choice of meat (beyond beef or chicken thighs) with the shawarma seasonings and let it marinate for 30 mins.

3. Heat up a pan on medium heat and add a bit of oil. Go ahead and pan-fry the meat for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: After pan-frying, I like to broil the meat on high for a quick minute just to get a bit of that crispy, smoky flavour.

4. Let the meat cool for 5 minutes. As the meat cools, whip up the spicy yogurt sauce by combining the greek yogurt and sriracha.

5. Now it’s time to assemble your shawarma! Grab your pita bread and slather some hummus then add some fries, veggies, and meat. Drizzle some spicy yogurt sauce and tightly roll it.

6. Done! Enjoy your shayro, it goes great with a side of pickles or a bowl of salad.