Easy Vegetarian Chickpea Gyros

These chickpea gyros are a quick vegetarian dinner that takes just 10 minutes to cook on your stovetop and only a few minutes to prep. That means you can walk in the door and be sitting at the table eating dinner within 15 minutes! It's got all your favorite Mediterranean flavors with a vegan twist!

You Will Love These

• They take less than 15 minutes from start to finish. It's HARD to find healthy, vegetarian recipes that are filled with this much flavor that can be thrown together so quickly!
• These vegetarian gyros have all your favorite flavors of falafel with a fraction of the work! No food processor, no waiting for the falafel mixture to chill, no frying in hot oil! Which is not a jab at falafel, because I love a good, vegan falafel night too!
• You can enjoy them as a pita sandwich or make a big, fresh salad with the crispy spiced chickpeas! Remember, my recipes are always blueprints which means you can give each meal your own touch! Toss these spiced chickpeas on a Greek salad or my Whipped Feta Dip for a perfect meal prep lunch for the busy work week!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive Oil — I like a good, organic, cold-pressed olive oil for the depth of flavor that it adds, but you can use whatever cooking oil you have on hand for these chickpeas.
• Chickpeas — Chickpeas are such a great source of plant-based protein that I just always have a can (or two) on-hand. You could substitute Great Northern beans in a pinch, but you’ll miss some of the buttery, nuttiness from the chickpeas.
• Cumin — If you’re fresh out of cumin, coriander is the standard substitute.
• Paprika — You can use any ground pepper powder in place of paprika, but make sure you know what flavors you’re working with. Ancho powder is the best, because the flavor is mild, but it’s not a very common pantry staple. Cayenne is a popular substitute for paprika, but you might want to use less than ¼ teaspoon since it brings more heat.
• Garlic Powder — Fresh out of garlic powder? Mince up two fresh garlic cloves instead (one for every ⅛ teaspoon)!
• Pita Bread — Is there anything more heavenly than soft, pillowy pita bread? You can usually find it whole wheat or gluten-free—whatever you need!
• Dill Yogurt Sauce — Don't skip the homemade Dill Yogurt Sauce for these chickpea pita sandwiches! It ties everything together and adds a layer of fresh, cool, tangy flavor!

Instructions

Dry chickpeas thoroughly on a clean kitchen towel.

Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Add chickpeas to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for 8 minutes.

Add cumin, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, and another pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat the chickpeas evenly.

Then cook for another minute or two until the chickpeas are crispy but not burned. Serve your spiced chickpeas on a warm pita filled with cucumber, tomato, red onion, homemade yogurt sauce, fresh dill and crumbled feta.

I like to keep the Greek theme going and serve these veggie gyros with my favorite Mediterranean Couscous Salad. This would be a great picnic lunch to pack up and enjoy at the park!

Tips

• Make sure to dry the chickpeas thoroughly before sauteing them. Eliminating as much moisture as possible will ensure that they get perfectly crispy and crunchy.
• After you add the spices to the pan, be sure to watch the chickpeas closely so they don't burn. These zesty little beans can go from crispy to burnt real quick, so stir them frequently after you've coated them in the spices.
• Creamy Dill Yogurt Sauce really makes this dish shine. The cool, creamy sauce really balances out the crisp, spiced garbanzo beans. You can buy tzatziki at the store if you're in a pinch but my homemade creamy yogurt sauce is suuuuuuper easy and tastes fresher than fresh!

FAQ

Favorite Mediterranean Dishes

• 15 Minute Creamy Greek Pasta
• Easy Greek Veggie Lasagna
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Dill Yogurt Sauce
• Greek Potato Wedges

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