Jackfruit Gyros

A delicious plant-based alternative made with jackfruit. Served in a warm homemade flatbread or pita, fresh salad, homemade tzatziki sauce and side of crispy fries.

Jackfruit is a great meat alternative as it has a pulled pork-like texture and absorbs flavours easily. This recipe tastes especially good if the jackfruit is marinated a few hours before crisping the pieces up in the oven.

Perfect for a summers day dinner or lunch.

WHAT IS JACKFRUIT AND WHAT IS GYROS?

Jackfruit is native to India and grows on trees. It is really versatile and loaded with nutrients.

If you wonder what a gyros is? It is a classic Greek dish traditionally made with grilled meat, served in a pita or flatbread with fresh tomato and onions, finished with tzatziki or yoghurt.

FULL OF FLAVOUR

Jackfruit and onion slices are marinated in a fragrant sauce and grilled in the oven until slightly crispy and caramelised. All wrapped up in a soft flatbread with a fresh salad and tzatziki, what is not to love?

THE MARINADE

To make this you will need:

• soy sauce

• ground cumin

• tomato paste

• apple cider vinegar or white vinegar

• dried oregano

• fresh garlic, crushed

• sea salt and crushed black pepper

• olive oil

• pinch of cinnamon (optional)

For the best flavour results make sure to let the jackfruit sit in the marinade for at least an hour or two. The longer it sits the more flavour the jackfruit absorbs.

TO SERVE

• pita or flatbread, homemade or store-bought

• Fresh lettuce

• fresh cucumber

• fresh tomatoes

• onion slices or pickled onions (optional)

• this delicious vegan tzatziki

• and crispy oven-baked fries

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

• Add a few drops of liquid smoke to the marinade for a smoky flavour.

• Not a fan of tzatziki? Substitute the tzatziki with hummus such as my favourite hummus recipe.

• Add a few radish slices to the salad mixture

• You can replace the jackfruit with mushrooms. If you do use mushrooms is suggest frying the mushrooms instead of roasting them in the oven as they will release water during the cooking process.

• If you are short on time you can skip the step of letting the jackfruit marinade for a few hours. It will still taste good, however the flavour does intensify as the jackfruit absorbs the flavours the longer it sits.

LEFTOVERS?

Store leftover jackfruit in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for about 2 days in the fridge.

OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

spicy sesame-coated tofu burger

vegan banana blossom 'chick'n sandwich

Samosa Jaffle

JACKFRUIT GYROS

A delicious plant-based alternative made with jackfruit. Served in a warm homemade flatbread, fresh salad, homemade tzatziki sauce and a side of crispy fries.

Serves: 2 - 3

Time : 35 min, plus marinating time

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE JACKFRUIT

• 1 can jackfruit in water (about 225g drained)

• 1/2 small red onion, finely sliced

FOR THE MARINADE

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or white vinegar

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

• 1 tsp dried or fresh oregano

• 1 garlic clove, crushed or finely sliced

• sea salt & black pepper to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil

TO SERVE

• 2 or 3 flatbreads or pitas, homemade or store-bought

• homemade vegan tzatziki

• fresh cucumber slices

• pickled onions (optional)

• sliced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

• shredded lettuce

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl, mix all the marinade ingredients until well combined.

2. Break or cut the jackfruit into smaller pieces.

3. Add the sliced onion and jackfruit to the marinade and mix well.

4. Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for 1 - 2 hours. You can skip this step if you are short on time, however the jackfruit will absorb more flavour if it sits for a few hours.

5. Once ready, preheat the oven to 200C and prepare a roasting tray.

6. Spread the marinated jackfruit pieces evenly on the tray and bake in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until the edges start to caramelise and darken. Stir halfway through.

7. Slightly heat the flatbreads (if using store-bought) in the oven for a few minutes.

8. Once warm remove from the oven. Lay it flat and spread with tzatziki. Then add shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber slices, pickled onions and jackfruit pieces and more tzatziki if you wish. Fold the edge around the filling or roll like a wrap.

9. Serve with a side of fries or on its own.

Have you made this?

If you have, I would love to see your creations on Instagram.

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