What’s a Traditional Gyro?
As mentioned, our chicken gyro recipe is filled with Moroccan-inspired spices and is quite different from a traditional gyro. Traditionally, gyros are a Greek dish that is usually made with pork. The meat is stacked and then roasted on a vertical rotisserie. It takes on a round shape as it cooks, which is why it was dubbed a “gyro.” In Greek, the word means round. The meat is then served on pita bread with fresh vegetables, tzatziki sauce, and French fries. Equally delicious as our rendition, but as you can see, a bit different!
Gyro vs Shawarma vs Souvlaki:
There tends to be some confusion around the difference between these three dishes. They are all similar, but each boasts something special:
- Gyro: A Greek dish made from roasted pork and served on a pita with veggies, fries, and tzatziki sauce.
- Shawarma: A Middle Eastern street food dish that’s filled with roasted meat that is also cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It’s often served with pickled vegetables instead of fresh.
- Souvlaki: Another Greek dish made with skewer-roasted pork, chicken, or lamb and eaten with pita and fresh vegetables. Souvlaki is usually enjoyed on a skewer with the bread and toppings on the side instead of in a sandwich.
Remember, while our chicken gyro recipe is both Moroccan and Greek-inspired, it is a unique dish that we came up with after experimenting in our kitchen!
What is Tahini? Can I Find It In The Grocery Store?
You need tahini for our special tahini dressing, which takes this dish next level. Tahini is a ground sesame paste. It is often sold in a tin can or jar and can usually be found in your local supermarket near the other ground nut and seed mixtures like peanut butter.
Tahini shouldn’t be mistaken for tzatziki. While the names are slightly similar, they couldn’t be more different. Tzatziki is yogurt-based, while tahini is sesame seed-based.
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