Eggplant Gyros

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Eggplant's meaty texture is a delicious vegetarian stand-in for the lamb that typically fills a gyro sandwich. The vegetable absorbs the lemony-herby-spicy marinade like a sponge, so if you have time, let it marinate for the full day.

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Prep Time:
40 mins
Additional Time:
3 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
4 hrs 10 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 sandwiches

Ingredients

Eggplant

  • 1 ½ pounds eggplant

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 2 large cloves garlic, grated

  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon piment d'Espelette or Aleppo pepper

Tzatziki

  • 1 cup shredded cucumber

  • ½ cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

  • 1 clove garlic, grated

  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

For Serving

  • 4 whole-wheat pita breads, warmed

  • 1 large tomato, chopped

  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

  • ¼ cup slivered red onion

Directions

  1. To prepare eggplant: Trim ends off eggplant and cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Place in a colander and toss with 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. Transfer the eggplant to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

  2. Meanwhile, whisk oil, 2 tablespoons dill, lemon juice, garlic, coriander, cumin, oregano and piment d'Espelette (or Aleppo) in a small bowl. Rub the marinade on the eggplant. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.

  3. To prepare tzatziki: Place cucumber on a clean kitchen towel, gather it up and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Place the cucumber in a small bowl and mix in yogurt, dill, garlic, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

  4. To grill & serve: Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill the eggplant, turning once, until lightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve in pitas with tomato, lettuce, onion and some of the tzatziki.

Tips

To make ahead: Marinate eggplant (Steps 1-2) for up to 1 day.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

524 Calories
32g Fat
53g Carbs
12g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 524
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 11g 38%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 12g 24%
Total Fat 32g 40%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Vitamin A 2545IU 51%
Vitamin C 17mg 19%
Folate 110mcg 28%
Sodium 599mg 26%
Calcium 95mg 7%
Iron 3mg 18%
Magnesium 88mg 21%
Potassium 806mg 17%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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