Jun 24
2013

Portobello Mushroom Pita Gyros

in Greek, Main Course, Mushrooms, Sandwiches, Vegetarian

Mushroom Pita Gyro

Half way through completing my undergrad degree in French and French literature, I spent a semester studying in Paris.  I went to class in a fantastically old building in Le Marais, a historic district of Paris.  Between the closest metro station to school and the school building there was an amazing tiny little takeout restaurant that served nothing but different kinds of les grecs (pita gyros).  Thinly sliced juicy meat piled generously into a warm piece of pita bread, along with some slices of fresh tomato, onion, and lettuce, and topped with a creamy tzaziki (cucumber yogurt sauce).  I have always loved a good pita gyro, but this particular version made me weak in the knees, and it was very difficult to exercise self-restraint and not stop every day after class to purchase one.  When I took Mr. Fuji to France for the first time, I dragged him across Paris just to go and eat one.  

I was recently invited to participate in a Kitchen PLAY Progressive Party with The Mushroom Council. They challenged me to create an original main course recipe featuring mushrooms as part of a six-course progressive party. It’s part of their “Swap It or Top It” campaign (see more info after the recipe—you could win $5k!)  It so happened that the day I got my assignment, I had also flipped through my photo album from my time in Paris and had a crazy craving for my beloved Parisian pita gyro.  I decided to whip up a version where I swapped out the gyro meat for seasoned and grilled portobello mushrooms.

Portobello Mushrooms

I mixed up my own gyro spice mix, which I then rubbed into the caps of my portobello mushrooms, which I had brushed with olive oil.  Then Mr. Fuji grilled the mushrooms until they were dark and juicy.

Cooking the gyro mushrooms

I sliced up the grilled mushrooms and served them in warmed pita bread with lettuce, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce.

Ingredients for Mushroom Pita Gyros

The Fujilings are really good eaters, so most meals are eaten without complaint, but this particular dinner was inhaled.  Home run!!!

Squirrel eating her pita gyro

Not only are these pita gyros delicious, but they are lighter than the traditional pita gyro, and pack in an extra dose of Vitamin D.  Mushrooms are the star of this dish!  Did you know that mushrooms are the only form of produce that serve as a natural source of Vitamin D?

Portobello Mushroom Pita Gyro

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Portobello Mushroom Pita Gyros

Makes 4 servings

For the tzatziki:
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cucumber, deseeded and finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced and zested
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the spice mix:
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried coriander
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

4 large portobello mushrooms
Olive oil, to brush on mushrooms
4 pitas
2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/2 head romaine lettuce, ribs removed and cut into large pieces

1. Make the tzatziki: Put the Greek yogurt in a cheesecloth lined strainer set over a bowl and let it drain for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Put the strained Greek yogurt in a small bowl and mix in the rest of the tzatziki ingredients. Cover the sauce and put it in the refrigerator to chill, for at least an hour.

2. Make the spice mix: Mix together the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl.

3. Grill the mushrooms: Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Brush one of the portobello mushroom caps liberally with olive oil, sprinkle the cap with the spice mix, then rub it gently into the mushroom. Repeat with the remaining mushrooms. Grill the mushrooms for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, starting with the cap side first, until the mushrooms are dark and tender. Remove the mushrooms from the grill and cut them into thin slices.

4. Assemble the pita sandwiches: Wrap the pitas in a damp paper towel (to prevent them from drying out) and warm in the microwave or oven. Spread a spoonful of the tzatziki sauce down the center of one of the pitas, add a few pieces of lettuce, then add grilled mushroom slices, sliced tomato, and sliced onion, then top it with another generous spoonful of tzatziki. Fold the pita over and wrap with a piece of foil to hold the sandwich together for easy eating. Repeat with the other pitas. Serve immediately.

=======================================================

Swap It or Top It

You can join the Swap It or Top It event too, and have a chance to win $5000. Click the picture above for more details!

*Disclosure: I was compensated for my time spent developing this recipe and writing this post. All opinions are my own!

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

La Fuji Papa June 24, 2013 at 5:23 am

These look great! Simple, good for you. Thanks.

Reply

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar June 24, 2013 at 5:45 am

LOVE! These sound awesome!

Reply

Denise June 24, 2013 at 10:24 am

I know exactly what you mean about the Gyros in Paris; they are one of our favorite past times, and we drool about the thought of them the entire flight. During our last trip to Paris, we dashed over to the our favorite little spot only to find out, they no longer use lamb it and only make with chicken.

Now that you have made me miss Paris a little bit more, I will have to try making them at home with your great recipe. Looks delicious!

Reply

Fuji Mama (Rachael) June 24, 2013 at 2:36 pm

@Denise — Don’t you hate it when they change things?!? I hate it when I get attached to things and then I go back and it’s not the same. Here’s to missing Paris and eating gyros!

Reply

Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife June 24, 2013 at 12:38 pm

Yum. We are so eating these for dinner this week!

Reply

Fuji Mama (Rachael) June 24, 2013 at 2:37 pm

@Sarah — Yay! I would love to hear what you think! :)

Reply

Lizthechef June 24, 2013 at 7:48 pm

My mouth is watering…

Reply

Fuji Nana June 24, 2013 at 7:49 pm

We’ve definitely got to try these.

Reply

Jayne June 24, 2013 at 9:30 pm

Oh, I love mushrooms so so much. I’m going to try to procure some portobellos and attempt to make something that looks as almost delicious as your gyros.

Reply

Nessa June 25, 2013 at 3:50 pm

Mushrooms are the best! Love this :)

Reply

Kali Gillespie via Facebook June 25, 2013 at 5:14 pm

these looks amazing…

Reply

Mushrooms Canada July 2, 2013 at 12:29 pm

What a fantastic idea! I love gyros, but this version sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing!

-Shannon

Reply

Little Cooking Tips July 11, 2013 at 1:21 am

Being Greeks, it was great reading your mushroom version for a souvlaki with gyros meat.
And we’ll definitely try it!
Thank you for sharing!

Reply

Stanton April 28, 2014 at 6:05 pm

Article Source: Daniels is a master trout angler and author, living and trout fishing in the Mountain
West – the heart of trophy trout country. To keep your
campsite free from them, here are good tips to follow:.
With fish meals you have so much choice and you are guaranteed with them to make highly nutritional homemade baits
that will just keep on catching for years.

Reply

Sar May 29, 2015 at 4:55 pm

these were disappointing. They were bland and unsatisfying.

Reply

David Brown August 13, 2020 at 1:09 am

Your site gives me much information. Keep it up!

Reply

Troy April 2, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Very impressive website you share.
I read the post here and i get many interesting information from here.
All the post which you share about the copy writer is very impressive.
Thanks for sharing this all. Keep sharing.

Reply

Yomu May 31, 2021 at 2:26 am

This post is good enough to make somebody understand this amazing thing

Reply

jake June 5, 2021 at 1:00 am

Perfect, you guys are wonderful with the way you do things. This is great.

Reply

Motorsports Products January 27, 2023 at 9:32 pm

your article is valuable for me and for others. Thanks for sharing your information!

Reply

getfinestliquor January 27, 2023 at 9:32 pm

Very good sir, i love to read your blog
Keep it up

Reply

Oregon Shroom Shop USA November 2, 2023 at 10:45 am

Everything just looks perfect with the mushrooms. I like mushrooms, but would never go picking my own to eat. When we were kids, my siblings and I brought home some brightly colored mushrooms (or toadstools)…not to eat, we knew better, but because they were pretty. Later, they were covered in dead flies!

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 2 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post: