Vegan Shawarma
This vegan shawarma is the perfect recipe for anyone craving the flavors of a shawarma wrap but keeping it plant-based. When you taste the spiced tofu strips, with cool creamy tzatziki, all wrapped up in warm naan or pita you’re going to want seconds!
All in all, shawarma is a balanced, healthy meal. It has everything you need in a single dish: protein, carbs, fats, fiber… Except most places don’t have a plant-based option!
I guess you’ll just have to make this delicious, nourishing, hearty vegan shawarma to satisfy your cravings. But hey, I promise it’s worth it. And if you love cooking, you’ll find lots of veganized recipes of familiar favorites in the PlantYou cookbooks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Full of spice, crunch, and creaminess, this is the ultimate comfort meal! Talk about satisfying your cravings.
- It may seem like a lot of work but I promise it’s worth it. Sure, this dish has several components, but pickled onions and tzatziki are quick to make, especially while you’re waiting for tofu to cook.
- Similar to my spicy cauliflower tacos or tofu tacos, it’s perfect for a family dinner or a party. Let everyone pick their toppings and build their own vegan shawarma.
- From a nutrition point of view, this is actually a balanced and healthy recipe. It hits all the macros, not to mention all the fiber and vitamins you get on top.
- Figuring out the method for turning tofu into chewy, spice-rich filling has been a game changer. The sweet, smoky, and tangy flavor combo is out of this world!
Key Ingredients
- Tofu is shaved thin and marinated in bold spices for that classic shawarma flavour.
- Cinnamon and paprika are surprising additions that bring warmth and smokiness to the marinade.
- Pickled red onions add a bright, tangy accent. Plus, they are ready in minutes.
- Vegan tzatziki is a creamy, fresh sauce that marries everything together.
- Flatbread (pita or naan) acts as a delicious vehicle for the rest of the ingredients. Try this recipe with sweet potato tortillas or high protein garlic naan.
Hack It!
- Add extra herbs to your veggetable mixture or tzatziki. Parsley or mint go perfect with these vegan shawarma flavors.
- Gluten-free? Use GF wraps or serve the fillings over rice or quinoa. Use tamari instead of regular soy sauce for the tofu marinade.
- You can use any plant-based yogurt, as long as it is plain. Coconut, oat, almond, soy – there are so many options these days!
- Bulk it up with roasted eggplant, grilled zucchini or bell peppers.
- While tofu is integral to this dish, you can use thinly sliced seitan that does not contain soy products if you have a soy allergy.
How to Make Vegan Shawarma
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a parchment lined baking sheet. Mix the marinade, by combining soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, maple syrup, paprika and cinnamon.
Step 2: Using a potato peeler or the slicing side of a box grater, thinly slice the tofu into strips. Transfer to a large bowl, along with with the marinade.
Step 3: Toss the tofu strips until fully coated. Then, transfer to the baking sheet and spread evenly.
Step 4: Bake for 20 minutes until crispy.
Step 5: Next, prepare the quick pickled onions. Add the thinly sliced red onion to a jar with the sugar, hot water and vinegar. Stir, and set aside.
Step 6: Finally, prepare the quick vegan tzatziki. In a bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, dill, cucumber, and salt. Stir until mixed.
Step 7: Assemble the wraps. Spread the tzatziki onto the flatbread and top with the cooked tofu shawarma.
Step 8: Add pickled onions, fresh veggies, and radish. Carefully wrap the vegan shawarma in foil or parchment to help it stay closed, and enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can definitely prep the components. Marinate and bake the tofu, prep the onions and tzatziki, and just assemble when ready.
Onions store up to 2 weeks in the fridge in a sealed jar, though in my household they usually disappear in a matter of days!
Absolutely! If you’re in a rush, store-bought sauce works fine.
This recipe uses a quick tzatziki method. However, if you have more time, you can make my original vegan tzatziki and use the cucumber liquid for a refreshing cucumber mojito mocktail.
Plant-Based Recipes You’ll Love
- Couscous Feta and Mint Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Cabbage Wrapped Dumplings with Tofu
- Fattoush Salad with Chickpeas
- Stuffed Onions
I can honestly say I was not a very enthusiastic cook until I transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle. Now I love creating in my kitchen, and I’d love for you to join our Plant Cooking Club on Substack. In addition to weekly mealplans, you get a supportive community, exclusive updates, and more!
The Recipe: Vegan Shawarma
Ingredients
Spiced tofu
- 375 gram extra firm tofu, one block, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup soy sauce, or tamari for GF
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Pickled red onions
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup vinegar
Quick vegan tzatziki
- 1 cup vegan yogurt, unsweetened
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 Persian cucumber, grated
- ½ tsp salt
To serve
- 1 tomato, finely diced
- 1 handful dill, chopped
- 2 Persian cucumbers, finely diced
- pickled radishes
- 4 flatbreads, pita or naan
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
- Large mixing bowl
- Potato peeler
- Mini whisk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Create the marinade, by combining soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, maple syrup, paprika and cinnamon.
- Using a potato peeler or the slicing side of a box grater, thinly slice the tofu into strips, then transfer to a large bowl. Pour the marinade over top and toss the strips until coated. Then transfer to the baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes, until crispy.
- Next, prepare the quick pickled onions. Add the thinly sliced red onion to a jar with the sugar, hot water and vinegar. Stir, and set aside.
- Finally, prepare the quick tzatziki. In a bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, dill, cucumber, and salt. Stir until mixed.
- Build the sandwiches. Spread the tzatziki onto the pitas, top with the cooked tofu shawarma and fresh vegetables. Carefully wrap the sandwich in foil or parchment to help it stay closed, and enjoy.
Notes
-
- Add extra herbs to your vegetable mixture or tzatziki. Parsley or mint go perfect with these vegan shawarma flavors.
-
- Gluten-free? Use GF wraps or serve the fillings over rice or quinoa. Use tamari instead of regular soy sauce for the tofu marinade.
-
- You can use any plant-based yogurt, as long as it is plain. Coconut, oat, almond, soy – there are so many options these days!
-
- Bulk it up with roasted eggplant, grilled zucchini or bell peppers.
-
- While tofu is integral to this dish, you can use thinly sliced seitan that does not contain soy products if you have a soy allergy.