Vegan Shawarma

5 from 5 votes

Vegan shawarma is a middle eastern sandwich, veganized with grilled infused tofu with incredible spices, served inside a toasted pita bread with vegetables and a vegan yogurt sauce. Served with a fattoush salad and Greek potatoes, this Mediterranean feast screams flavor!

Prep Time10

Cook Time16

Course: Sandwiches

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 251kcal

Author: Kathy Carmichael

Ingredients

Shawarma Marinade

1 large garlic clove minced
1 Tablespoon ground coriander
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon ground cardamon
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 lemon juiced + zested
3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Garlic Yogurt Sauce

½ cup plain vegan yogurt unsweetened, unflavored
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon cumin
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Other ingredients

14 ounces extra-firm or sprouted tofu cut into 6 equal slabs
6 oil-free whole wheat pita bread or flatbread of choice
2 tomatoes sliced thin
1 white onion cut into slivers
5 ounce baby kale of other greens

Instructions

Marinating the Tofu

Combine all the marinade ingredients.
Whisk together.
Press tofu or, if using super-firm or sprouted tofu, dry off, and cut into 6 equal pieces.
Place tofu in a shallow refrigerator-safe container and pour the marinade over the tofu.
Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 days!

Making the Garlic Sauce

Place all the ingredients into a small bowl and stir.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Grilling

Preheat the grill to medium-low
Place a grill mat on the grill (you can also use a grill pan, or if you are careful, you can place the tofu directly on the grill.
Cook for about 8 minutes on each side
Remove from the grill and place back in the marinade until ready to use.

Baking

Follow the same pressing and marinating process.
Then, preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Place cut or uncut tofu on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper
Cook for 15 minutes
Remove from oven and flip tofu over; cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Air-Frying

Follow the same pressing and marinating process.
Set air fryer temperature at 375 degrees
Cook 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times through the cooking process.

Assembling the Vegan Shawarma Sandwich

Lightly toast the pita or lavash bread
Lay the pita or lavash wrap on a flat surface
Add a small amount of baby kale or other greens to the center.
Place one piece of grilled tofu in the center on top of the baby kale
Add three thin slices of tomatoes and place them overlapping in the center
Add onion slivers
Top with yogurt shawarma sauce, hummus, tahini dressing, or all three.

Skip the Bread and Make it a Bowl

Instead of bread, make a salad.
Add the shawarma tofu, tomatoes, onions, and sauces

Notes

Press the tofu before marinating. Or choose extra firm tofu for a quicker option.

Use a tofu press to remove any excess fluid.

Marinate the tofu for a few hours, but I prefer marinating overnight for the best flavor.

While grilling the tofu, reserve the marinade and add the cooked tofu to the container with the marinade for extra flavor, or use a basting brush and baste the tofu while it cooks on the grill.

Instead of pita bread, add the vegan Shawarma to the ingredients in a salad rather than a sandwich or wrap.

Nutrition