The main difference between falafel and gyro is that falafel is a vegetarian or vegan dish made from ground chickpeas, while gyro is a meat-based dish typically made from beef, lamb, or chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie.
Falafel and gyro are both popular Middle Eastern dishes. People usually eat them in pita bread with vegetables and various condiments. However, they are quite different dishes.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Falafel
– Definition, Ingredients
2. What is Gyro
– Definition, Ingredients
3. Difference Between Falafel and Gyro
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Falafel, Gyro
What is Falafel
Falafel is a crispy Middle Eastern food typically prepared by frying balls or patties made from ground chickpeas. People usually eat falafel in pita bread with vegetables, hummus, and tahini sauce. It is a vegetarian or vegan dish that is popular in many countries around the world.
The main ingredient in falafel is chickpeas, which is a good source of plant-based proteins and dietary fiber. It also includes fresh herbs like parsley and cilantro, spices like cumin and coriander, garlic, and onion. To get the perfect texture and structure of falafel, it’s best to use dried chickpeas and soak it overnight (adding baking soda helps to soften them as they soak) and drained. Although some people use canned chickpeas, after mixing them up with other ingredients and form into patties, they tend not to hold their shape well when fried. Moreover, some recipes that use canned chickpeas may require an additional binding agent like panko breadcrumbs or an egg. If you plan to freeze some falafel after making a large batch, it’s advisable to use soaked dried chickpeas to ensure they maintain their shape once thawed.
What is Gyro
Gyro is a Greek dish made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served wrapped in pita bread. In fact, the meat is usually pork, chicken, or lamb. It includes seasonings with a blend of herbs and spices, such as oregano, thyme, garlic, and cumin. The meat is cooked slowly until crispy on the outside and juicy inside and then thinly sliced off the spit. The meat often comes with toppings like tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and tzatziki sauce.
Furthermore, the word “gyro” is Greek for “turn,” which refers to the way of cooking the meat, turning slowly on a spit. Gyro is a popular street food and is available in most Greek taverns and fast-food shops around the world. It is also similar to shawarma and doner kebab, which are also dishes of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, but the origin and the seasoning of the meat are different.
Difference Between Falafel and Gyro
Definition
Falafel is a crispy Middle Eastern food typically prepared by frying balls or patties made from ground chickpeas, while gyro is a Greek dish made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served wrapped in pita bread.
Main Ingredient
The main ingredient in falafel is chickpeas, whereas the main ingredient in a gyro is meat.
Nature
Falafel is a vegetarian or vegan dish, while gyro is a non-vegetarian dish.
Serving
We usually eat falafel in pita bread with vegetables, hummus, and tahini sauce, while we eat gyro with toppings like tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and tzatziki sauce.
Origins
While falafel has Middle Eastern origins, gyro has Greek origins.
Conclusion
Falafel and gyro are both popular Middle Eastern dishes, but they are quite different dishes. The main difference between falafel and gyro is that falafel is a vegetarian or vegan dish made from ground chickpeas, while gyro is a meat-based dish typically made from beef, lamb, or chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie.
Reference:
1. “Gyros.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “What Is Falafel?” Food Network.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Gyro sandwich (3)” By jeffreyw – Mmm… we need more gyrosUploaded by Fæ (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Close Up Photo of Fried Falafel” (CC0) via Pexels
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