What sides to pair with gyros? Consider serving Gyros with light and fresh sides like Greek salad, Tabouli salad, Mediterranean bean salad, Gigantes, or briam. You can also try a tasty side of Greek fries, fried feta, or Greek fried zucchini chips. Lastly, pair gyros with a hearty chicken orzo soup or Greek okra stew.
We’ve decided to pair gyros with tempting sides that lean into its Greek heritage. So let’s go on a tour of the best Mediterranean flavors that take this street food to a whole new level.
Ode to the “Opa!”
Greek Salad
You can’t beat a traditional Greek salad -they are a staple fare in Greece. Take advantage of the fresh and uncomplicated ingredients to allow gyros to truly shine.
For a traditional Greek salad, gather bright red medium-sized tomatoes, Persian or English cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, kalamata olives, feta, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and sea salt.
Chop up your fresh ingredients (tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, red onion, and olives). Then drizzle extra virgin olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar over the salad.
Top the Greek salad off with fresh feta and dried oregano. You can make the salad special by adding some capers.
Tabouli Salad
Tabbouleh is a fresh herb and bulgur Mediterranean salad. This parsley-dense salad is dotted with cucumber and tomato and dressed simply with olive oil and lemon vinaigrette.
Serve this filling salad as a zesty side to your gyros dish.
Cook the bulgur and set it aside to cool.
Meanwhile, combine diced tomato and cucumber in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, and allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes.
Next, strain the tomato and cucumber mixture and add the bulgur, finely chopped parsley, mint, and green onion.
Then, whisp together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and salt.
Pour the vinaigrette into the salad and stir to combine. Let the salad rest for 15 minutes to let the flavors mingle.
Mediterranean Bean Salad
Our Mediterranean bean salad is chock full of fresh produce and simple ingredients. Consider serving it alongside your gyros dish as a healthy side.
We include a mix of chopped cucumber, red bell peppers, and red onions. Then we toss in chickpeas and cannellini beans.
Lastly, top the salad off with feta crumbles and a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette.
Gigantes (Greek Lima Beans)
Gigantes is a hearty and filling side consisting of beans baked in tomato sauce and fresh herbs. Consider serving the “giant” lima beans with your gyros main.
Start by soaking the lima beans overnight in water. Then, simmer them in water and sea salt for 45 minutes until tender.
In the meantime, bake chopped onions and whole garlic cloves at 180°F for 15 minutes.
Add the beans (drained), chopped celery, parsley, seasonings, and ½ cup of boiling water. Then, bake the dish for another 30 minutes.
Lastly, add the plump tomatoes and bake for the last 60 minutes.
Briam (Greek Roasted Veggies)
Briam Is a humble Greek vegetable dish that you’ll love as a healthy fare to accompany your gyro plate.
Start by thinly slicing the veggies (zucchini, potato, eggplant, tomato, and onion). Then, drizzle the veggies in olive oil and add garlic, oregano, thyme, coarse black pepper, and kosher salt.
Add canned diced tomatoes and water to a baking dish and arrange the seasoned veggies in rows.
Cover the briam dish in tin foil and bake at 390°F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and roast for another 20 minutes until the vegetables are golden brown.
You can broil the veggies for 5 minutes for a crisp finish and serve with feta cheese, olives, and your gyros.
Greek-Inspired Fries
Pair your gyros side with crispy Greek-inspired fries showered with yummy Mediterranean toppings.
We recommend using Yukon potatoes for a smoother, waxy texture and slightly sweeter flavor. But you can use Russet potatoes.
Thinly slice your potatoes and season them with a homemade seasoning starring oregano, dill, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bake the fries at 425°F for 20 minutes, flip them, and bake for 10 minutes.
Once out of the oven, shower these crispy fries with feta crumbs, red onion, and fresh parsley.
Careful, these Greek fries are dangerously addictive!
Fried Feta
Fried feta, traditionally known as “Saganaki,” is a Greek-inspired dish that will have your guests’ mouths watering non-stop! Pair the salty, creamy feta cheese with your delicious gyros.
Take a block of cheese, dip it into a beaten egg, and coat it with flour. Then, fry the cheese in a heated pan with frying oil.
You can roll the feta into a honey and sesame seed crumb for a fun twist.
Top the crispy cheese off with a squirt of fresh lemon juice.
The bubbly, melty, and gooeyness is to die for!
Greek Fried Zucchini Chips
Fried zucchini chips are a typical appetizer in Greek taverns. Consider serving these crisps as a side to your Greek-inspired gyros.
First, slice the zucchini using a mandolin to ensure thin slices that don’t turn soggy.
Next, sprinkle the zucchini with salt and lay the slices out on a baking tray. Let them rest for 15 minutes to allow the salt to draw out their moisture.
Toss the chips in a mixture of semolina flour, all-purpose flour, and salt.
Briefly dip each chip in water and fry in hot oil until golden. Then, serve these famous crisps with your favorite dip.
Chicken Orzo Soup
Chicken orzo soup is a hearty dish that you can enjoy as the main. However, it also makes a smashing side with gyros for your guests with rumbling tummies.
Start by cooking the chicken until it’s no longer pink. Next, add veggies, herbs, and spices to the same pan and cook until the vegetables are tender.
Add wine, chicken broth, bay leaves, and rosemary. Then, add the orzo and allow the soup to simmer for 20 minutes until the orzo is tender. Lastly, add the cooked chicken and remove the bay leaves before serving.
Greek Okra Stew
Greek okra stew or Bamies Laderes is a healthy Greek recipe that’s delicious next to gyros.
Start by prepping your veggies (potatoes, carrots, spring onions, red onions, and garlic). Then, sauté the veggies until caramelized and tender.
Then, add tomato paste and white wine. Once the wine evaporates, add tomatoes, okra, water, stock, sugar, parsley, and seasoning.
Simmer the stew for 30 minutes and serve with crumbled feta and oregano.
Best Wine Pairings For Gyros
Classic gyros burst with flavor and cry out for a flavorful and aromatic wine.
Our top two recommendations are furmint and xinomavro.
Furmint
Furmint is a medium-bodied, dry white wine with fruity flavors (peach, pineapple, and passion fruit) and spicy aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
Furmint’s flavors accent the Greek herbs baked into the meaty filling of gyros.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro is a Greek red wine known for its vibrant intensity and aromatics.
Xinomavro lends a smokey and spicy aroma and rich, earthy flavors to highlight any gyros dish. Its firm tannins and dark fruit flavors are genuinely irresistible, making this wine a true culinary match for gyros.
Best Sauces For Gyros
Nothing beats a homemade tzatziki sauce alongside your gyros. Every cook needs a tzatziki recipe at hand, and ours is a foolproof version that you’ll want to use on repeat.
First seed and finely chop cucumbers. Then, whisk together Greek yogurt, cucumbers, olive oil, fresh herbs (oregano, dill, and rosemary), garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
This satisfying creamy sauce is the ultimate sauce to dollop right into your gyros.
Roasted red pepper hummus, coming in at close second with its smoky flavor, is another delicious sauce (paste) that you can spread into your gyros.
Blend roasted red bell peppers with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.