Are you craving the tantalizing flavors of tender, juicy meat, crisp vegetables, and tangy tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in a warm and fluffy pita bread? Look no further than gyros, a quintessential Greek dish that has captured the hearts and taste buds of food lovers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned home cook seeking to recreate the magic of your favorite Greek restaurant or a culinary novice eager to explore new and exciting dishes, this article will guide you through the art of cooking the perfect gyros. From selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of layering and grilling, we'll uncover the secrets to achieving that authentic, irresistible gyros experience in the comfort of your own home.
Here are our top 20 tried and tested recipes!
GROUND BEEF GYROS
If your family likes gyros as much as mine, they'll love this easy version that's made with ground beef instead of lamb. I found the recipe in a newspaper and adapted it to fit our tastes. They're very much like the ones served at a local restaurant. A cucumber yogurt sauce adds an authentic finishing touch. -Ruth Stahl, Shepherd, Montana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Chill. In a large bowl, combine seasonings; crumble beef over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 patties. , Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Cut patties into thin slices; stuff into pita halves. Add lettuce, tomato and onion. Serve with the yogurt sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 357 calories, Fat 16g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 78mg cholesterol, Sodium 257mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
GYROS - AN AUTHENTIC RECIPE FOR MAKING THEM AT HOME
Yes, you can make authentic gyros at home --> the texture and flavor of this meat is as good as you get in a good Greek restaurant, without the traditional rotating spit.. but this is just the recipe and technique for making the meat, for I'm assuming you know the drill on making the classic gyro sandwich - stuff the meat in a grilled pita with sliced tomatoes, onions and tzaziki sauce.. Enjoy!
Provided by steve in FL
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 1h20m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and mix well.
- Knead the mixture on the counter for 10 minutes - just like you're kneading bread. You may want to use a dough-scraper to help keep the counter clean. (I do). Pick that meat up and SLAM it into the counter, continuing to do so for the 10 minutes. This is key to getting the correct texture. I'm no Alton Brown, but I think the thing we're doing here is melting the fat so that we get a nice smooth texture in the end.
- Form into a flat loaf - I like to put the meat onto a piece of wax paper, and flattening it into a 3" high slab rectangle. I cover it with another piece of wax and use a rolling pin to flatten it out, just make sure you straighten out the edges to form a rectangle so that when it comes time to slice, they are nice and even.
- Bake the loaf on a broiler pan (or pan with raised edges, because it will leak grease!) at 350 for about an hour. Alternatively, you can grill it over coals, that's my favorite way, just be sure to turn often so as to distribute the juices.
- Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing thin.
FAVORITE MEAT LOAF GYROS
This is definitely a different gyro meat recipe, yet it is so good! I slice leftover meat in individual portions and freeze for any time I crave a gyro. -Sharon Rawlings, Tampa, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the egg, garlic, oregano, kosher salt and pepper. Crumble lamb and beef over mixture; mix well. , Pat into an ungreased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 160°. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours., For sauce, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving. , Brush pita breads with 1 tablespoon oil; heat on a lightly greased griddle for 1 minute on each side. Keep warm. Cut meat loaf into very thin slices. In a large skillet, fry meat loaf in remaining oil in batches until crisp. , On each pita bread, layer the tomato, onion and meat loaf slices; top with some tzatziki sauce. Carefully fold pitas in half. Serve with remaining sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 475 calories, Fat 22g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 100mg cholesterol, Sodium 918mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.
BEEF GYROS
Going out to restaurants got to be expensive for our family, so I came up with this homemade beef gyro. Usually, I set out the fixings so everyone can assemble their own. My husband and our two busy teens request them often. -Sheri Scheerhorn, Hills, Minnesota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine salad dressing and cucumber; set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef in oil over medium heat until no longer pink. , Layer half of each pita with steak, tomato, olives, onion, cheese, lettuce and dressing mixture. Fold each pita over filling; secure with toothpicks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 654 calories, Fat 41g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 57mg cholesterol, Sodium 1086mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 30g protein.
TRADITIONAL GYROS
I absolutely love being able to make my own gyros at home! You have to try them!
Provided by BetterCookingForSingleFathers
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 3h15m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place onion in a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Transfer onion to a piece of cheese cloth and squeeze out the liquid. Place onion in a large bowl.
- Mix lamb, beef, garlic, oregano, cumin, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, black pepper, and salt with the onion using your hands until well mixed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors blend, about 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Place meat mixture in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped and tacky, about 1 minute. Pack meat mixture into a 7x4-inch loaf pan, ensuring there are no air pockets. Place loaf pan into a roasting pan and pour enough boiling water around the loaf pan to reach halfway up the sides.
- Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 45 to 60 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Pour off any accumulated fat and cool slightly.
- Thinly slice the gyro meat mixture.
- Spread 1 tablespoon hummus onto each pita bread; top each with gyro meat mixture, lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 424.8 calories, Carbohydrate 42.8 g, Cholesterol 60.6 mg, Fat 40.8 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 620 mg, Sugar 4.1 g
GYROS
Make your own gyros meat to serve on pita bread or over basmati rice with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, tzatziki sauce, and feta.
Provided by Lan Sutton
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Lamb Ground
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Process red onion in a food processor until finely minced. Scoop onion into a piece of cheesecloth and squeeze as much moisture from the onion as possible. Return onion to food processor; add garlic and process until the garlic is well integrated. Blend marjoram, rosemary, kosher salt, and black pepper into the onion mixture.
- Gradually blend ground beef and ground lamb with the onion and seasoning mixture by alternately adding small amounts of each meat to the mixture and processing until well incorporated before adding the next batch.
- Firmly pack the meat mixture into a loaf pan, assuring no air pockets are trapped in the meat.
- Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 75 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Drain grease and slice thinly to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 223.8 calories, Carbohydrate 1.3 g, Cholesterol 79.8 mg, Fat 14 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 21.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 537.5 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
GYROS BURGERS
This is a Greek/American lamb and beef mixture version of the traditional Greek pork or lamb Gyros (or Gyro). Serve on warm pita bread with tzatziki sauce, and thinly sliced onion, tomato and lettuce.
Provided by Anonymous
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
- In large bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onion, garlic and bread crumbs. Season with savory, allspice, coriander, salt, pepper and cumin. Knead until mixture is stiff. Shape into 4 very thin patties (1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick).
- Cook patties for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 338 calories, Carbohydrate 5.7 g, Cholesterol 84 mg, Fat 25.4 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 20.3 g, SaturatedFat 10.6 g, Sodium 407.5 mg, Sugar 0.9 g
CHICKEN GYROS
This yummy chicken gyro recipe is a cinch to prepare. Just take tender chicken, coat it in a creamy cucumber-yogurt sauce, then tuck it into pita pockets. Some folks like lettuce and diced tomato on top. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the lemon juice, oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, mustard and oregano; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 1 hour. In a small bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, dill and remaining garlic; cover and refrigerate until serving. , Drain and discard marinade. In a large nonstick skillet, cook and stir the chicken for 7-8 minutes or until no longer pink. Spoon onto pita breads. Top with yogurt mixture and onion; fold in half.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 367 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 68mg cholesterol, Sodium 397mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
GROUND BEEF GYROS
This is a great summer meal and quick and easy to put together and tastes wonderful. Refreshing served with the cucumber sauce and is even low in fat. I think this came from Quick Cooking. It's a favorite in our house.
Provided by Cyrene
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 22m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine first 5 ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate. (If possible overnight).
- In separate bowl, combine ground beef and seasonings.
- Mix well.
- Shape into 4 patties.
- Grill, covered, (you can also use a toaster oven or broil these) over medium to high heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, turning once.
- Cut patties into thin slices.
- Stuff into pitas.
- Add lettuce,cucumber, tomato, and onion.
- Serve with yogurt sauce.
PORK GYROS
This lemon-bright and paprika-dusted pita filling is based on memories of the gyros served at Kalimera Souvlaki Art in Melbourne, Australia, one of the best Greek restaurants in a city that supports a great number of them. I've cooked it here in the oven, but the preparation would take well to the grill. However you prepare it, serve the crisped meat with warm pita, cucumbers, tomatoes and onion, tzatziki sauce, hot sauce, French fries, mint leaves, really whatever you like.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories meat, main course
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Put pork shoulder on a plate, and place in the freezer for approximately 1 hour, or until it is firm to the touch. Put meat on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, remove and discard any skin, then slice the meat thinly against the grain, into 1/2-inch slices.
- Make the marinade. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil and garlic. Using a box grater, grate the tomato and one of the onions into the marinade, then add 1 tablespoon of the paprika, along with the salt, pepper and oregano leaves. Whisk again, then place the sliced pork into the marinade, toss to combine and cover and refrigerate the meat for at least one hour and up to overnight.
- When ready to cook, heat oven to 450. Use the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to grease a rimmed sheet pan. Quarter the remaining onion, add it to the pork and marinade and toss once to combine. Remove the pork and onion from the marinade, and place on the pan, spreading everything evenly across it.
- Put the pork in the oven, and roast until it is browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through, about 30-40 minutes. Check the meat at around 20 minutes to see how much liquid is in the pan. If there is a lot, remove the pan, and pour off all but a few tablespoons. Remove the finished pork from the oven, allow to rest for a minute or two, then chop into bits. (To make the pork even crisper, set a large pan over high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, then the sliced pork, and sauté until everything curls tight in the heat.) Scatter the remaining paprika over the top of the meat, and serve with warm pita, sliced cucumbers and onions, tomato, tzatziki sauce, hot sauce, French fries, scattered mint leaves, ketchup, really whatever you like.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 586, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 46 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 34 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 662 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
GRILLED SKIRT STEAK GYROS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat a grill to medium high. Make the marinade: Whisk the olive oil, garlic, mint (if using), oregano, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the marinade to a small bowl; mix in the yogurt and 2 tablespoons water. Add the bell pepper and onion to the bowl with the remaining marinade and toss; remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add the steak to the bowl and toss.
- Grill the bell pepper, onion and steak, turning once, until lightly charred, about 4 minutes per side for the vegetables and 4 to 8 minutes per side for the steak (depending on the thickness). Set aside to rest, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, grill the pitas until marked, about 1 minute per side.
- Slice the steak against the grain. Fill the pitas with the steak, grilled vegetables, tomato and watercress. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce.
LIZZY217'S LAMB GYROS
This is my take on the Greek gyros sandwiches you can find at many counter-service restaurants.
Provided by LIZZY217
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 13h40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Whisk together the vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, brandy, crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and oregano in a bowl, and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the cubed lamb, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 12 to 24 hours.
- Once the meat has finished marinating, remove from the refrigerator, and allow to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. While the meat is warming up, prepare the tzatziki sauce by whisking together the yogurt and cucumber in a mixing bowl along with 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Wrap the sauce with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 4 inches from the heat source. Remove the lamb cubes from the marinade, and squeeze off excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Spray a broiling pan with cooking spray, thread the meat onto the skewers, and place the skewers onto the prepared pan.
- Broil under the preheated broiler to your desired degree of doneness, turning every few minutes so the meat cooks evenly. It should take about 10 minutes to cook the meat to medium-well.
- To assemble the sandwiches, cook each pocket bread in a microwave on high until hot, 20 to 30 seconds each. Split each piece in half, and open up the pockets. Divide the tomato and onion slices among the pocket bread halves. Stuff with shredded lettuce, then fill with the broiled lamb. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese, and top with the tzatziki sauce to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 698.3 calories, Carbohydrate 67.6 g, Cholesterol 76.8 mg, Fat 32.1 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 29.1 g, SaturatedFat 11.6 g, Sodium 2131.1 mg, Sugar 9.6 g
PORK GYROS WITH YOGURT-TOMATO SAUCE, RED ONION, AND ARUGULA
Provided by Susanna Hoffman
Categories Garlic Onion Pork Tomato Marinate Yogurt High Fiber Arugula Summer Grill/Barbecue Capers Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 12
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- For pork:
- Combine first 7 ingredients in large resealable plastic bag; shake to blend. Add pork to marinade; seal bag. Chill overnight, turning bag occasionally.
- For sauce:
- Stir first 7 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and chill until ready to use, up to 1 day.
- Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Remove pork from bag. Grill until thermometer inserted into center of each tenderloin registers 145°F, about 18 minutes. Transfer to work surface; let stand 10 minutes (temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees). Thinly slice into rounds.
- Grill pitas until warmed through and softened, about 2 minutes per side. Cut pitas in half. Fill pita halves with pork, drizzle with sauce, then tuck in onion and arugula. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately.
CUCUMBER SAUCE FOR GYROS
I tried different sauces but didn't find the taste I was looking for so I threw some stuff together and I was very happy with the results. If you try it and tweak it, let me know. I edited the recipe after reading the great suggestions.
Provided by Tom Collins
Categories Sauces
Time 2h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put the cucumber into a colander and sprinkle with a little salt.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes to allow extra juices to escape the cucumber.
- Gently squeeze the cucumber in a paper or cloth towel.
- Put everything a bowl and mix well (I don't rinse the cucumber).
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for a couple of hours prior to using (if you have time).
- A turn or two in the food processor would yield a nice smooth sauce.
- Good on anything, especially Gyros.
TURKEY GYROS
Greek seasoning, feta cheese and dill-cucumber sauce give this gyro an authentic taste. It was my family's introduction to how really good pita bread can be. Instead of feta cheese, we'll sprinkle on cheddar or Monterey Jack if we have it. -Donna Garvin, Glens Falls, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Finely chop a third of the cucumber. For sauce, mix sour cream, onion, dill, lemon juice and chopped cucumber. Thinly slice remaining cucumber., In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute turkey until no longer pink, 4-6 minutes. Stir in Greek seasoning. Serve turkey, lettuce, tomato and sliced cucumber on pitas; top with sauce and cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 307 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 28mg cholesterol, Sodium 422mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
GREEK GRILLED LEG OF LAMB: GYROS
Provided by Food Network
Time 1h52m
Yield 16 servings
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- With a sharp knife, make 20 slits across 1 side of the lamb and insert the garlic slivers. Place in a large non-reactive dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the lamb and rub evenly across the surface. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 2 and up to 6 hours, turning occasionally.
- Remove from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Season lightly on all sides with Essence. Brush a grill lightly with olive oil and preheat to medium heat.
- Remove the lamb from the marinade and place on the grill. Cook, turning occasionally until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the grill and transfer to a platter. Tent with foil and let rest for 12 minutes before carving.
- Thinly slice the lamb and place the meat in the center of the pita breads. Top with Tzatziki Sauce and chopped tomatoes, and serve.
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
- In a medium bowl combine all the ingredients and chill for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.
MARINATED BEEF GYROS
"I came across this Greek-style recipe many years ago. When I changed a couple of ingredients, I knew I had a tasty and good-for-you meal," writes Didi Trowbridge of Wilkesport, Ontario.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first six ingredients; add beef. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for up to 24 hours., In a small bowl, combine salad dressing and sugar; refrigerate until serving. Drain and discard marinade. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, saute beef for 3-4 minutes or until no longer pink. Serve on pitas with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion; drizzle with dressing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 396 calories, Fat 14g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 1046mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
SOUTH AUSSIE LAMB YIROS (OR GYROS, SOUVLAKI, KEBABS, DONER KABAB
This is a Greek street food that is very popular in Australia. In each state you will find it called something different however South Australia seems to be the only one to use the term 'yiros'. It is a popular late-night feast after a big night 'on the grog'. The standard salad ingredients are lettuce, raw onion and tomato topped with a garlic (but not tzatziki) sauce. Tabbouli, cheese and chili sauce are also popular fillings as are chicken, beef and falafels. Which ever meat is used it is cooked by stacking thin slices of marinated meat on a vertical skewer which turns in front of a heat source. The meat is then carved vertically from the skewer so the meat is in very thin shards. This is my version. I have used tzatziki as I have yet to discover the secret of South Aussie garlic sauce! Australian measurements used.
Provided by auntchelle
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 45m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Slice lamb into very thin strips. Place in a plastic bag together with the olive oil and nostimini blend. Massage to make sure the oil and nostimini has coated all of the meat. Allow to marinate for minimum of 30 minutes.
- While lamb marinates thinly slice tomato and onion. Shred lettuce. Set aside in fridge.
- Cut 2 foil sheets 10cm (4") larger all around that your pita bread. Cut 2 baking paper sheets the same size as the pita. Place one sheet of baking paper on top of each sheet of foil.
- Heat 2 frypans to med-hot.
- Lightly spray one side of a pita with cooking spray and place this side down on one fry pan. Spray the other pan with cooking spray and stir-fry half the meat until cooked. (Do not allow to stew - crusty bits are good.).
- When meat is ready remove from heat. Place one foil/paper stack on a plate.
- Working quickly, remove pita from heat and place on the paper with toasted side up.
- Now place the meat then half the salad items and tzatziki down the middle of the pita. Use the paper to tightly roll each side of the pita into the centre ensuring one side crosses the other. Roll package in the foil. Twist the bottom of the foil to catch the juices.
- Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Serve with plenty of napkins!
AMERICAN GYROS
Authentic Greek gyros are made with pork and chicken, but I prefer this version. It uses the same spices but is made with ground lamb and/or beef. Plus it's perfect for making ahead of time and heating it when you make your gyros. Don't forget to make tzatziki!
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish. Line with parchment paper that extends up the sides. Turn the parchment paper over so the oiled side is up.
- Place ground lamb and beef in a mixing bowl. Add onions, garlic, rosemary, oregano, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and bread crumbs. Mix until well combined. Transfer to prepared baking dish and press the meat mixture firmly into the dish in an even layer that extends to the edges. Meat mixture should be packed and fairly dense.
- Bake in preheated oven until nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Cool to room temperature. Transfer to a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
- Transfer meat to a cutting board. Cut into 3 pieces crosswise. Slice each piece into 1/8-inch thick slices as you need them.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook slices until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 254.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3.4 g, Cholesterol 72 mg, Fat 17.8 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 19.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 548.8 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
ROASTED LEG OF LAMB (GYROS)
Steps:
- Finely chop up 1/2 of the garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Mash the garlic and salt together with the flat-side of a knife into a paste. Add the oregano and continue to mash until incorporated. Put the garlic-oregano paste in a small bowl, add the lemon juice and 1 cup of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Slice the remaining garlic into thin slivers.
- Put the lamb on a large platter, and trim any excess fat. Cut the lamb in 1/2 lengthwise so you have 2 large pieces. Make slits all over the meat with a sharp knife, and push the garlic slivers inside. Rub 1/2 of the garlic-oregano paste all over the lamb and season the meat with salt and pepper. Roll up each piece of lamb lengthwise and tie with butcher's twine to hold the roasts together. Put the lamb on a large platter and slather with the remaining garlic-oregano paste. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Wipe off the excess paste from the lamb so it won't burn in the oven. Place a large roasting pan over 2 burners on medium-high flame and coat with a fair amount of olive oil. Put the lamb roasts in the roasting pan and sear to form a nice brown crust on all sides. Transfer the pan (and lamb) to the oven and roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours; it should be pink in the center and the internal temperature reads 130 degrees F. Allow the lamb to stand 10 minutes to let the juices settle before and slicing.
- Cut off the butcher's twine and thinly slice the lamb. Place the meat in the center of the pita breads. Top with lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and tzatziki.
- Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine with a fork. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.
Tips:
- Choose the right meat: Traditionally, gyros are made with lamb, but you can also use beef, chicken, or pork. Lamb has a stronger flavor, while beef is more mild and chicken is the leanest option. If you're using lamb, look for a shoulder or leg roast.
- Slice the meat thinly: The thinner the meat is sliced, the more tender it will be. Aim for slices that are about 1/4 inch thick.
- Marinate the meat: Marinating the meat helps to tenderize it and add flavor. You can use a simple marinade made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, or you can try a more complex marinade with yogurt, spices, and vegetables.
- Cook the meat slowly: Gyros are traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie, but you can also cook them in the oven or on a grill. The key is to cook the meat slowly over low heat so that it has time to become tender.
- Serve the gyros with your favorite toppings: Gyros are typically served with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, and pita bread. You can also add other toppings such as feta cheese, lettuce, and french fries.
Conclusion:
Gyros are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make gyros at home. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give gyros a try!
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