10 2024
My Gyros
Article
This is how I roll with Gyros (It's not traditional, but it's good!)3 lbs of 93 lean ground beef (You can substitute with lean lamb or lamb/beef or chicken breast or lean pork)
1 T Garlic Powder (You can substitute with minced garlic)
4 t Salt (Preferably Kosher)
1 1/2 t Ground Black Pepper
2 t Oregano (You can use fresh minced oregano)
1 t Thyme (You can use fresh minced thyme)
1 t Basil (You can use fresh minced basil)
1 t Marjoram (You can use fresh minced marjoram)
1 T Ground Cumin
1 1/2 T Red Wine Vinegar
6 T Olive Oil (Virgin or extra virgin, it's all good!)
Soft Pita Bread (I made my own a couple of times, with and without the pocket. I have since picked up soft pitas from Walmart, in the bread aisle, Joseph's Greek Style Pocketless Pita. They are off-the-chain!)
Tzatziki Sauce (I made my own once. It was good. I have since picked up a prepared tzatziki sauce from Walmart, in their deli section, Marketside Tzatziki Style.)
Onion, halved and sliced thin (You can use red, yellow, or the white variety. I prefer the flavor of yellow onions.)
Tomato, halved and sliced thin (You can use any variety. I prefer beefeater tomatoes.)
Optional items:
Fresh Dill
Feta Cheese
Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Combine the ground meat, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, basil, marjoram, cumin, red wine vinegar, and olive oil in a mixer (Kitchenaid with the scraper attachment). Mix for 10 minutes, Scrape the mixer blade, Let the meat rest for 5 minutes, mix for another 10 minutes, and scrape the blade again. (The rationale behind the mix times and the rest times is mixing breaks the meat down and the restresting lets salt and vinegar sink in.)
Press the meat mixture into a loaf pan, ensuring that all air is pressed out. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, with the dull side out. Place a baking pan on the bottom shelf of the oven for drainage and place the loaf pan on the middle shelf, centered over the baking pan. Bake for 90 minutes. Pierce the foil, lay the loaf pan on its side, for draining, and bake for another 30 minutes.
Remove the meat from the pan and let it rest on a cutting surface until it is cool enough to handle. Slice the meat thinly, doing just enough for a gyro at a time.
Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan, on medium. Place slices of meat in the pan and fry each side for a few minutes, or until lightly browned.
Warm a pita in your desired way (I have a glass-top stove and will place a pita directly on the burner, on low, warming each side).
Spread the center of the pita with tzatziki sauce, atop the sauce with slices of onion and tomato, and lay the slices of meat on top. This is where you add the optional ingredients. Be generous with the meat and toppings, your mouth will appreciate them.
Fold in half and feed in your face!
Repeat for additional gyros, for your face or others'.
Enjoy!
IMAGE NOTE: I have attached a royalty-free image of similar gyros. I'll include a picture of mine one day when I have time between cooking and eating.