Homemade Greek Gyro Sandwich or Dinner.The way professionals make gyro on an upright rotisserie is fabulous, but not the most practical for most of us cooking at home. This version uses the same meat (pork) and seasonings, but has been adapted to home cooking. Other popular versions of Greek gyro are made with beef, lamb, or chicken.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds of boneless pork loin, shoulder, or fresh ham
white wine vinegar
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GREEK GYRO SEASONING MIXTURE
3 tablespoons of sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of finely crushed (powdered) Greek oregano (rigani)
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FOR PITA WRAP SANDWICHES
6-8 pieces of thin pita bread (not pocket pita)
1/2 cup of tzatziki (see below)
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
french fries (optional)
olive oil
Preparation:
In a small bowl combine paprika, salt, pepper, and oregano.
Make the Gyro Meat:
Slice the meat against the grain as thinly as possible and pound with a meat mallet to less than 1/4-inch thick. In a flat-bottomed container, arrange one layer of slices, sprinkle liberally with seasoning mixture, then with a little vinegar. Spread the vinegar over the meat so that all pieces are moistened. Add layers, spices, and vinegar until all the meat has been marinated. Cover and refrigerate for 1/2 hour to 2 hours.
Note: If there's any seasoning mix left over, store in an airtight jar and use again for gyro or as a rub for pork souvlaki.
Make the tzatziki and french fries.
Remove meat from the refrigerator and slice into strips about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch wide and 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. Dry fry (without any oil) in a non-stick frying pan until well browned and slightly crisp.
Alternate cooking methods: Do not cut the meat into strips before cooking. Cook thinly pounded pieces on the grill (or in a roasting pan in the oven) until the edges of the meat begin to crisp, then slice and serve.
Yield: 6-8 large pita wraps, or gyro meat dinner for 6-8
To Make the Gyro Pita Wrap Sandwich: See photos
Brush the pita bread with olive oil and fry in a dry frying pan or grill for a few minutes until warmed and softened, not crisp.
In the center of each pita:
spread 1 heaping tablespoon of tzatziki
add 2-3 slices of tomato
add sliced onion to taste
add gyro meat
sprinkle with sea salt (to taste) and more sweet paprika
top with french fries (optional)
Twist the gyro sandwich in butcher's paper, parchment paper, or wax paper and serve.
To Make a Gyro Dinner:
Serve the gyro meat with french fries, tomato and onion slices, and pita wedges or crusty Greek bread on the side.
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Chicken Gyro with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
1lb chicken breast (tenderized)
4 whole wheat pitas
1 - 1 1/2 cup Baby Spring mix or other greens
1 tomato
1 yellow or white onion (sliced into rings)
1 tablespoon butter
Marinade
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fancy mustard
Tzatziki Sauce
1 cup 0% or 2% plain, Greek yogurt
1/2 English cucumber (peeled and grated)
3/4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons dill
1 clove garlic
1-2 pinch sea salt
1 pinch white ground pepper
Directions
Step 1
Mix marinade ingredients and pour over tenderized chicken breasts. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Step 2
Whisk together Tzatziki sauce ingredients and set aside, or refrigerate if not using immediately.
Step 3
Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until tender and brown, about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
Step 4
When chicken has finished marinating, heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. When pan is nice and hot, lay chicken breasts flat on the bottom of the pan. Spoon a little extra marinade over the top and cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until chicken is cooked throughout. Cooking times will vary depending on how thick your chicken breast is/how much you tenderized it. Alternatively, you can grill the chicken breast.
Step 5
Heat the pitas in the microwave (or for a minute on the grill). Spread 2-3 spoonfulls of Tzatziki sauce onto the pita, add 1/2 of a chicken breast and top with lettuce, caramelized onions and tomato.