Gyro Recipe
Make Gyro Recipe in just 1h 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Meat & Marinade
Tzatziki Sauce
Assembly & Garnish
Method
Meat & Marinade
- 1
Prepare onion and combine meat
Peel and finely grate 1 medium onion. Squeeze the grated onion firmly in a clean kitchen towel or fine mesh strainer to remove excess moisture. Place ground lamb and ground beef into a large bowl.
- 2
Add aromatics and seasonings
Add the squeezed grated onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1.5 tsp salt, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp olive oil to the meat. Mix gently but thoroughly with your hands until evenly combined. Overworking can make the meat dense; mix just until cohesive.
- 3
Form and chill
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to let flavors meld and for the mixture to firm up for easier shaping.
- 4
Shape and cook
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F) if finishing in oven, or heat a large heavy skillet/grill pan over medium-high heat if cooking on stovetop. Divide the chilled meat into 4 equal portions and form into long, slightly flattened ovals or logs about 4–5 cm thick. If using stovetop, add 1 tsp oil to the pan and cook the patties/logs 3–4 minutes per side until well browned and cooked through (internal temp 70°C/160°F). For an oven finish, sear the logs briefly in a hot skillet 1–2 minutes per side to brown, then transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and roast 10–12 minutes until cooked through. Let rest 5 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain into strips.
Tzatziki Sauce
- 5
Prepare cucumber
Grate half a cucumber, place the grated cucumber in a fine sieve or clean towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible (this prevents watery tzatziki).
- 6
Combine ingredients
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup Greek yogurt, the squeezed grated cucumber, 1 grated/minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir until smooth and taste; adjust salt or lemon as needed. Chill for at least 15 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir again before serving.
Assembly & Garnish
- 7
- 8
Assemble gyros
Lay a warm pita on a plate. Spread about 2 tbsp tzatziki down the center of each pita. Place a handful (about 125–150 g) of sliced gyro meat on top. Add sliced tomato, a few slices of red onion, shredded lettuce and a sprinkle of crumbled feta if using. Drizzle a little olive oil and squeeze a lemon wedge over the filling if desired.
- 9