**Discover the Exquisite Flavors of Traditional Greek Gyros and Tzatziki Sauce: A Culinary Journey to the Mediterranean**
Embark on a delectable culinary journey to the heart of Greece with our authentic recipes for gyro meat and tzatziki sauce. These iconic dishes, deeply rooted in Greek cuisine, offer a tantalizing blend of flavors that will transport your taste buds to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean. From the succulent, juicy gyro meat, expertly seasoned and roasted to perfection, to the refreshing and tangy tzatziki sauce, bursting with the flavors of cucumber, garlic, and tangy yogurt, these recipes are a celebration of Greek culinary heritage. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary adventures, our detailed instructions and helpful tips will guide you through the process, ensuring a delicious and authentic gyro experience in the comfort of your own kitchen. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and let's embark on this culinary voyage to savor the essence of Greek cuisine.
GYRO MEAT WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE
Follow Alton Brown's Food Network recipe to make Gyro Meat with Tzatziki Sauce at home; the creamy cucumber-yogurt sauce goes perfectly with ground lamb.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 3h45m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Process the onion in a food processor for 10 to 15 seconds and turn out into the center of a tea towel. Gather up the ends of the towel and squeeze until almost all of the juice is removed. Discard juice.
- Return the onion to the food processor and add the lamb, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, salt, and pepper and process until it is a fine paste, approximately 1 minute. Stop the processor as needed to scrape down sides of bowl.
- To cook in the oven as a meatloaf, proceed as follows:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place the mixture into a loaf pan, making sure to press into the sides of the pan. Place the loaf pan into a water bath and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 to 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and place a brick wrapped in aluminum foil directly on the surface of the meat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes and feta cheese.
- To cook on a rotisserie, proceed as follows:
- Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place on top of 2 overlapping pieces of plastic wrap that are at least 18 inches long. Roll the mixture in the plastic wrap tightly, making sure to remove any air pockets. Once the meat is completely rolled in the wrap, twist the ends of the plastic wrap until the surface of the wrap is tight. Store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, to allow the mixture to firm up.
- Preheat the grill to high.
- Place the meat onto the rotisserie skewer. Place a double-thick piece of aluminum foil folded into a tray directly under the meat to catch any drippings. Cook on high for 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium and continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F. Turn off the heat and allow to continue to spin for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
- Place the yogurt in a tea towel, gather up the edges, suspend over a bowl, and drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Place the chopped cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove the liquid; discard liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained yogurt, cucumber, salt, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and mint. Serve as a sauce for gyros. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Yield: 1 1/2 cups
GYRO MEAT LOAF WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE
A spin on a classic meat loaf, I love this because I can sneak spinach in on my meat-and-potatoes family. Serve it with Greek-style potatoes or a Greek salad. I also get to make a whole other meal the next night with the leftovers-gyros. -Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble lamb over mixture and mix well. Shape into a loaf and place in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish., Bake, uncovered, 55-60 minutes or until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with tzatziki sauce. Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze cooled meat loaf in plastic wrap and foil. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Unwrap meat loaf; reheat on a greased shallow baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 354 calories, Fat 21g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 136mg cholesterol, Sodium 472mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
GYRO MEAT AND TZATZIKI SAUCE
Excellent! This is just like the Gyro that use to be made on E 9th Street across the from (This Is the Ohio State University) Steeb Hall in Columbus Ohio. Go Bucks! Very,Very easy to make! Great for the next time we challenge for a Football,Basketball or Womens Basketball National Championship! Just great anytime for a fun gathering or family and friends.
Provided by Timothy H.
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 2h
Yield 7 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 30
Steps:
- Chop onion up in a food processor for 15 seconds. Remove and drain the juice in a strainer or towel. Dump the juice. Put the onion back in the processor and add the ground lamb,garlic,marjoram,rosemary,salt and the pepper.
- Process for about 1-2 minutes until it looks like paste.Scrape out the bowl into a loaf pan.Preheat oven to 325. Place the meatloaf pan in a water bath. (That means setting the loaf pan another baking dish so the water is about half way up the side of the loaf dish).Bake for 60 minutes or until the meat reaches 165-170.
- Remove from the oven and take the meat out of the loaf pan. Let it cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes.Slice and serve on a pita with the Tzatziki sauce. Also top with onion,tomato and feta cheese.
- Alton Brown Precess:.
- Process the onion in a food processor for 10 to 15 seconds and turn out into the center of a tea towel. Gather up the ends of the towel and squeeze until almost all of the juice is removed. Discard juice.
- Return the onion to the food processor and add the lamb, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, salt, and pepper and process until it is a fine paste, approximately 1 minute. Stop the processor as needed to scrape down sides of bowl.
- To cook in the oven as a meatloaf, proceed as follows:Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place the mixture into a loaf pan, making sure to press into the sides of the pan. Place the loaf pan into a water bath and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 to 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and place a brick wrapped in aluminum foil directly on the surface of the meat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes and feta cheese.
- To cook on a rotisserie, proceed as follows:.
- Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place on top of 2 overlapping pieces of plastic wrap that are at least 18 inches long. Roll the mixture in the plastic wrap tightly, making sure to remove any air pockets. Once the meat is completely rolled in the wrap, twist the ends of the plastic wrap until the surface of the wrap is tight. Store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, to allow the mixture to firm up.
- Preheat the grill to high.
- Place the meat onto the rotisserie skewer. Place a double-thick piece of aluminum foil folded into a tray directly under the meat to catch any drippings. Cook on high for 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium and continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F. Turn off the heat and allow to continue to spin for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
- Sauce:.
- Place the yogurt in a tea towel, gather up the edges, suspend over a bowl, and drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Place the chopped cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove the liquid; discard liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained yogurt, cucumber, salt, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and mint. Serve as a sauce for gyros. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
Tips:
- Choose the right beef: For the best gyro meat, use a combination of beef chuck and beef sirloin. The chuck will provide flavor, while the sirloin will provide tenderness.
- Grind the beef yourself: This will ensure that the meat is fresh and evenly ground.
- Season the meat well: Use a generous amount of spices, such as cumin, oregano, and garlic powder.
- Form the meat into a loaf: This will help it cook evenly.
- Cook the meat over medium heat: This will prevent it from drying out.
- Let the meat rest before slicing: This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
- Serve the gyro meat with tzatziki sauce: This classic sauce is made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs.
Conclusion:
Gyro meat and tzatziki sauce are a delicious and versatile combination. They can be enjoyed on their own, or used as a topping for sandwiches, salads, and wraps. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make gyro meat and tzatziki sauce at home. So next time you're craving Greek food, give this recipe a try.
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