The Most Delicious Greek Gyros At Home

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

They say that in order to get to know the cuisine of any country better, you should not go to a national food restaurant, but to the nearest street food pavilion. If you happen to be in Greece, the first step is to try Gyros - the most popular Greek fast food.

Gyros is being prepared quite simple and fast, so learn now how to do it at home.

How to make Greek Gyros at home

In fact The gyros is a kind of popular Turkish dish - doner kebab, which is a thin pita bread stuffed with meat. By the way, the Turks do not recognize the Greek variation. They claim to be the ancestors of the Mediterranean Shawarma. The Greeks objected, claiming that the Gyros had been invented during the time of Alexander the Great and his conquests.

One day the great commander showed the soldiers how to skillfully roast pieces of raw meat on a sword blade directly over an open fire. He then skillfully tossed the roast into a round loaf, rolled it up, and happily buried his teeth in the appetizing doner. It is believed that the original name of the culinary innovation was given by flat bread. After all, Gyros translated from Greek means circle.

Street master class

Greeks are warm-hearted and hospitable people and therefore willingly demonstrate to everyone how to prepare gyros at home. This usually happens in the fresh air. A skewer with a large piece of pork or chicken is slowly turned next to the master. With a sharp knife he cuts thin pieces of it. Nearby on a large tray lie a pile of toasted flat cakes with gold stripes.

First, the bread is generously spread with Zajiki sauce. Then the bread is filled with pieces of meat, french fries, tomato slices and onion rings. It is rolled up and placed in a thin paper bag.

As Gyros itself is quite tasty, it does not require special additions. Favorite aromatic Greek herbs such as oregano or mint can be added to the filling for a brighter taste. Often inside the cake is covered with juicy lettuce leaves.

The restaurant together with Gyros will most likely bring you a Fatush salad made from fresh vegetables and a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.

Gyros with chicken

A classic version of the Greek Gyros does not exist. Most often chicken is put for stuffing and supplemented with tomatoes. We will analyze this recipe in detail.

Necessary products:

wheat flour bread - 4 pcs.

boneless chicken legs - 600 g

fresh tomatoes - 2-3 pcs.

garlic - 3-4 cloves

arugula leaves - a handful

olive oil - 2 tbsp.

lemon juice - 2 tbsp.

ground oregano - 1 tsp.

ground mint - 1 tsp.

sweet ground red pepper - 1 tsp.

salt and pepper - to taste

olive oil - 1 tbsp.

Zatsiki sauce:

thick natural yogurt - 150 g

fresh cucumber - 1 pc.

dill - 3-4 twigs

lemon juice - 1 tbsp.

garlic - 1 clove

salt and pepper - to taste

Method of preparation:

Bake the loaves in a dry pan with a non-stick coating on both sides, arrange them in a pile and cover with a clean towel.

For the sauce, finely chop the cucumber, pass the garlic through a press, mix everything with yogurt and chopped dill. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Rub the chicken legs with salt and spices, sprinkle with olive oil, grill pan until golden brown.

Place the meat on paper towels and leave to cool, cut into strips. Cut the tomatoes into slices, tear the arugula with your hands. Put 2 tablespoons of Tzatziki sauce, spread a little arugula and tomato slices. Put pieces of chicken on top.

Wrap one edge of the pie over the other to make a package. The preparation of the other Gyros is exactly the same.

Gyros with pork

Pork Gyros not inferior in popularity to chicken. Pork neck or fillet is usually used here. In the street version, the meat is grilled or skewered. At home it is recommended to marinate it for several hours. Fried potatoes and onion or purple onion rings are also placed in the filling.

Necessary products:

pork - 300 g

loaves - 2 pcs.

red onion - 1 pc.

tomatoes - 1 pc.

potatoes - 2-3 pcs.

vegetable oil - for frying meat and deep fats

tzatziki sauce - 100 g

olive oil - 2 tbsp.

ground coriander, chili, marjoram, thyme, oregano, black pepper - a pinch of each and

salt to taste

Method of preparation:

Mix all these spices with olive oil, grease the meat and marinate for several hours. Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into thin and long strips and fry them. Then, cut the pork into strips and fry in vegetable oil until golden brown. Make a pocket out of the dry bread, place the fried pork, french fries, tomato slices and onion rings, pour everything with Tzatziki sauce. In this form it will serve the Gyros.

Vegetarian gyroscopes

In Greece, although not so often, you can find vegetarian gyroscopes. The good thing is that absolutely any vegetables can be added to the filling. Including french fries. In this case, the meat will be replaced with feta, halloumi or other soft cheese.

Composition:

loaves - 2 pcs.

feta cheese - 150 g

potatoes - 3 pcs.

cherry tomatoes - 10 pcs.

cucumber - 1 pc.

pepper - 1 pc.

lettuce - 6-8 leaves

red onion - 1 pc.

garlic - 2-3 cloves

tzatziki sauce - 70 g

lemon juice - 2 tsp.

olive oil - 1 tbsp.

salt and pepper - to taste

vegetable oil - for frying

fresh oregano - 3-4 stalks

Method of preparation:

Cut the potatoes into strips, fry them, put them on paper towels. Cut the sweet peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers into slices of equal size. Chop the onion into thin rings. Cut the feta into cubes, as for a Greek salad. Bake the bread in a pan, spread with Tzatziki sauce, cover with lettuce leaves, mix the chopped vegetables and feta cubes. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice, garnish with oregano leaves, roll the pie loosely.

As you can see, making Gyros at home it's easy. You are free to fantasize with fillings and come up with your own combinations.

And for you as a bonus it remains to see these delicious Greek recipes. And to complete the menu with a Mediterranean touch, prepare some of the popular Greek pastries.