Greek Gyros

I love seasoned meat that is roasted(or grilled), juicy and sliced thin. Then when you add a creamy, tangy, feta cheese dressing and some fresh chopped veggies like onions, lettuce and tomatoes...well, I'm in heaven! Neatly wrap it in some soft flatbread and you have the perfect gyro!

I don't own one of those spinning cone gyro meat grillers, so I didn't think it was possible to make a good gyro at home! But with this recipe that I found on a blog called Neighbor Food, it sure is possible! Instead on grilling the meat vertically the way Greek restaurants do it, the meat is oven baked in a thin loaf shape. Then sliced thinly and baked again. Very easy and just as delicious! On the Neighbor Food  blog they made Greek Gyro Nachos. But I chose to tweak that recipe slightly and make classic gyros. This was a huge success! My entire family loved this recipe and wanted me to make these gyros every week...which I gladly did!

Here is my version of the recipe from the Neighbor Food blog...



Greek Gyros

INGREDIENTS:
1lb. ground pork
1 lb. lean 93% lean ground beef
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
3/4 tsp. dried oregano
1 large onion, cut into 1 inch chunks
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
5 slices of crisp cooked bacon, crumbled or 2 tbls. jarred real bacon bits
12 soft flour tortillas, fajitas size
Toppings:
1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
1 small red onion, diced
lettuce, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
In a very large bowl mix together the first 8 ingredients.
Then in batches, place this meat mixture into a
 food processor and puree to a paste consistency.
When the entire meat mixture is pureed, place back into the bowl,
cover and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
After meat has chilled, line a cookie sheet with foil.
Shape the meat mixture into 2 shallow loaves
 about 8 inches long by 5 inches wide and 2 inches high.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake uncovered for about 40-45 minutes or until cooked through.
Remove from oven and let cool until able to handle.
Slice the meat as thinly as possible into long strips
and place back onto the cookie sheet.
Raise the oven heat to broil and place oven racks in the broil position.
Broil the thinly sliced meat for about 2 minutes
or until well browned and crispy on the edges.
Remove from oven and keep warm.

FETA DRESSING:
1/4 cup olive oil
juice of half a lemon
2 tbls. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
6 oz. container crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup sour cream - I used fat free
3/4 cup milk - I used low fat
In a food processor or blender combine olive oil,
 lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and feta.
Pulse until smooth, then add sour cream and pulse again.
Slowly add in milk until desired thickness is achieved.

ASSEMBLE GYROS:
Place some lettuce on the bottom of each tortilla.
Top each with some of the cooked meat.
Then top with the feta dressing, onions and tomatoes.
Serve immediately.

This post belongs to My Recipe Journey food blog.