How to Prepare Meat for a Gyro

Gyro meat is commonly served in a pita.

A gyro is a Greek dish that is made with tomatoes, onions, meat and a traditional tsatsiki yogurt sauce. It is made from ground meats that are formed into a loaf and roasted so it can be sliced into thin, crispy shavings. Popular meats for a gyro include pork, lamb, chicken, veal or beef. Once it is cooked and seasoned, gyro meat is typically served on a toasted pita or mixed in a salad.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. ground lamb
• 1 lb .ground beef
• 1 cup onions diced
• 4 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. marjoram
• 1 tsp. rosemary
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Gloves
• Bowl
• Food processor
• Loaf pan
• Meat thermometer
• Knife

Instructions

1. Mince onion and garlic, then mix the meat, garlic and onion in a large mixing bowl. Wear gloves as you do this.

2. Add seasonings to meat, garlic and onion mixture, then blend with gloved hands.

3. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the meat mixture for 1 or 2 hours so the meat can absorb the seasonings.

4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the meat mixture in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is blended and tacky in texture.

5. Put the meat mixture into a loaf pan. Place in a heated oven for 45 minutes to an hour. The meat should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before you remove it from the oven.

6. Drain any excess grease and fat from the loaf pan immediately upon removing the loaf from the oven. Allow the loaf to cool between 15 to 30 minutes before slicing it.

7. Wait until the meat is firm and dry, then slice it thin and serve on a pita or in a salad after mixing with a tsatsiki sauce.

References

• All Recipes: R.B. Miller's Gyro Meat Recipe
• "Street Foods"; Artemis P. Simopoulos, Ramesh V. Bhat; 2000
• "The Everything Classic Recipes Book: 300 All-time Favorites Perfect for Beginners"; Lynette Rohrer Shirk; 2006
• All Recipes: Traditional Gyro Meat Recipe