Also, there was a food stand operated by our Dining Services outside the library in the warmer months, and they had just as good of gyros, only in the daytime when I was supposed have my 'learning brain on.
I have wanted to make gyros at home since it's been a few too many years since having a gyro in subzero weather with no coat, walking home from the bar, (this was in the Midwest, remember? brrrr) but the meat portion of the sandwich intimidated me. When I saw this recipe in Clean Eating, I thought I'd give it a try.
Gyros with Tatziki Sauce
recipe adapted from Clean Eating Magazine
Serves 4
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground black-pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil, divided
1 lb eye round beef steak, trimmed of visible fat
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
4 whole-wheat pitas
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 cup Tatziki (recipe below)
In a small bowl, mix together oregano, cumin, paprika, black pepper, garlic, lemon juice and 1 tsp oil. Rub mixture onto steaks, place in zip-top bag and let marinate for 30 minutes or overnight.
Grill steaks for 7 to 10 minutes, or to desired doneness, remove from grill and let sit for 5 minutes; slice thinly.
To assemble, cut pitas in half, open pocket and place 2 oz. steak, a couple onion slices and 1/2 cup tomatoes in each pita half. Top each with 2 tbsp Tatziki.
Tatziki
Makes 3 cups
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and seeded
2 cups nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt
1 clove garlic, smashed
1/2 tsp dried dill
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp red wine vinegar
Finely grate cucumbers and wring out in a clean cloth dishtowel to remove all the liquid. (It will seem like a lot!) Combine with the rest of the ingredients, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
The verdict?
These were good....not exactly the same as the great takeout gyros I can get, but if all I ever get out of this recipe is Greek yogurt, then this recipe is a winner. We have using the leftover plain Greek yogurt (not the cucumber sauce) as a replacement for sour cream on potatoes and Mexican food, and it's been such a fun swap!
The marinade for the meat was really good, and my husband kept swiping pieces while I was cutting the steak. Overall, I think it needs tweaking to get closer to takeout, but I was in gyro heaven, since I ate 2 whole gyros myself!
Easy Cooking | Simple Cooking
