So I think my nephew knocked a few years off my life the other day. I was siting alone in the kitchen and the biggest bug I’ve seen in a very long time comes crawling into the kitchen and it was making this horrible humming/buzzing sound. Omg, I don’t know why this is, but spiders and snakes don’t bother me much. It’s anything with wings that really freaks me out.
Okay, so it’s crawling around the floor and then it got stuck underneath the pantry door and stays there while I’m attentively watching with terror to see where it goes. After I realized it wasn’t going anywhere I went to request immediate backup from a braver person than me. That’s when my 3-year-old nephew comes running into the room and says “I’ll get it, “Doh-dee!” (I’m “Doh-dee” by the way). So he runs and picks it up before I could stop him and then proceeds to bring it to me, which is the last thing I wanted. That’s not even the best part though, then he shows me that it’s a robotic toy bug. Guys, I know it probably sounds ridiculous to not have realized this, but if you could see how this thing looked in a dimly lit room and hear how it sounds, you’d probably have thought it was real too. Besides, I didn’t know my sister was going around buying awful toys for her son! (#jokingbutnotjoking)
Uh huh, so that happened this week and everyone had a long laugh at silly “Doh-dee” freaking out. Wow, talking about giant bugs is SUCH a great way to introduce a recipe, isn’t it? Sorry, but it was just too funny not to share the moment.
Let me get off the tangent though and tell you about the gyros. I’ve been wanting to make them for ages but it’s one of those things that I always forget to plan for and I rarely have all the ingredients on hand because I can probably count the times I’ve bought lamb on one hand.
Also, marinating or brining meats to make them more tender is something I’m a huge fan of. I sort of learned that growing up, because my dad would always brine meat for at least 24 hours whenever we were planning a grill-out during the Summer. It really can make all the difference. I especially noticed this while we lived in South America because so many of the cuts of meat there are very tough and super challenging to even make them passably chew-able, but a long brine can save the day.
With this marinade it’s also about the flavor. Allowing the meat to sit for at least a few hours in all the herbs and the lemon juice gives you a way better flavor when you cook it. Oh, and if you have space in your fridge to put a pot, that’s how I did this recipe. You combine everything in roasting pan or oven safe pot and let it marinate overnight, then roast it in the same pan and save yourself lots of dishes. You can use a ziplock bag if a pan won’t fit or if it’s Winter, like it is for me right now, just stick it in your garage if it’s cold enough.
This meal is really easy to double if you need to make it for a larger group, and it’s something that can be made ahead to have for lunch or dinner during the week. For dairy allergies you can skip the feta and use coconut yogurt in the ztatziki. Another option, if you allergies to wheat and don’t want to use the pitas. serve this recipe with rice or another grain.
Traditional Greek Lamb Gyros + Tzatziki Sauce
Craving a traditional gyro? Skip going out and make them yourself at home with all your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
Marinade:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons fresh oregano
2 tablespoons fresh dill
1 tablespoon fresh mint
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 (about 1.5 pound) leg of lamb
Gyros:
3 - 4 pitas or naan bread
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup green olives
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
Ztatziki:
1 cup greek yogurt
3 cloves garlic, minced
juice of 1/2 of 1 lemon
1 large cucumber
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh dill
salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinade:
For the marinade, combine the oil, lemon, garlic, herbs, spices, onion, and bell peppers in a medium roasting pan with lid (*see note) and toss together. Allow the meat to marinate for at least 2 hours, overnight is best if you can.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and place the roasting pan with lamb in the oven. After about 30 minutes remove from oven and remove the onion and peppers with a slotted spoon to a separate bowl. Turn the meat and roast for an additional 30 minutes. After the full hour of roasting, remove pan from oven and add the peppers/onions and tomatoes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and re-cover pan. Return to oven and cook for 15 - 25 minutes longer until the meat is very tender (it should be nearly falling off the bone. Once done, cool the meat until it's a temperature you can handle, then separate the meat from the bone.
Gyros:
To assemble the gyros, warm the pitas on a medium skillet over low heat, one at a time. (Alternatively, you can wrap them in a foil packet and place in the hot oven.) Fill each pita with the pepper/onion/tomato mixture and lamb then top with feta, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve with tzatziki sauce.
Ztatziki:
Combine all ingredients for ztatziki in a blender or food processor and until nearly smooth. Pour into container with sealable lid and place in fridge to chill until ready to serve.
Notes
*If you don't have space in your refrigerator for the pan you can use a freezer size ziplock bag instead for marinating. As for the roasting pan, you can use a traditional one with foil or even what I used, a stainless steel pot with lid.
For more great food ideas, please do not forget to look at my other recent food posts
- Mint Chocolate Chip Muddy Buddies
- Blueberry White Chocolate Almond Oatmeal Cookies
- Homemade 'Nilla Wafers with Banana Pudding
- Carrot & Lentil Salad with Indian Curry Tahini Dressing w/ Vegan Option
- Simple Chocolate Drizzled Blood Orange Cream Tart
- Springtime Vibes Salad+Cilantro Almond Butter Dressing
- Chocolate Dipped Frosting Filled Doughnuts
- Sweet and Spicy Honey Bourbon Chicken
- Strawberries+Cream Fudge Brownie Trifle
- Tropical Bay Breakfast Jars (Vegan)
ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL! All of these food photos were taken with my Nikon D750 and my favorite Lens, the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. You can find out more in my INTRO POST.
And, by the way, to all the minnows out there, my intro post did a huge $0.21. The key to success on Steemit is to be consistent and persistent. Click on the link below for some great tutorials on how you can also succeed on the steem blockchain:
Master Toolkit: Steemit Resource Guide Illustrated by @sndbox
Also, a huge shoutout to @rigaronib for designing my logo!
Do you want to learn more about me? Click here to see a recent @wadepaterson interview with me - 20 questions with @gringalicious
Thank you, one of my favorite dishes! Love your recipe.
thanks so much for commenting
Looks very deliciously!
I am so glad you liked it @craftsman252
Note to self: resist urge to bring creepy-crawly prank gizmos to meetups.
Haha, thank you @jacobtothe, I'll thank you for that.
Girl! i just love your photos of the food you are preparing! i seriously do! I have been to Greece, i am a huge fan of its cuisine! fresh fishes, super tasty tomatoes, feta!!, spices) 😍 and your plate really resembles the ones I had both in Athens and Mykonos! Really, I'm impressed! and hungry! 🥂 😅 i travel a lot, but my photos of food never looks as "tasty" as the dish itself. so you see, I'm jealous of your skills! 🍀;D haha :) 😅 😍 Hugs! kasia :)
Off to check those plates out in the pictures 👌 .. @k-a-s-i-a
Greek food <3
so glad you liked it @yummyrum
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I love using greek yogurt to cook! It just feel so good that you can make something equally delicious by using it as a replacement and much healthier ;)
Thanks @liwen12345!
It makes me hungry 😋
thanks so much for commenting
You are welcome
Wow ... This looks yummy , I wish I could have a Lil bite of the gyros .... Will love to try it out soon though ... Thanks for the share
You're so very welcome @dray91eu !
Smiles ...
@gringalicious your dishes are always mouth watering. You are good at it. Pls keep it up .it makes you look younger.
Nice one
Thanks @prettyprecy!
A fun introductory story, a great recipe and incredible food photos! You are amazing!
thanks so much for stopping by and commenting @yetaras
It's not a waste of time for your wonderful story!
Gracias por la receta^^
de nada
😎
Another mouth watering delicious recipe.....looks sooo yummy!!!! Thanks for sharing @gringalicious
Thanks @universalpro!
Excellent recipe and awesome pics, I love to read your posts!!
Do you have a recipe for the pita by any chance? I can't find a good one where I live and nothing is as good as home made fresh bread thats smell fills the house :-)
I do not have a pita recipe that I like just yet, but I am working on it, thanks for the inspiration @angelikaw
Yummy these look amazing! I love Greek food!
So glad to hear it @mrchef111 !
Can you deliver? lol
for a fee, of course
AJ picked your post @gringalicious for his #TOP5 FOOD POST. Visit AJ's FOOD ROUNDUP to view where your post is ranked.
It looks so good! so Delicious! I love it!
thanks so much for commenting @kpguedez
You are right Traditional Greek Lamb Gyros + Tzatziki Sauce so good food It’s really very new food to me.... looks so gorgious food and tasty and yammyThanks for sharing!
Glad you like it @molikhatun!
Yes I like it and I follw me please visit my blog @molikhatun
Wow ilike it
So glad to hear it @teukuamirullah!
Cip cip cip.....! Very nice. saw it melting my saliva
You @gringalicious and @rigaronib makes me feel hungry again even though I'd already eaten my lunch! He just posted that bacon of his and I'm getting starving again! 😂
Haha, yes that was yummy. Thanks @michaelcabiles
😁😁
Hey! @gringalicious, I did not eat my breakfast then you will post a food!!! LOL
It makes me starving! Hahaha... I'm on food control right now... ^^
But I think that was healthy... So, carry on! ^^
Oh, well good luck with your goals @kennyroy!
Wow nice food wish I can join too @gringalicious
thanks @saquib143
Gorgeous food photography, as always!! Beautiful!!
So sweet of you @noboxes!
looks very tasty and delicious food ..greetings and have a nice weekend
Thank you for your post.
thanks so much for taking the time to comment
You are welcome my friend, I have a new post, do not forget to visit ya, let me add the spirit in steemit.
Another amazing masterpiece of photographic skill
Thanks @mamaloves! I'm so glad you liked these.
These look beyond amazing!
Thanks @freerunner!
Gyros are truly the food of the Gods. Especially when accompanied with ztatziki
Oh, absolutely! Thanks @anarcho-andrei !
oh no! dear @gringalicious , sorry to hear about the bugs experience , me? i really shout and junp when i see those haha.
anyway the bug story was definitely covered with this super yummy recipe you just shared. i'll definitely try that once we transferred to ournew house , new home , new foods to try
thanks for sharing 😘❤️❤️❤️
Haha, yes but it was a very funny bug moment @zephalexia! Thanks and I hope you can try it.
So bright and beautiful. The food looks just absolutely delicious. Particularly like the addition of the green olives. Top-notich post, gringa:)
That is so kind of you @prydefoltz!
yummy yummy！
Thanks @fengx!
Your story hahahaha initially tense but after me down again her story becomes funny. are you really afraid of the same kind of beast? can i take care of you from animals like that? Hehehe
Oh, would you please??? I'll be sure to call @aamaksal next time there's a big bug, haha.
Thank you friend..
Looks so yummy... Also what are you using to take photos ?
I use a Nikon D750. Thanks @andreipopa!
I thought it was something like a DSLR, those pictures are too good... :)
How do you connect a link to a gif, like you have with your "Follow Me" gif in your post ?
It just makes me hungry
Thanks @talha96 !
Looks delicious,,,,,Have not eaten Gyros about 10 years....Nice photo capture too.
Thanks @hanamana!
Creativity Converted into taste!
Thanks @abdulmanan!
Pleasure
Oh God we love lamb gyros. the best we ever had, was in a small fishing town in australia called port fairy.
OOOOooh, I really wanna go to Australia. Thanks @betterthanhome!
if you ever go, keep it in mind. its near the great ocean road so you can´t miss it 😉
Funny bug story! I freak out at things with legs (mice, lizards) that might crawl on me. Isn't it weird how things scare us? Your recipe sounds wonderful and the gyro looks delicious! YUM!!!
Oh, I'm glad it's not just me then @peggyhazelwood ! Thanks!
Your mint chocolate filled my mouth with water. I also want to share mint chocolate with you, I hope you never mind. Mint filled inside this chocolate which also taste so yummy.
OMG gyros are one of my favorite foods. We have this local restaurant that makes great ones here on the beach. But the best ones I ever had were from this food truck in NYC years ago on 6th Ave. I'm going to make these soon. Thanks for sharing! @journeyfreedom
I wonder if that food truck is still there on 6th? I'm going to New York before the year is over, I'll look for it _ LOL thanks for commenting @journeyfreedom
post about food is always useful. let alone you provide how to make or cook.
thanks so much for commenting
That was funny, and the lamb gyro looks delicious.
Thanks @teevmoore!
Just wow!!!You are really so good 😊
so kind of you to say, thanks so much @gwenbyyy
We've been out of touch since we have been connecting with other Steemians, checking out their content, supporting them and creating our own too. Too many great contributors and too little time to check them all out as well as do your own stuff!
We had a few of these in Greece when we went there (a few years back now), but not the traditional ones. The ones for tourists with French Fries stuffed into the Gyros. We didn't mind it, but we're sure the Greeks would think it's blasphemy!
As always thanks @gringalicious for your mouth-watering photos and just in time for lunch here ;)
sorry, I missed this one. Yup, there is a lot of content and creators for sure
As always, thanks for your great commenting
Ah no worries, you're a busy bee!
✈️👫
Super tasty look! It is not enough to be able to cook well. But to make a beautiful arrangement of food and the wonderful pictures - it is also very important. And you have a great result.
thanks so much for the very kind words @anna-mi
Many Greek dishes use olives. While it's ok to have a few, I find them too salty. I wonder if is a way a way to get olives without sodium. What if they sold frozen olives, you could just thaw them an make olive salads.
I personally have never seen frozen olives, but I bet they exist somewhere. My dad actually despises olives, so I served him my recipe, hold the olives, no problem. Great commenting, thanks @remotediscovery
I wonder what they're like fresh of the branch. I can have 50 olives and still crave more. They taste amazing!