The Ultimate Greek Pita Gyros Recipe
Gyros are one of the most popular Greek dishes, and for good reason. They’re packed with flavor, easy to make and can be made vegetarian or vegan by simply swapping out the meat for tofu or tempeh.
In addition to being delicious, gyros also contain plenty of protein and fat to keep you satisfied for hours. This particular recipe uses ground lamb as the base but it could be substituted with any ground meat like beef or chicken (or even turkey) if that’s your preference.
1 pound ground lamb
If you’ve ever tried to make your own gyros at home, you may have noticed that the meat turns out dry and tough. This recipe for a Greek Pita Gyro is different because it uses leaner ground lamb instead of beef—and it tastes just as delicious!
1/2 medium sweet onion, finely chopped
To prepare the onions:
You’ll want to use a sharp knife and cut the onion into thin slices before chopping them into small pieces. This will ensure that your pita gyro is flavorful enough to be a main dish!
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant herb that’s used in Mediterranean cooking. It has a piney, sage-like scent and flavor.
2 cloves garlic, minced
Garlic is one of the most versatile spices in the world and plays a critical role in Greek cuisine. In fact, tzatziki sauce—the yogurt-based condiment used to accompany this pita gyro—is made with garlic!
3 pinches salt
Salt is a high-mineral, highly concentrated flavor enhancer. It’s what makes the flavors of food pop and it’s the reason your dish has an overall savory taste. Just like sugar. There are two main types of salt: table salt (sodium chloride) and kosher salt (iodized sodium chloride). Table salts have been processed to increase their shelf life and prevent clumping, so they can be used as a cooking ingredient without any preparation. Kosher salt has a larger grain size than table salt, but because it hasn’t been processed as much as common table salt, it doesn’t dissolve as easily in water or other liquids.
2 pinches pepper
The pita you’ll use for this recipe is about 7″ across, and you can measure it in two ways: 1) as a flat circle (approximately 10″ in diameter) or 2) by its height. In this case, we’re going to talk about it as a flat circle.
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Place the pita bread on a work surface and spread the feta evenly over the top of each half. Place 1 tablespoon of the reserved olive oil into a large, nonstick skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until tender and browned in spots, about 3 minutes for fresh mushrooms or 5 minutes for canned mushrooms (cooked fresh mushrooms will absorb more oil than cooked canned ones). Remove from heat; stir in oregano.
4 whole-wheat pitas, warmed
You can use either white or whole-wheat pitas. You may also use naan bread, pita bread, or any kind of flatbread you like! If you’re looking for something traditional and healthy, the pita will be your best bet.
Your choice of toppings should fit within the same theme as your filling—fresh veggies are always a great option! If you’re feeling adventurous, some shredded cheese and jalapeños make for an interesting twist on this classic sandwich.
Greek tzatziki sauce (homemade or store-bought)
If you want to make your own tzatziki sauce, it’s easy. Just combine Greek yogurt, garlic and cucumber in a blender or food processor. Add salt and pepper as desired.
You can also buy it at the store—just look for the words “Greek yogurt dressing” on the label of any refrigerated container of salad dressing (or use this recipe). This is especially convenient if you don’t have time to make it from scratch!
To make a gyro (or pita gyro), take some sliced beef or lamb meat and lay it down on top of a flatbread with some lettuce and tomatoes inside; then add some tzatziki sauce on top of everything like we did here! Yum!
We hope you enjoyed our Greek pita gyro recipe. As always, we welcome your feedback on the recipe and any suggestions you may have.
