I offer this recipe in case you, like me, do not have access to a really good gyro place, and my local grocery does not carry any prepared products.
Homade Gyros
2/3 # ground lamb (Cubes if you grind your own)
1/3# ground beef (cubes if you grind your own)
4T onion powder - or use very finely minced onion - about 1/2 c
1T garlic, finely chopped
about 1 tsp salt
1/2tsp marjoram
1/4tsp rosemary
1/4tsp pepper
1/8tsp oregano
1/8tsp basil
I prefer to grind my own meat. If you do this - be sure to have a good food processor or use a Kitchen Aid mixer with meat grinder attachment. Grind the meats separately, then add all seasonings, mix and grind a second time. Press meat mixture together and place in a close fitting pan or casserole. Let rest at least 1 hour, preferable more like 2 or 3 or 4. Be sure to keep in refrigerator. When ready to cook, heat oven to 325 degrees. Bake about 1 hour. Watch the meat - turn it to baste it about 1/3 of the way through cooking, and again about 2/3 way through. Meat may take a little longer than an hour to cook. It should be a bit on the dry side when done. Slice very thin when serving.
I serve my gyros with a cucumber sauce made of:
1c yougurt, slightly drained
1/2 grated cucumber, salted and drained
3 cloves garlic, minced
1rsp minced onion
1/2tsp salt
pinch sugar
Mix all together and serve with meat.
When I made these last night, I burned the motor out on my old machine. So my meat is not as smooth as I would have liked. Flavor was there, just not the texture. And when I made my lunch for work today, I found my package of pitas torn apart - some animal was HUNGRY I guess. I guess I can't really call these gyros when they have no accompanying bread and chips instead of fries. Oh well. they were still good, none the less.
Enjoy!
