Gyro

When Eva was in town earlier this summer, we had gyros for dinner one Friday night.  Once all the components were prepped, we put them all on my wooden cutting board for serving at the table.  It was such a beautiful image, I had to take a picture; and so did Eva.

It was such a delicious meal.  Gyros always seemed like something I wouldn't be able to make as a home cook.  Though, thanks to Alton Brown, I am able to make my own, and his recipe does not disappoint.  The flavors are spot on, and it is a wonderful refreshing sandwich. 

As soon as the Good Eats episode "My Big Fat Greek Sandwich" aired in 2005, I knew I had to make this sandwich.  Unfortunately, my grill does not have a rotisserie; but to my relief, Alton Brown included a 'meatloaf' method for preparing the meat.  Lamb is expensive here, so we rarely have gyros; but when we do, it is a real treat.  I can usually count on Angela to request them for her birthday meal.

The preparation for the meat is unlike anything I have ever done.  The method basically consists of making a puree out of the lamb, onion and spices in the food processor before baking it low and slow in a water bath.  The pureed meat is very pink and sticky, and we affectionately refer to it as 'meat paste'; but it does at least smell good.  Once the meat comes out of the oven, the fat is drained and then the meat is compressed further by placing a weight on it.  It really is quite a sight.

It's definitely worth it, though.  These sandwiches are delicious, and we rarely have leftovers.  Alton also has a tzatziki sauce recipe that I always make to accompany the gyros.  His recipe calls for plain yogurt to be drained, but I like using Greek yogurt.  Here's the recipe:

Gyro Meat with Tzatziki Sauce
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2005
Printable Recipe

Ingredients
•1 medium onion, finely chopped or shredded
•2 pounds ground lamb
•1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
•1 tablespoon dried marjoram
•1 tablespoon dried ground rosemary
•2 teaspoons kosher salt
•1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•Tzatziki Sauce, recipe follows

Directions
Process the onion in a food processor for 10 to 15 seconds and turn out into the center of a tea towel. Gather up the ends of the towel and squeeze until almost all of the juice is removed. Discard juice.

Return the onion to the food processor and add the lamb, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, salt, and pepper and process until it is a fine paste, approximately 1 minute. Stop the processor as needed to scrape down sides of bowl.

To cook in the oven as a meatloaf, proceed as follows:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Place the mixture into a loaf pan, making sure to press into the sides of the pan. Place the loaf pan into a water bath and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the mixture reaches 165 to 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and drain off any fat. Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and place a brick wrapped in aluminum foil directly on the surface of the meat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees F. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes and feta cheese.

To cook on a rotisserie, proceed as follows:

Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place on top of 2 overlapping pieces of plastic wrap that are at least 18 inches long. Roll the mixture in the plastic wrap tightly, making sure to remove any air pockets. Once the meat is completely rolled in the wrap, twist the ends of the plastic wrap until the surface of the wrap is tight. Store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, to allow the mixture to firm up.

Preheat the grill to high.

Place the meat onto the rotisserie skewer. Place a double-thick piece of aluminum foil folded into a tray directly under the meat to catch any drippings. Cook on high for 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium and continue to cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 165 degrees F. Turn off the heat and allow to continue to spin for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Slice and serve on pita bread with tzatziki sauce, chopped onion, tomatoes, and feta cheese.

Tzatziki Sauce:

16 ounces plain yogurt
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
Pinch kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
5 to 6 mint leaves, finely minced

Place the yogurt in a tea towel, gather up the edges, suspend over a bowl, and drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Place the chopped cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove the liquid; discard liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained yogurt, cucumber, salt, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and mint. Serve as a sauce for gyros. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups