This lamb and beef gyro recipe is exactly what you need for an easy, delicious Mediterranean meal. The gyros are perfect for home cooks as they are baked in the oven and marinated in a flavorful spice mix, served in pitta bread with Tzatziki yogurt sauce, tomatoes, onion, and lettuce. You'll love this simple and authentic Greek recipe for lunch or dinner!
Chop the onion into quarters, place them in a food processor with the garlic cloves, and pulse into smooth.
Mix the ground beef and lamb with the pureed onion and garlic mixture, the herbs, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl using your hands or a stand mixer.
Once combined, place the meat mixture in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the meat marinate for a minimum of 2 hours in the fridge.
Cooking Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius) and line a tray with foil.
Remove the meat from the fridge and shape it into a log, making sure to squeeze any air pockets from the mixture by throwing it onto the kitchen surface a few times.
Completely cover the gyro with aluminum foil and insert a long skewer through the center of it. Make sure the skewer comes out the other end, and you don't push the foil into the meat.
Place the gyro onto the baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, then turn it over and cook again for another 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes before unwrapping the foil. Leave it to cool for 10 more minutes until you can easily handle the skewer.
Hold the gyro upright and calve thin slices from it.
Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat with a little extra virgin olive oil, and brown the shaved meat for a few minutes to get some color and crispy edges.
Warm the pita in a microwave for 10 to 20 seconds or in the oven for a minute or 2.
Now, assemble the Greek gyro with tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, sliced red onion, and feta cheese in the warm pita bread and fill it with the crispy meat.
Place the gyro on a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper and gently roll the pita to make it easier to handle and eat.
Enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Use a loaf pan.If you don't have a skewer, you can use a loaf pan to shape and cook the gyro. Make sure to firmly press down the meat into the loaf pan and remove any excess saturated fat from it after 1 hour of cooking. Then cook for 30 minutes until it reaches the desired internal temperature.Use a meat thermometer.To ensure that you don't overcook the Greek gyro meat, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat doesn't go above 160 degrees Fahrenheit.Make your own pita bread.If you can't find Greek pita in your local grocery store, you can easily make your own with 2 ingredients of flour and yogurt. Check out our simple recipe to make it at home.