Table of contents
In the port city of Volos, Greece, home cooks, street vendors, and restaurants are making Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce for the hungry inhabitants of this port city. This recipe is not hard to make and uses just a few ingredients in the meat mixture.
The first time I had a Gyros was in Germany, and I have loved them ever since. Every place serves its version of this iconic food, but this recipe brings me back to the good old days of running around Europe. In Europe, they put their meat on a vertical rotisserie and cook it on three sides with heating coils. The vendor will cut meat from the spit using an electric knife when you order.
I have not seen a food vendor in the USA using a rotisserie to cook the meat for a Gyros. What I have seen is food vendors fry precut and precooked meat on the grill when you order a Gyros, if you can even find one on a menu. Most restaurants in the USA only offer a Gyro Platter that comes with the meat, vegetables, sauce, and a pita cut into quarters.
In Greece and Cyprus, it is normally prepared with pork or sometimes with chicken, while beef, chicken, and lamb are common in other countries. Following World War II, doner kebab made with lamb was present in Athens, introduced by immigrants from Anatolia and the Middle East. A distinct Greek variation developed, often made with pork and served with tzatziki sauce, which later became known as gyros.
Volos, Greece
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly that is midway on the Greek mainland, about 330 kilometers north of Athens and 220 kilometers south of Thessaloniki. It is the sixth most populous city of Greece and the capital of the Magnesia regional unit of the Thessaly Region.
History of Volos
The wider region of Volos is a place rich with history, finding the first signals of culture in the Neolithic period. The first traces of Neolithic culture in Europe were discovered in the villages of Sesklo and Dimini.
Modern Volos is built on the area of the ancient cities of Demetrias, Pagasae and Lolcos. Demetrias was established in 293 BC by Demetrius Poliorcetes, King of Macedon. Lolcus, or Lolkos, was known in mythology as the homeland of the hero Jason, who boarded the ship Argo accompanied by the Argonauts and sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece to Colchis.
The port city saw many empires come and go from the Byzantine empire to the Ottoman empire through history. Volos was finally incorporated into the Greek Kingdom in November 1881 with the rest of Thessaly.
Following the Greco-Turkish War in 1922, Volos received a large number of people from the devested regions. This coexistence with the locals deeply influenced the culture of the city, leaving a mark still visible in the food, music, sports, entertainment, and social life of the city today.
A Diverse City
Volos is a city with diverse Greek trades, as its industrial development encouraged many people to move to the city. The city’s industrial and financial evolution also gradually resulted in cultural and social evolution.
Modern Volos has museums and galleries throughout the city. Above all, Volos forms one of the most attractive and tourist-friendly cities in Greece because of its physical setting, combining the Pagasetic Gulf with Mount Pelion. The city has an important waterfront that is lined with many pastry shops, cafes-bars, and restaurants.
Today, the ancient theater of Dimitrias remains preserved. Also present are the archaeological areas of Goritsa hill, archaeological findings dating from the early Christian period in Nea Anchialos, and the wall of Volos’s old castle, which is open to visitors.
– Featured Restaraunt –
Pyrostia – Grill – Souvlaki
“Πυροστιά” – Ψησταριά – Σουβλατζίδικο
Κ.Kartali 283, Volos 382 21, Greece
Taste perfectly cooked doner kebabs, souvlakia, and gyros. This restaurant is rated on Google 4.7 by its visitors.
What You’ll Need to Make Greek Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
This recipe isn’t hard to make but you do need to organize your tools and ingredients before starting to get the best results.
Kitchen Tools
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Knife
- 1 Box Grater
- 1 Garlic Press
For the Gyros
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 large cucumber peeled and seeded
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
- salt
- black pepper
To Serve
- pita bread
- tomatoes sliced
- red onions sliced
- feta cheese crumbled
Now Make Your Greek Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Time needed: 1 hour and 35 minutes.
How to Make Greek Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
- For the Gyros
In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, ground beef, onion, oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Divide and Shape the Meat Logs
Divide the meat mixture into 6 portions and shape each into a log shape.
- Bake the Meat
Place the logs on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes, until fully cooked.
- Cut the Meat
Once cooked, remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Using a sharp knife, slice the logs into thin strips.
- For the Tzatziki Sauce
Grate the cucumber using a box grater and squeeze out any excess moisture.
- Mix the Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine grated cucumber, lemon juice, dill, garlic, Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Cover and Cool the Tzatziki Sauce
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Heat the Pita
Warm up some pita bread in the oven or on a grill.
- Build the Gyros
Finally, place the meat on one half of the pita, topped with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese.
- Serve the Gyros
Serve Homemade Greek Gyros with rice pilaf or a Greek salad, and enjoy!
If you liked this dish please Rate This Recipe and leave a comment.
Greek Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Please Rate this Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Knife
- 1 Box Grater
- 1 Garlic Press
Ingredients
For the Gyros:
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1 large cucumber peeled and seeded
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
- salt
- black pepper
To Assemble:
- pita bread
- tomatoes sliced
- red onions sliced
- feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
For the Gyros:
- In a large bowl, combine ground lamb, ground beef, onion, oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.1 pound ground lamb, 1 pound 80/20 ground beef, 1 yellow onion, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, salt, black pepper
- Divide the meat mixture into 6 portions and shape each into a log shape.
- Place the logs on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes, until fully cooked.
- Once cooked, remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Using a sharp knife, slice the logs into thin strips.
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
- Grate the cucumber using a box grater and squeeze out any excess moisture.1 large cucumber
- In a medium bowl, combine grated cucumber, lemon juice, dill, garlic, Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper. Mix well.1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh dill, 2 cloves garlic, 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt, salt, black pepper
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
To Assemble:
- Warm up some pita bread in the oven or on a grill.pita bread
- Top each pita with the sliced Gyros meat and drizzle with tzatziki sauce.
- Add some sliced tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese, if desired.tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese
- Roll up the pita and enjoy!
Notes
- To make the Gyros extra juicy, you can add some finely grated onion or breadcrumbs to the meat mixture.
- Leftover Gyros meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- When you are ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat in a skillet or in the oven.
- Serve with fresh pita bread and your favorite toppings for a quick and easy meal.
Nutrition
Other Recipes That Go Well With Greek Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
Photo Credits:
- By Taste The World Cookbook – Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
- By Tsints – IS club, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10611483
- By Konstantinos Volanakis – [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9069461
- By C messier – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72842983
