Description
This recipe for Juicy Ground Lamb Gyros combines ground lamb and beef infused with aromatic spices, baked to perfection, and then browned for a crispy finish. Served on warm pita breads with fresh vegetables, tangy feta, and creamy tzatziki sauce, these gyros offer a flavorful and authentic Mediterranean experience right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Gyro Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 mix, for juiciness)
- 1 small onion
- 1 tsp aleppo pepper
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 5 garlic cloves (freshly minced)
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper (freshly ground)
- 2 tsp coarse salt
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp oregano flakes
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs (Panko breadcrumbs)
For Serving:
- hot sauce
- 8 warmed pita breads
- 1 thinly sliced red onion
- 1 finely chopped romaine heart
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (Dodoni feta recommended)
- 1 cup tzatziki sauce (homemade preferred)
- 3 sliced tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare the Gyro Meat Mixture: In a food processor, finely chop the onion and garlic until nearly a paste. Transfer to a large bowl, add ground beef, ground lamb, salt, black pepper, bread crumbs, oregano, cumin, and Aleppo pepper. Thoroughly mix together by hand until the mixture holds together densely.
- Bake the Gyro Meat: Press the meat mixture tightly into a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Allow the meat to rest for 20 minutes, then refrigerate for several hours or overnight for easier slicing.
- Slice the Gyro Meat: Remove the chilled meat from the pan carefully, reserving the fat drippings. Using a sharp knife, slice the meat into thin strips about 1/8 inch thick.
- Brown the Gyro Meat: Heat a griddle, cast iron skillet, or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the pan with reserved drippings or oil. Cook the meat strips for 1-2 minutes on each side until browned and slightly crisp. Alternatively, broil the strips on a lined baking sheet for a few minutes until crisped.
- Assemble the Gyros: Warm the pita breads. Fill each pita with the browned gyro meat strips and top with sliced tomatoes, red onion, chopped romaine lettuce, tzatziki sauce, and crumbled feta cheese. Add hot sauce if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade gyros.
Notes
- For best flavor, use freshly minced garlic and freshly ground black pepper.
- Refrigerate the baked meat before slicing to get clean, thin strips.
- Use panko breadcrumbs to keep the meat mixture light and juicy.
- Broiling is an alternative to skillet browning if preferred.
- Homemade tzatziki sauce will elevate the authenticity of the dish.
- Pita breads should be warmed just before assembling for soft texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Greek
Keywords: lamb gyros, ground lamb recipe, homemade gyros, Greek gyros, Mediterranean cuisine, baked gyro meat, pita sandwich
