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Gyros!

Nick2cd
Nick2cd Posts: 49
edited August 2013 in EggHead Forum
Well, it's gameday and I have a craving for gyros! I made a gyro loaf and some fresh tzatziki sauce. I have some store bought Greek flat bread and home grown garden tomatoes to go with it. It was delicious! As far as cooking details go....I cooked the meat to 160 internal at 250 direct for most of the cook. I ramped it up at the end to 350ish to get some color on the outside.

Comments

  • Filbert
    Filbert Posts: 21
    How did you do the loaf? It looks awesome by the way!
  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    +1 on explain the loaf... Pretty please.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • Nick2cd
    Nick2cd Posts: 49
    edited August 2013
    i went by Alton Brown's recipe.  here's the recipe i used but i cut it in half and i used ground chuck.  you process all this in a food processor until you get a smooth mixture.  form into a loaf shape and that's all there is to it.  btw, marjoram is very similar to oregano and could probably be interchanged. 

    1 medium onion, finely chopped or shredded
    2 pounds ground lamb  (i used ground chuck instead but i like a 50:50 blend of beef/lamb best)
    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
  • So you just used the loaf instead of sliced lamb? Interesting. I just happen to have a few lbs of ground lamb in the freezer, I should try this some time.

    Can we have the sauce recipe too please?
  • Nick2cd
    Nick2cd Posts: 49
    most gyros you get are a blend of ground beef, ground lamb, and spices.  the tzatziki is below.

    1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt
    1/2 of a peeled and seeded medium cucumber grated or finely chopped
    pinch of kosher salt
    1.5-2 cloves of minced fresh garlic
    1/2 tablespoon olive oil
    1 tablespoon sour cream (this is optional but i think it smooths it out)
    dash of cayenne pepper
  • Thanks!

    It's been a while since I got one, I guess I just assumed it was sliced, not ground. Learn something new every day!
  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    Bookmarked
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • Black_Badger
    Black_Badger Posts: 1,182
    Yep, generally sliced, but this looks awesome nonetheless! Really great idea, Absolutely bookmarked.

    Cheers
    B_B
    Finally back in the Badger State!

    Middleton, WI
  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,654
    I think that all gyros are both: they are sliced from a loaf.  The way I've seen it most often, it's like a huge cylindrical spicy, herby meatloaf of lamb or a mixture of lamb and beef, that is on a vertical spit, rotating next to a vertical broiler.  The outer part gets browned, is sliced off, and the next part under what was just sliced off then gets browned, then it's sliced off, and so it goes, the outer surface getting browned and sliced off, repeatedly, making the loaf smaller and smaller diameter.

    I love gyros, but haven't tried it in the Egg, yet.  Because the best gyros I've ever had were browned the way I described, I've wondered whether a non-classic but handy way to get a bigger portion of the meat browned might be to make the loaf rather flat, sort of like a really wide burger, and to grill it rather like a burger, browning it on fairly high heat on both sides, then slice it sort of like a flank steak for the pita sandwiches.

    Anybody ever try anything like that, and if so, did it work?  :)

    Theo
  • Theo,
    I think you could do it that way. I've seen the exact method you describe. But I've also seen high volume shops shave off the outer meat and go directly to a griddle for a quick browning/sear. Often times they are making so many that they don't have time to let the outer most layer brown on the spit. A low, rather slow cook on the egg imparts a beautiful outer color and crust along with that kiss of smoke that makes it soooo good. Regardless, I recommend u give it a whirl. I think you'll be quite pleased with the results if you're a fan of the gyro.
  • Aviator
    Aviator Posts: 1,757
    Theophan said:
    I think that all gyros are both: they are sliced from a loaf.  The way I've seen it most often, it's like a huge cylindrical spicy, herby meatloaf of lamb or a mixture of lamb and beef, that is on a vertical spit, rotating next to a vertical broiler.  The outer part gets browned, is sliced off, and the next part under what was just sliced off then gets browned, then it's sliced off, and so it goes, the outer surface getting browned and sliced off, repeatedly, making the loaf smaller and smaller diameter.

    I love gyros, but haven't tried it in the Egg, yet.  Because the best gyros I've ever had were browned the way I described, I've wondered whether a non-classic but handy way to get a bigger portion of the meat browned might be to make the loaf rather flat, sort of like a really wide burger, and to grill it rather like a burger, browning it on fairly high heat on both sides, then slice it sort of like a flank steak for the pita sandwiches.

    Anybody ever try anything like that, and if so, did it work?  :)

    Theo
    Like a Donair

    ______________________________________________ 

    Large and Small BGE, Blackstone 36 and a baby black Kub.

    Chattanooga, TN.

     

  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,654
    Aviator said:
    Like a Donair
    Sorry, I don't know what that means?  Can you say a little more?

    Thanks!

    Theo
  • Theophan said:
    Aviator said:
    Like a Donair
    Sorry, I don't know what that means?  Can you say a little more?

    Thanks!

    Theo

    i think he's referring to a donner kebab.  it's basically a gyro in europe.  they were branded this way when i was in paris, some parts of italy, and possibly london (can't recall for sure).  they go by donner kebabs in germany as well.  i can't speak for any of the other countries.
  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,654
    Well, that helps some, but it still leaves me not being completely sure what "like a [donner kebab] means in the context of how to cook them in a BGE.  I think of kebabs as chunks of meat on a skewer.  So would this be like skewering something along the lines of gyro "meatballs" on a skewer?
  • No it's the same thing as what u and I know as a "gyro". It's European terminology for what I posted above. Now, I'm sure at the root of the sandwich, some expert could tell me the differences through country of origin, a spice variation, etc.....but for our intents and purposes a donner kebab is a gyro.
  • thanks for the recipe.  This sounds very interesting.  Could easily make this on the mini.
    Large, small and mini now Egging in Rowlett Tx
  • Very nice. We often make "Greek meatloaf" using very similar ingredients. Combination of the garlic and oregano/marjoram makes the magic. Thanks!
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • Dyal_SC
    Dyal_SC Posts: 6,023
    Looks fantastic! I've made Alton's recipe a few times now. It's very tasty! I use ground lamb and mesh it long ways around flat skewers.
  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    Might change that name..
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • Stev
    Stev Posts: 36
    edited September 2013
    I have done this many times using an old farberware rotisserie and its a favorite..guess its time to egg this recipe. Just a side note...you need to put the loaf in plastic wrap and squeeze all the air out by  twisting the sides to compact the meat for the density you'll need when slicing
  • Logger
    Logger Posts: 309
    Nice Job!
    This is bookmarked.  I don't think I've seen ground lamb in Oklahoma.
    If there's any Okies who have, please let me know where..
    OKC area  XL - Medium Eggs
  • SickEyeDiaz
    SickEyeDiaz Posts: 162
    I finally got around to making these last night!
    Thanks for the recipe.

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  • bodski
    bodski Posts: 463
    Looks great!

    Cincinnati

    LBGE, Weber Kettle

  • Ladeback69
    Ladeback69 Posts: 4,482
    I'm hungry now. Looks yummy.
    XL, WSM, Coleman Road Trip Gas Grill

    Kansas City, Mo.
  • Shiff
    Shiff Posts: 1,835
    Doner (or donner or donair) is Turkish.  Gyro is Greek and Shawarma is Arabic.  They all describe just about the same dish with some variations on how they are served.
    Large BGE
    Barry, Lancaster, PA
  • PNWFoodie
    PNWFoodie Posts: 1,046
    great pics!
    XL, JR, and more accessories than anyone would ever need near Olympia, WA
    Sandy
  • HDumptyEsq
    HDumptyEsq Posts: 1,095
    Wikipedia has a description and picture under Doner Kebabs

    Tony in Brentwood, TN.

    Medium BGE, New Braunfels off-set smoker, 3-burner Charbroiler gasser, mainly used for Eggcessory  storage, old electric upright now used for Amaz-N-Smoker.

    "I like cooking with wine - sometimes I put it in the food." - W. C. Fields