Authentic Greek Ground Lamb Food

GYRO MEAT WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• 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.
• 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

AUTHENTIC GREEK ROAST LAMB

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 400 F (200 C)
• Wash the lamb with a bit of wine. Pat dry
• In a small bowl mix 2 tsp fine salt and 1 tsp or so ground pepper.
• Rub the lamb with the salt and pepper mixture.
• Cut the garlic cloves in half and place them in a small bowl. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper and toss.
• Make deep slits in the lamb (on both sides) and push in the halved garlic cloves.
• Rub 1 tablespoon dry oregano all over the lamb. And then rub the lamb with 3-4 tbsp olive oil and set aside
• Prepare the potatoes. Peel and soak in water if you have time for about 15-20 minutes (you can do this while you are preparing the lamb). Drain and rinse.
• Cut the potatoes in thick long wedges and place in a bowl.
• Drizzle the potatoes with ½ cup olive oil, and add 1-2 tbsp oregano, 3 tbsp lemon juice. ¾ tsp salt, 3 cloves, 3 allspice, fresh ground pepper, and 2 whole garlic cloves. Toss well, so potatoes are coated with the olive oil.
• Spread the potatoes in a large enough pan so that they are in one layer. Place the leg of lamb on top of the potatoes, top side facing down. Pour enough hot water in the corner of the pan tilting the pan so that water spreads throughout the base of the pan, covering the potatoes halfway. Cover with aluminum foil and put it in the oven.
• Roast for 15 minutes and then lower to 340 F (170 C), remove the foil and roast for another 30 minutes or until lamb has turned brown flip the lamb and cook another 30 minutes on the other side until brown and cooked through.
• Once lamb is done, you can remove it and continue roasting the potatoes until all the water has been absorbed and only the oil is left in the pan.
• Let lamb and potatoes rest for 15 minutes before serving.

AUTHENTIC GREEK MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Meat Sauce:.
• Melt butter in a 3 1/2 Quart Dutch oven, sauté onion, ground chuck or lamb and garlic, stirring until brown, 10 minutes.
• Add herbs, spices and tomato sauce and stirring until it starts to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, uncover, 1/2 hour.
• Halve unpaired eggplants lengthwise. Slice 1/2-inch thick.
• Place in bottom of broiler and sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Brush lightly with melted butter.
• Broil 4-inches from heat, 4 minutes per side, or until golden.
• Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.
• Make Cream Sauce.
• In medium saucepan, melt butter.
• Remove from heat and stir in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk gradually.
• Bring to boiling, stirring until thickened.
• Remove from heat.
• In small bowl beat eggs with wire whisk.
• Beat in some hot Cream Sauce mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and mix well. Set aside.
• To assemble casserole, in bottom of shallow, 2 quart baking dish (12x7x2 inches).
• Layer half of eggplants, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp of each of grated parmesan and cheddar cheese. Stir bread crumbs into meat sauce. Spoon evenly over eggplant in casserole, then sprinkle with 2 Tbsp of each of parmesan and cheddar cheese.
• Layer rest of eggplant spices, overlapping, as before. Pour Cream Sauce over all. Sprinkle top of remaining cheese.
• Back 35 to 40 Minutes or until golden brown and top is set.
• If desired, brown top of little more under broiler, 1 minute.
• Cool slightly to serve. Cut in Squares.