Beef Gyro Burgers With Homemade Tzatziki Food

BEEF GYRO

Steps:

• Blend yogurt, cucumbers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender until tzatziki sauce is evenly combined.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir beef in the hot oil until no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Layer half of each pita with steak, tomato, onion, feta cheese, lettuce, olives, and tzatziki sauce. Bring edge of each pita over the filling and secure with a toothpick.

GYRO-STYLE LAMB BURGERS WITH TZATZIKI AND GRILLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals evenly over the bottom. Heat 2 flat cast-iron skillets over direct heat.
• For the burgers and onions: Combine the lamb, coriander and mint in a large bowl. Form the meat mixture into 4 equal thin half-moon shaped patties. Season the patties with salt and pepper on both sides. Add a splash of oil to the cast-irons. Cook the patties 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the meat to get a nice crust. Flip and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the burgers from the heat and let rest 2 to 3 minutes before assembling the burgers.
• Meanwhile, drizzle the onions with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until softened and charred, about 5 minutes.
• For the tzatziki: Add the yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, cucumber, dill and mint to a large bowl and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve: Spread some tzatziki over each pita, add a patty to one half of each pita, top with some grilled onion and add some chopped tomato and lettuce. Fold the other half of each pita over. Serve!

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

BEEF GYRO BURGERS WITH HOMEMADE TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Make the tzatziki sauce by mixing Greek yogurt, 2 minced garlic cloves, chopped chives, lemon juice together. Add salt & pepper to taste, and let sit in the fridge.
• In a bowl, combine ground beef, chopped parsley, feta cheese, oregano, crushed red pepper, 2 minced garlic cloves until just combined. Be careful to not over mix, and don't add salt yet!
• Form into 4 patties and set aside on a plate. Heat a large skillet over medium heat for 5 mins.
• Add 1-2 tbsp of oil to the pan and allow to heat for another 30 seconds.
• Add burgers to the skillet and give a generous pinch of salt to each pattie. Sear on both sides for about 3 minutes, until cooked through.
• Toast the buns face down in a pan until golden. Slather homemade tzatziki on both sides and top with burger, sliced red onion, tomatoes & butter lettuce.

GYRO BURGERS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, mint, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small container. Cover and refrigerate.
• Combine beef, oregano, feta cheese, onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Form into 4 patties.
• Grill patties on each side until desired doneness is reached.
• Grill pitas for a minute or two on each side to warm.
• Assemble sandwiches - open pitas, add burger, a dollop of sauce, and any of the sliced vegetables listed above for garnish. Enjoy!

GYROS BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
• In large bowl, combine ground beef, ground lamb, onion, garlic and bread crumbs. Season with savory, allspice, coriander, salt, pepper and cumin. Knead until mixture is stiff. Shape into 4 very thin patties (1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick).
• Cook patties for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

LAMB BURGERS WITH FETA TZATZIKI SPREAD

Steps:

• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, toss in the diced onions and season with salt and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to medium-high heat and cook the onions for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 4 more minutes. Turn the heat off and let cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the lamb, the cooled onion mixture, the oregano, dill, mint, lemon zest and 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Sprinkle with salt and combine well. Make a little "tester patty." Cook it and taste for seasoning.
• Preheat the grill.
• Form the lamb mixture into 4 equal patties and sprinkle with salt. Grill the burgers to your desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove the burgers from the grill and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Cut the pitas in half. Schmear each half generously with the Feta Tzatziki Spread. Top one half with a burger, then tomatoes, sliced onions and spinach. Place the other pita half on top.
• Combine the yogurt, feta, vinegar, garlic, mint, dill and cucumbers. Season with salt. Let sit for at least 1 hour at room temperature before serving.

GYRO BURGERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine lamb, beef, bread crumbs, minced onion, garlic, allspice, coriander, cumin.
• Add just 1 tsp of the salt and 1/8 tsp of the pepper and mix well.
• Form into 4 patties, cover and chill 2 hours.
• In another bowl, whisk together vinegar, oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper.
• Gradually whisk in the oil until blended well.
• Add tomatoes, sliced onions, and cucumbers and stir to coat.
• Cover and let marinate at least 2 hours (no more than 8 hours).
• When you are ready to cook your burgers, oil& preheat your grill and grill as you would any hamburger (10-15 minutes or so- or until no pink remains but burger is still moist).
• When burgers are fully cooked, slit pita pockets open on the sides to form open pockets (you can warm the pita up by setting on the side of grill briefly) and place a burger inside.
• Have bowls of the tomato topping, the shredded lettuce, and some tzatziki(a Middle Eastern style yogurt sauce) on the table for guests to add as desired.
• The yogurt sauce is available in the dairy case near dips or at the deli counter or some markets or you can prepare a homemade version.

GYROS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Process red onion in a food processor until finely minced. Scoop onion into a piece of cheesecloth and squeeze as much moisture from the onion as possible. Return onion to food processor; add garlic and process until the garlic is well integrated. Blend marjoram, rosemary, kosher salt, and black pepper into the onion mixture.
• Gradually blend ground beef and ground lamb with the onion and seasoning mixture by alternately adding small amounts of each meat to the mixture and processing until well incorporated before adding the next batch.
• Firmly pack the meat mixture into a loaf pan, assuring no air pockets are trapped in the meat.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 75 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Drain grease and slice thinly to serve.

CHICKEN "GYRO" BURGERS

Steps:

• 1.) Place ground chicken in a bowl, along with the garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, 1 TBSP olive oil and lemon juice.
• 2.) Here, I mix everything up with my hands, and form this mixture into 4 patties. You can feel free to mix with a spoon if you prefer before forming them into patties by hand.
• 3.) Place a small amount (about 1-2 TBSP) of olive oil in a frying pan. Once the pan is hot, place patties into the pan (I suggest using a larger frying pan if doing them all at once, so they're not touching too much during cooking).
• 4.) Keep a close eye on these and flip as needed, as they will cook quickly.
• 5.) While these patties are cooking, warm the pitas in the oven or microwave. Once warmed, spread a small amount of dill dip (or your condiment of choice) on the pita.
• 6.) Once the patties are cooked, place a patty on one side of each pita, and top patties with a slice of tomato and lettuce. Close the pita together, making a "roll" of sorts for your chicken burger.
• 7.) Enjoy!

GROUND BEEF GYROS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Chill. In a large bowl, combine seasonings; crumble beef over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 patties. , Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160°. Cut patties into thin slices; stuff into pita halves. Add lettuce, tomato and onion. Serve with the yogurt sauce.