Ground Gyros Platter Deluxe 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

GYRO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• For the gyro meatloaf: Gather the minced onions in a clean kitchen towel and wring out as much liquid as possible. In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion, beef, lamb, milk, breadcrumbs, oregano, thyme, fennel, coriander, egg and some salt and pepper and mix together. Fry up a small test batch; taste for salt and pepper, and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Transfer the meatloaf mixture to a food processor and process it to the consistency of a paste. Tightly pack it into a loaf pan, making sure there are no cracks or air pockets. Bake until cooked through, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into thin slices.
• For the tzatziki sauce: Grate or mince the cucumber and add it to a bowl along with the yogurt, dill, lemon juice, mint, olive oil, coriander and cumin. Whisk to blend. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the lemon vinaigrette: In a blender, combine the lemon juice, oregano, thyme and mustard. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream to emulsify.
• For the salad: Toss the lettuce, red onions and tomatoes with about 4 tablespoons of the vinaigrette.
• Heat the 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Briefly warm up the pitas in the pan, giving them just long enough on each side to get hot but not crispy. In the same pan, sear the slices of gyro on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
• Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of tzatziki sauce onto each pita. Top with some slices of meatloaf and finish with some of the salad. Roll the pitas up tightly and wrap them in foil or secure them with a toothpick. Serve.

GYROS WITH RADISH TZATZIKI

Steps:

• For the lamb: Combine the wine, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, rosemary and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour half the mixture over the lamb and turn to coat completely. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours. Refrigerate the remaining mixture to use for basting while the meat cooks.
• One hour before grilling, remove the lamb from the refrigerator and the marinade and let sit at room temperature.
• Preheat a gas or charcoal grill with a rotisserie attachment to high heat.
• Sprinkle the entire lamb with salt and pepper and attach the lamb to the rotisserie according the manufacturer's directions. Roll up and tie with butcher's twine at 1-inch intervals. Grill until the lamb reaches an internal temperature on a meat thermometer of 170 degrees F, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes for the gas grill, and 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours for the charcoal grill. The cooking time will depend on the type of grill and how hot your charcoal is. Baste the meat frequently with the reserved wine mixture. Remove from the rotisserie, put on a large cutting board and rest for 15 minutes.
• Slice the lamb across the grain into paper thin slices. Place several slices of lamb in the center of each flatbread, top with a few Grilled Plum Tomatoes, drizzle with the Vinaigrette, scatter fresh oregano on top, and top with Radish Tzatziki.
• Heat a grill to medium-high. Brush the tomatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill until slightly charred and soft. Flip and grill the other side until slightly charred and soft.
• Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, honey and salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.
• Place the radishes and onions in a medium strainer. Place a small plate on top and let sit over a bowl for 30 minutes to drain the liquid.
• Transfer the drained radish mixture to a medium bowl and add the yogurt, garlic, dill, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day before serving.

GROUND GYROS DELUXE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Defrost spinach in microwave.
• Place meat in a bowl.
• Add grill seasoning, 2 teaspoons cumin, chili powder, coriander, oregano, cinnamon and feta crumbles.
• Wring the spinach very dry in a kitchen towel and add to meat.
• Mix the meat and divide and form 2 rolls on a baking sheet.
• Coat meat with extra-virgin olive oil and bake 20 minutes.
• Mix yogurt, a minced clove of garlic, cucumber, the juice of 1 lemon and 1/2 teaspoon cumin.
• Slice and reserve the tomatoes, cucumbers and drain hot peppers, chop and reserve.
• Soften pita over open gas flame or under broiler.
• Slice meat loaf into 1/4-inch slices.
• Spread yogurt on pitas and top with a 2 slices of lamb, tomatoes, cucumbers and hot peppers.
• Serve 2 pitas per person.