Gyro Cucumber Sauce Tzatziki Food

CUCUMBER SAUCE FOR GYROS

Steps:

• Put the cucumber into a colander and sprinkle with a little salt.
• Let rest for 10-15 minutes to allow extra juices to escape the cucumber.
• Gently squeeze the cucumber in a paper or cloth towel.
• Put everything a bowl and mix well (I don't rinse the cucumber).
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Refrigerate for a couple of hours prior to using (if you have time).
• A turn or two in the food processor would yield a nice smooth sauce.
• Good on anything, especially Gyros.

TZATZIKI SAUCE-- GREEK CUCUMBER/YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers and dice. Put them in a colander and sprinkle with the tablespoon of salt (draws water out). Cover with a plate and sit something heavy on top. Let sit for 30 minute Drain well and wipe dry with a paper towel.
• In food processor or blender, add cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, dill and/or mint, and a few grinds of black pepper. Process until well blended, then stir into yogurt. Taste before adding any extra salt, then salt if needed. Place in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving so flavors can blend.
• This will keep for a few days in the refrigerator, but you will need to drain off any water and stir each time you use it.
• ** If you can't find the thicker Greek Yogurt Cheese, you can use regular, plain yogurt that is either full fat or low fat. To thicken, spoon yogurt into cheese cloth that has been quadrupled. Draw the corners of the cloth up and tie together. Suspend above a bowl for 2 hours so that water can drip out. The consistency of the yogurt should be like that of sour cream.
• You can skip this draining process, if you want, but you will have a moderately messier, runnier result.

TZATZIKI (GYRO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Toss cucumber with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a colander and drain 15 minutes.
• Mince and mash garlic to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt, then whisk together with olive oil, yogurt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Squeeze out any excess water from cucumbers with your hands, then stir cucumbers into yogurt mixture. Season with salt.
• Cover and chill 1 hour.

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

TZATZIKI SAUCE (CUCUMBER SAUCE FOR GYROS)

Steps:

• Line a strainer with cheesecloth. Add the yogurt and let drain for one hour. In a bowl, combine the drained yogurt, garlic, and half the salt. Sprinkle the remaining salt on the grated cucumbers and let drain in a strainer for 15 minutes. Combine the drained cucumbers with the yogurt. Sprinkle with black pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Mix well and serve on gyros or use as a dip.

GYRO MEAT AND TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Chop onion up in a food processor for 15 seconds. Remove and drain the juice in a strainer or towel. Dump the juice. Put the onion back in the processor and add the ground lamb,garlic,marjoram,rosemary,salt and the pepper.
• Process for about 1-2 minutes until it looks like paste.Scrape out the bowl into a loaf pan.Preheat oven to 325. Place the meatloaf pan in a water bath. (That means setting the loaf pan another baking dish so the water is about half way up the side of the loaf dish).Bake for 60 minutes or until the meat reaches 165-170.
• Remove from the oven and take the meat out of the loaf pan. Let it cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes.Slice and serve on a pita with the Tzatziki sauce. Also top with onion,tomato and feta cheese.
• Alton Brown Precess:.
• 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.
• Sauce:.
• 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.

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!

MOLLY'S MOUTHWATERING TZATZIKI CUCUMBER SAUCE

Steps:

• Chop the cucumber in a food processor until nearly liquefied; strain through a piece of cheesecloth to remove excess moisture, being careful to not over-drain and lose too much of the fresh flavor.
• Mix the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, sour cream, and mayonnaise together in a bowl; season with salt and pepper.

GYRO SALAD WITH TZATZIKI DRESSING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sprinkle cucumber with salt; mix well. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain. Stir in remaining dressing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate., In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook lamb, onion and Greek seasoning until meat is no longer pink; drain., Arrange salad mix on a large serving platter; top with tomatoes, cheese, olives and lamb. Spoon dressing over salad. Serve immediately with toasted pita wedges.

TZATZIKI CUCUMBER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Line a sieve with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth.
• Spoon in yogurt and set the sieve over a bowl.
• Refrigerate for two to three hours or until yogurt is about half its volume, nicely thick and creamy.
• Shred or cut cucumber into julienne strips.
• Place in a colander in sink or over a bowl, sprinkle generously with salt, mix well and let drain for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
• Rinse and gently pat dry.
• In a mortor and pestal muddle the garlic into a bit salt.
• Add to the thickened yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, and if desired, the pepper and mint.
• Mix well.
• Serve or refrigerate for a day or two so flavors mingle.
• Stir again before serving and sprinkle with additional minced mint leaves if desired.

LEBANESE TZATZIKI CUCUMBER YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain the yogurt overnight with cheesecloth of paper-towel.
• Blend cucumber.
• Mix everything together with yogurt.