Cooking Instructions

Follow these steps for perfect results

Ingredients

0/17 checked
4
servings
1 lb

ground lamb

2 tsp

kosher salt

0.5 tsp

fresh ground black pepper

2 tbsp

fresh oregano leaves

picked

0.5 unit

onion

cut into 1-inch chunks

1 unit

garlic clove

sliced

3 unit

thick slab bacon

cut into 1-inch pieces

0.75 cup

plain unsweetened yogurt

0.25 cup

mayonnaise

1 unit

garlic clove

minced on microplane

1 unit

lemons

juice of

2 tbsp

parsley

chopped

4 piece

pita bread

soft hand-pulled-style

1 unit

fresh tomato

chopped

0.5 unit

onion

finely sliced

0.5 unit

cucumber

peeled, seeded, cubed

1 unit

hot sauce

Step 1
~3 min

Combine ground lamb, kosher salt, pepper, and oregano in a medium bowl.

Step 2
~3 min

Mix thoroughly with hands until homogeneous.

Step 3
~3 min

Cover the lamb mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.

Step 4
~3 min

Place yogurt in a fine-mesh strainer set over a small bowl.

Step 5
~3 min

Allow yogurt to drain in the refrigerator for 1 hour to thicken.

Step 6
~3 min

Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 7
~3 min

Place the cold lamb mixture in a food processor with onion, garlic, and bacon.

Step 8
~3 min

Process until a smooth puree is formed, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides as needed.

Step 9
~3 min

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Step 10
~3 min

With moist hands, form the meat mixture into a rectangle, about 1-1/2 inches high, 8 inches long, and 5 inches wide.

Step 11
~3 min

Bake in the preheated oven until the center of the loaf reads 155 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes.

Step 12
~3 min

Allow the meatloaf to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes (or refrigerate for up to a week).

Step 13
~3 min

While the meatloaf is baking and resting, prepare the yogurt sauce.

Step 14
~3 min

Combine the strained yogurt, mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, and chopped parsley in a bowl.

Step 15
~3 min

Stir to combine the yogurt sauce ingredients.

Step 16
~3 min

Season the sauce to taste with salt. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.

Step 17
~3 min

Adjust broiler rack to the highest position (about 1-1/2 to 2 inches from the broiler element). Preheat broiler.

Step 18
~3 min

Slice the lamb loaf crosswise into 1/8th to 1/4-inch strips (each strip should be about 5 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide).

Step 19
~3 min

Lay the sliced lamb strips on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

Step 20
~3 min

Broil the lamb strips until the edges are brown and crispy, about 2 minutes.

Step 21
~3 min

Tent the broiled lamb strips with aluminum foil to keep warm.

Step 22
~3 min

Warm the pita bread by placing it on a rimmed baking sheet and broiling until soft and pliable, about 45 seconds per side.

Step 23
~3 min

Spread 1/4 cup of yogurt sauce over each piece of warm pita bread.

Step 24
~3 min

Divide the broiled lamb strips evenly between the pita sandwiches.

Step 25
~3 min

Top the gyros with chopped fresh tomato, finely sliced onion, and cubed cucumber as desired.

Step 26
~3 min

Add hot sauce to the gyros according to taste.

Step 27
~3 min

Wrap the assembled gyros with foil and serve immediately.

Pro Tips & Suggestions

Expert advice for the best results

For extra flavor, marinate the lamb overnight.

Be careful not to over-broil the meat; watch it closely.

Warm the pita bread right before serving for the best texture.

Cooking Experience

Everything you need to know before you start

Time & Preparation

Cleanup Time

15 minutes

Batch Cooking
Friendly
Make Ahead

Meat mixture can be prepared ahead and refrigerated.

Freezable
Kid Friendly

Cooking Environment

Messiness Level
Medium
Smell Intensity
Medium
Noise Level
Medium
Elder Friendly
Suitable for seniors

Plating & Presentation

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a side of Greek salad.

Accompany with a lemon wedge.

Perfect Pairings

Food Pairings

Greek salad
Roasted vegetables
Tzatziki sauce

Drink Pairings

Cultural Heritage

Discover the story behind this recipe

Origin & Tradition

Region of Origin

Greece, United States

Cultural Significance

A fusion of Greek and American culinary traditions.

Style

Occasions & Celebrations

Occasion Tags

Casual dining
Family meal
Quick dinner

Popularity Score

75/100

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