Gyro pitas 

Gyros, also called gyros pita, is a typical dish of Hellenic cuisine, a much loved street food, similar to kebab, made with pork, vegetables and tzatziki, the famous sauce made from natural Greek yogurt, cucumbers, extra virgin olive oil and garlic. Inevitable in Greek taverns, it can also be served on the plate. In its traditional version, the meat is marinated with spices and aromas, cooked on a large vertical spit and cut into thin slices; It is then placed inside the pita, the classic bread cooked in a round and soft pan, and seasoned with tzatziki, tomatoes, salad, onion and fries.

The recipe that I propose today is the homemade variant of gyros: the pork loin is, in fact, cut into thin strips, and then cooked in the oven, for an equally excellent result and that will not make you regret the original. The important thing is to flavor the meat well with extra virgin olive oil, salt and mixed pepper, freshly ground, then cook it until it is well browned. The vegetables must be cut very thinly, to blend perfectly with the tzaztiki sauce and fries.

Rich and delicious, gyros is perfect for a quick but substantial lunch, or for a fun and tasty dinner with friends. To make the meat even more tender and tasty, you can marinate it with the spices and aromatic herbs you prefer, such as paprika, sweet curry, cumin, rosemary and bay leaf. You can prepare the pita in time and heat it when needed, storing it in a food bag or airtight container so that it does not dry out too much and remains soft. You can also add other vegetables, for example cucumber slices, and replace the tzatziki with a spicy or yogurt sauce. Find out how to prepare it by following step by step procedure and advice.

Ingredients

PITA 4

SLICES OF PORK LOIN 600 gr

GREEN SALAD 4 leaves

TOMATOES 2

WHITE OR RED ONION 1

MEDIUM POTATOES 2

TZATZIKI SAUCE

PEANUT OIL (FOR FRYING) 500 ml

SALT

PEPPER

How to prepare gyros

Cut pork into strips. Transfer the meat to a bowl. Pour a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add freshly ground mixed pepper. Season with a pinch of salt. Mix thoroughly to flavor the meat well. Place the meat in a baking dish, lined with parchment paper. Bake at 180 °C for about 20 minutes. Cut the tomato into strips. Do the same with salad leaves, after washing and dabbing them with a sheet of kitchen paper towels. Slice the onion. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and wash them under cold running water. Cut the potatoes into slices. Make potato sticks. Let the potatoes dry for 5 minutes or dab them thoroughly with a dry cloth. In this way they will be more crispy. Heat peanut oil. Fry the potato sticks until golden brown and crispy. Drain the potatoes on a plate, lined with kitchen paper towels. French fries are ready. Once cooked, the meat will be well browned. Keep it warm. Heat the pita bread and place it on a plate. Place the hot pita on a plate, so you can start assembling the ingredients to make the gyros. Add two teaspoons of tzatziki sauce to the pita. Spread the sauce all over the pita leaving the edges empty. Add pork fillets. Place the salad and tomatoes on top of the meat. Add onion. Finally complete with chips. Close the gyros starting from the bottom, as if to create a fan. Serve the gyros at a hot table, wrapped in food paper or hamburger bags.

Preservation

The gyros should be eaten hot and freshly prepared. Any type of storage is not recommended.