Inspiration
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“The only wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” I just love this quote by Socrates. It really encompasses what true Wisdom is all about, most of the times we are clueless (I speak for myself). Therefore the most important lesson is that there is ALWAYS something new and more interesting to learn. Cooking is a true testament to this reasoning, if anything it has taught me that there is always opportunities to learn and make improvements to any dish out there.
Once upon a time, the stoics were known as these wise dudes who wore togas all the time and Greece was the cradle of all their philosophical ideas. Furthermore, Greece did not stop at pioneering philosophy to the world, it also contributed to amazing food. Exhibit A, the delicious Gyro.
The first time I tried this delicacy was on a trip to Greece while I was in boarding school. I just couldn’t stop eating them the whole time we spent there. Gyros are basically a version of the Mexican taco al pastor. Just like al pastor the meat is cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served in bread (tortilla or pita).
Greeks and Mexicans not only share this street gem in common, we also seem to be quite similar culturally. After all, Greek and Roman culture provided the birth place for Latin culture . I find that Greeks speak loudly and at the same time, they meddle in each others lives even though it is none of their business and they are also very family oriented. As you can imagine I felt right at home. Ultimately, my desire to travel back to Mexico’s version in Europe inspired me to cook the amazingly delicious gyro.
Creation
To create real gyros, it is key to use Greek yoghurt for all the different components. It does make a difference in taste and texture. The Greek version of yoghurt differs from the regular version in that it has more of a heavy consistency and a richer flavor. Straining it removes all the excess watery whey, leaving a more protein-dense version of the yoghurt.
Also, be careful in using too much salt on this one. The gyro is composed of a lot of different flavors, and it can turn out to taste too salty very easily since the chicken and sauces include various types of condiments.
It is a fun dish to make for a casual get together where everyone makes their own and decides what to include. I would highly recommend using all the ingredients and sauces spreading evenly all over the pita bread and rolling in such a way that one can get a taste of all the components together.
Recipe
Chicken Gyros (with Tzatziki and Hot Sauce)
Ingredients
Gyro
- 4-6 Pita bread
- 3 Tomatoes sliced
- 2 Cucumbers julienned
- ½ cup Finely chopped parsley finely chopped
- 1 Red onion sliced
- Salt and pepper
- Feta cheese crumbled to taste
Hot sauce (see notes)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Olive oil
- 1 Lemon juiced
Chicken marinade
- 1 kg Chicken breast cut in thin strips
- 3 tbsp Fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Pepper
Chicken
- 1 tbsp Seasoning
- 1-2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
For the Tzatziki (see notes)
- 1 ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup Grated cucumber deseeded and squeezed to remove excess water
- 1 clove Garlic crushed
- 1 tbsp Fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Dill finely chopped
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Tzatziki
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, season to taste and set aside
Spicy Sauce
- Add all the ingredients in a bowl, mix well, season to taste and set aside
Chicken
- Mix the lime juice, yogurt, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper in a dish, add the strips of chicken
- Refrigerate the chicken for 12-24 hours
- Discard the marinade, and heat a grill on a medium-high heat
- Grill the chicken strips until well cooked
- Put cooked chicken into a bowl, add seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil. Toss well
Gyro
- Heat the pita bread on a paper towel in a microwave for 30 seconds or in the oven for 1 minute
- Spread tzatziki on the pita, add chicken, tomato, cucumber, parsley, red onion, hot sauce and garnish with feta cheese, drizzle some olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste. Roll and enjoy