Gyro Burger Pitas

So remember when I posted the Tzatziki recipe and promised a lamb gyro recipe sometime in the near future? Well, today’s your day: Gyro Burger Pitas. 

One of my favorite ways to eat lamb is in a gyro, so I wanted to replicate those flavors. However, I don’t have a spit, nor do I really need a large chunk of seasoned lamb from which to slice sandwich shavings. I also wanted to make my gyro a little lighter, so I worked on a recipe for a gyro burger.

Ingredient Notes

• Lamb – I will be the first to admit that I rarely cook with lamb. I’ve always kind of been under the impression that it’s difficult to cook and expensive. I’ve discovered that not only is it really distinct and delicious, but that it’s really not any more expensive than similar cuts of beef or pork.
  
  Lean ground lamb is available, particularly at high-end groceries, and if you can’t find that, you can always ask a butcher to grind a pound of either the leg or the loin, or use your food processor to grind it up at home.
• Pitas – Feel free to use store-bought pitas, or make your own. I used our Flatbread recipe, only instead of making one large loaf, I made 4 smaller, pita-sized circles and it worked beautifully. If you do that, however, cover the flatbread with a clean cloth when you pull them out of the oven and allow them to cool completely. This way, they’ll remain soft and pliable and won’t crack when you try and fold them over.
• Tzatziki – This yummy Greek yogurt sauce can be whipped up in a flash using this Tzatziki recipe. Homemade will always taste best, but if you’re short on time you should be able to find prepared tzatziki in the grocery store near the hummus and other dips.

How To Make Gyro Burger Pitas

1. All you do is take some of my favorite seasonings–garlic, coarse-grain mustard, red wine vinegar, rosemary, oregano, Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and onion flakes and gently incorporate them with your hands into 1 lb. of ground lamb.

2. Shape the meat into 4-6 patties. You can make circular patties, but I find oblong patties work a little better when you fold the pita bread over the meat.

3. Grill over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
4. Place the grilled lamb on the pita bread, add some thinly sliced onions and tomatoes (my tomatoes are missing…they were beyond gross). Spread with a generous layer of Tzatziki.
5. Fold like a taco. If you’re assembling all the gyros ahead of time (or just for convenience), wrap the folded gyros in aluminum foil. That way, you can avoid embarrassing Tzatziki-related drama and you can also pretend you’re eating something from a street vendor (or a mall food court, whatever) but knowing that you were cool enough to make the food yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can these be made ahead of time? The burger patties are best grilled fresh, but you could prep your tzatziki, cook your pitas, slice your veggies, and even mix up your lamb mixture up to a day ahead of time. Then just grill and assemble.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re looking for side dishes, these gyro burger pitas really don’t need much. A simple veggie tray with hummus would be great. If you love those Greek flavors, you could try this delicious Greek Pasta Salad or a simple side salad using the Greek Salad Dressing & Marinade from that salad.

Did You Make This?

I’d love to hear from you! Snap a picture and tag me on Instagram, then come back and give this recipe a rating!

Gyro Burger Pitas

A light, tasty twist on a classic lamb gyro.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

ServingsServings4 gyros

Print Rate SaveSaved!

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground lamb if this is hard to find, ask a butcher to grind 1 pound of lamb leg or loin
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry onion
• 1 tablespoons Dijon or coarse grain mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1 teaspoon rosemary dry or fresh and chopped
• Tzatziki
• whole wheat pitas or 6" rounds of flatbread see this recipe to make your own; just make 4-6 circles instead of 1
• Fresh tomato and thin onion slices

Instructions

• Gently combine lamb, garlic, onion, mustard, salt, pepper, vinegar, oregano, and rosemary with your hands and shape into 4 oblong patties. Grill for 5-6 minutes on each side and remove from heat. Allow to stand for 5 minutes. Place on pitas or flatbread and add onions, tomatoes, and Tzatziki. Fold like a taco and serve immediately. For easy serving and clean-up, wrap in aluminum foil.
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Author: Our Best Bites

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