Showing posts with label pita. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pita. Show all posts

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Chicken Gyros

Greek Souvlaki has the best Gyros ever! I've had the lamb kind, but I prefer the chicken. A few weeks ago, I saw some pitas at Costco for really cheap and had a craving for a gyro. I decided to buy the pitas and search for a good gyro recipe. I found this one on the Taste of Home website (http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chicken-Gyros). The chicken tastes exactly like the one at Greek Souvlaki. I left the onions out because I'm not a fan of onions and I always have them take them off anyway. Note: I doubled this recipe for my family.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon minced garlic, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
  • 1/2 cup chopped peeled cucumber
  • 1/3 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dill weed
  • 2 whole pita breads
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Directions

  • In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the lemon juice, oil, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, mustard and oregano; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 1 hour. In a small bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, dill and remaining garlic; cover and refrigerate until serving.
  • Drain and discard marinade. In a large nonstick skillet, saute the chicken for 7-8 minutes or until juices run clear. Spoon onto each pita bread. Top with yogurt mixture and onion; fold in half. Yield: 2 servings.
The yogurt sauce wasn't my favorite. It had chucks of cucumbers and I thought it might be good, but it wasn't really. I think my favorite part of a gyro is a fresh pita and yummy sauce. The pitas at Costco aren't as yummy as the fresh kind, but they worked. The next time I make this, I'm going to try this recipe for the suace.

Tzatziki Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain yogurt (if you can find the extra-thick Greek yogurt it's best)
  • 4 garlic cloves; roasted and finely chopped (see below)
  • 1/2 lemon; juiced
  • 2 tsp. finely chopped mint
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber without seeds
  • Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Place whole, un-peeled garlic gloves in a small, un-oiled skillet over medium low heat and cook for about two minutes per side - until lightly browned. Peel and chop finely.

2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

Note: The sauce is better if you allow it to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before using.