Famous Greek chicken gyros recipe

The gyro, a simple dish that delivers above and beyond in flavour, it is one of the most popular fast-food items in all of Greece.

The gyro first arrived in Greece in 1922 as many small food shops began to open to meet the demand for the simple and affordable meal.

The dish remains popular among visiting tourists as they can simply order a gyro from the corner shop, grab it and enjoy it whilst exploring the vast amount of history found in Greece.

Gyros are mainly made using beef, chicken or pork, and are topped with fresh vibrant tomatoes and onion, a sprinkle of french fries, a generous dollop of tzatziki, all wrapped in a soft pita bread.

Due to travel restrictions some may not be able to visit Greece at the moment, but this doesn’t mean that you can't bring Greece to your home, into your kitchen and onto your taste buds.

When making gyros at home, the secret key to delicious-ness is in the marinade.

With no further ado we bring you the below recipe which shows you how to make the best homemade chicken gyro.

Greek Chicken Gyros Recipe:

(serves 4-6 people)

Ingredients:

• 1 kg chicken thigh fillets

Marinade for the Chicken:

• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp full fat greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Tzatziki:

• 2 cucumbers, grated and strained
• 4 cups full fat Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 5 tsp minced garlic
• 5 tsp salt
• 5 tsp black pepper

Salad ingredients to add into the Gyro:

• 2 sliced tomatoes
• 3 diced cucumbers
• 5 chopped red onion
• Salt and pepper

To serve:

• 4 to 6 pita breads
• Parchment baking paper or tin foil to wrap around the Gyro.

Instructions

1. Add the marinated ingredients as well as chicken into a ziplock bag. Place in the fridge and marinade for a minimum of 2 hours to a maximum of 24 hours if preparing for the next day.
2. Make the tzatziki - grate the cucumber using a box grater, wrap the cucumber in paper towels / tea towels and squeeze to remove excess liquid. Then combine the cucumber with remaining tzatziki ingredients in a bowl. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes and it will be ready to serve.
3. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl to create a mix of all ingredients to go into each gyro.
4. Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side until it is cooked through and golden brown. Cooking time will depend on the size of each piece. Remove the chicken from the frying pan and place on a plate.
5. Assemble the gyros: Slice the chicken into strips. Take a piece of pita bread and place on parchment baking paper or foil. Place some salad in the middle, top with chicken and tzatziki.  Roll the pita bread with the parchment paper, twisting the button to ensure it is closed.

The gyros are now ready to be enjoyed!

The perfect meal whether you are enjoying a bite of Greece from afar or wondering how to make the delicious meal yourself.

Simple and made for everyone from a first time chef or master of all, this chicken gyro recipe will definitely have you planning your next trip to Greece.

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Spetsofai - Greek sausage and peppers recipe