The Greek sandwich gyro is made using the gyro bread and various other ingredients like onion, roast lamb, tomato etc. The sandwich can be eaten with tzatziki, a popular yogurt-cucumber sauce. The gyro bread or the pita is flat and round. It is very popular in the Mediterranean. Gyro bread is usually baked in traditional brick ovens. If required you can bake it at your home too. It has a very simple and basic recipe but can be modified to suit your individual taste. Here is how to make a gyro bread.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 40-45 minutes
Resources Required:
- 1 packet of dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions:
1. Activate the yeast
Empty the content of the yeast pack into the bowl and add a teaspoon of sugar and half a cup of warm water into it. Keep the mixture aside for 15 minutes. The sugar activates the yeast and begins to foam when it grows.
2. Mix the dry ingredients
Take 3 cups of flour in a bowl and add one and half teaspoon of salt and mix well. Make a hole in the middle and pour the yeast mixture into it. Stir gently and add a cup of warm water to it. Mix well till all flour is absorbed and forms a dough.
3. Set the dough to rise
Use olive oil to coat the sides of a large bowl. Rub the dough into the bowl so that it is coated with the oil on all sides. The oil prevents the dough from sticking. Place the dough in a plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Set it aside for rising.
4. Knead the dough for 10 minutes
Take the dough and place it on a cutting board or a flat surface. Add some dough on the floor so that the dough does not stick to it. Knead the dough thoroughly by lulling and folding. Do it for about 10 minutes till the dough becomes elastic and shiny.
5. Bake the bread
Shape the dough into balls of two inches thick and place them on a floured plate for rising. After fifteen minutes, flatten them out with a rolling pin till they become 5 inches thick and 1/8 inch thick. Place them on a preheated cookie sheet and bake them for five minutes in 500 degrees. Turn them over and bake for another two minutes. Remove the breads form the oven and serve them hot.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What type of meat is used to make gyros?
Different types of meat can be used for making gyros. They include lamb, pork, chicken, beef and even some mixed meats.
2. What are the different types of gyros?
In Greece, the traditional gyro is made of pork. Recently, chicken gyros are becoming very popular. Gyros are even made of lamb as well. In the northern part of Greece, gyros are served with ketchup or mustard in place of yogurt.
3. What are the health benefits of gyros?
Gyros are known to have fewer amounts of fat and calories when compared to burgers or pizza. The fact is that the gyros are filling, cheap and tasty.
Quick Tips:
- Keep your hands well floured while kneading to prevent the dough from getting stuck to your fingers.
- You can use garlic or onion seasoning for changing the flavor of the normal bread.
Things To Watch Out For:
Avoid using wooden spatulas for mixing. They are dangerous because they can easily harbor dangerous bacteria. Use neoprene or nylon utensils for the mixing.
