Best Greek Loaf Recipes

GREEK GYRO MEAT LOAF OR BURGER

Steps:

• Put everything in a food processor and pulse until the meat is diced to a fine consistency and spices are well mixed. (Add egg and breadcrumbs for more moisture if you wish.) Let rest in refrigerator overnight. Preheat oven to 325 deg. F. Shape spiced meat into two patties, about 3/4 to 1 inch thick, and flatten on one side, like a slice of bread. Rub a little olive oil evenly on bottom and arrange meat patties in pan. Cook without lid at 325 deg. F. for 18 minutes, then flip patties and put back in oven for 18 minutes (without lid). (Check internal temp. to make sure meat is safe to eat before removing from oven.) Remove meat from pan, use carving knife and place on flattened side, then slice the browned outside surface off both sides. Slice interior thinly. Keep all slices thin! (If you like your gyro meat seared, you can store the sliced meat in air tight container and use this to re-heat and brown it in a non-stick pan over medium heat over a couple of days.) PUTTING THE GYRO TOGETHER Lightly grill a pita to soften and warm it in a pan and place on top of a piece of aluminum foil (to use to seal the gyro up if you're taking a few with you somewhere). Spread tzatziki dip on center of pita where meat will go. Put sliced meat on top of tzatziki. Add a few slices of onion and some chopped tomatoes on top of meat. Pour more tzatziki cucumber dip over gyro if you wish, and enjoy. (Goes well with a mound of "chips" that has a pool of ketchup nearby.) You can make "Greek" hamburgers with this mixture by simply grilling meat and topping with mayonnaise, dill pickles, tomatoes, and onion, or slice grilled patties and put in a "roll-up" made with flat bread instead of hamburger buns.

GREEK LOAF

Steps:

• In bread machine pan, place the first seven ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed)., Just before the final kneading (your machine may audibly signal this), add the olives.

GREEK ANISE LOAF

Steps:

• Soften yeast in warm water. Pour scalded milk over sugar, butter and salt; stir til butter melts. Cool to lukewarm. Stir in flavorings. Add 1 cup of the flour; mix well. Stir in 1 egg and softened yeast; beat well. Add remaining flour ( or a little more or less to make a soft dough.) Turn out on lightly floured surface. Knead til smooth and elastic ( 8 - 10 minutes). Place in lightly greased bowl, turning once. Cover; let rise in a warm place until almost double (about 1 1/4 hours).
• Punch down. Let rise again until almost double (1 hours). Turn out on to lightly floured surface and divide dough into thirds; form in balls. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll each under hands to form strands 16 inches long, tapering ends. Braid loosely without stretching, beginning in the middle, working towards either end. Pinch ends together. Cover; let rise until almost double ( 40 minutes). Combine beaten egg and water; brush over braid; sprinkle with sesame seed.
• Bake at 375* for 25 minutes.

VEGAN LENTIL LOAF WITH GREEK FLAVORS

Steps:

• Place lentils in a pot and pour in enough water to cover by 2 inches; add onion powder, celery salt, and garlic salt. Cook lentils, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Cool lentils slightly and add to a food processor; blend until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• Mix lentils, green bell pepper, celery, carrots, and garlic in a large bowl. Add parsley, brown rice, chia seeds, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, mint, salt, and pepper to lentil mixture; mix well. Pour lentil mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool slightly before slicing, about 15 minutes.