GREEK GYRO MEAT LOAF OR BURGER

GREEK GYRO MEAT LOAF OR BURGER image

Categories Sandwich Beef Bake Quick & Easy Lunch

Yield 2-3 gyros

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

(For meat only - see other entry for Tzatziki dip to top gyro.)
1/4 onion, diced.
6 ounces ground chicken.
6 ounces ground pork (unseasoned).
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram.
1/2 teaspoon ground, dried rosemary.
1/2 teaspoon ground, dried thyme.
1/4 teaspoon table salt.
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin.
2 tablespoons Italian seasoned bread crumbs.
One Egg to bind, enhance moistness, and flavor.
(Note: Consider using "flatbread roll-ups", sold in grocery, instead of dried out pita rounds. Roll-up approach keeps tomatoes and tzatziki under better control.)

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.