Homemade gyros: Elevate your street food game with ease

Gyros, like the Turkish döner, means "turn," referring to the preparation method: the meat is cooked on a vertical rotisserie and then sliced into thin pieces. Although Greeks and Turks both claim the origin of this method, culinary historians often attribute it to the Turks. In the 19th century, döner kebab was popular in the Turkish city of Bursa and eventually spread throughout the Ottoman Empire. Greeks adapted the recipe by replacing lamb with pork and adding tzatziki sauce. This specialty quickly became a very popular street food, not only in Athens and Thessaloniki but also in numerous Greek eateries established in Europe and the United States. By the turn of the century, Poles discovered and enjoyed gyros, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of places offering this simple and delicious dish.

Traditionally, gyros is made with pork, usually from the ham or shoulder, but you can also use chicken breast, lamb, or beef tenderloin. A crucial step is marinating the meat. First, cut it into fairly thin strips, then place it in a bowl and cover it with a mixture of olive oil, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, paprika, nutmeg, and chopped fresh mint and parsley leaves. It's worth adding a teaspoon of ready-made gyros or kebab spice mix as well.

Place the prepared meat in the fridge for at least an hour, though experts say that marinating it overnight will yield the best flavor and aroma. Next, fry the marinated meat in batches in a pan until it's browned and well-cooked on each side. Avoid adding too much meat at once to ensure it fries well instead of steaming.

You can also prepare gyros meat in the oven. Preheat the oven to 392°F (convection). Spread the marinated meat in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, until the meat is golden and well-cooked, stirring halfway through if desired.

Gyros can be served in pita bread, which you can either buy or bake yourself. You need flour, salt, yeast, and olive oil for the pita dough. Once risen, shape the dough into flatbreads and bake in a pan. Gyros is served with toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, and tzatziki sauce, which is made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and olive oil.