Description
Embrace the comforting flavors of your favorite Greek street food with this easy and absolutely delicious Tender Lamb and Beef Gyro Bake. It transforms the beloved gyro experience into a hearty, layered casserole perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or feeding a crowd. Imagine perfectly seasoned, tender lamb and beef nestled with fluffy rice and a rich, creamy sauce, all baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
1 pound ground lamb (80/20 lean)
1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For Serving:
4–6 thick Greek-style pita breads
1 cup homemade or store-bought tzatziki sauce
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, very thinly sliced
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 325F (165C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Finely mince a chopped yellow onion and garlic cloves in a food processor. Squeeze out excess liquid from the onion mixture using a kitchen towel.
3. Add the dried onion mixture back to the food processor along with ground lamb, ground beef, oregano, cumin, thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Process the meat mixture for 1 to 2 minutes until it becomes a fine, sticky paste.
5. Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Use wet hands to shape it into a compact rectangular loaf, about 8 inches by 4 inches.
6. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160F (71C).
7. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil, and let it rest for at least 15 minutes.
8. Slice the rested meat very thinly with a sharp knife.
9. Warm the pita breads in a dry skillet. Fill the warm pitas with tzatziki sauce, sliced meat, tomato slices, and red onion.
Notes
Don’t Overmix: When combining the rice with the yogurt mixture, be gentle. Overmixing can make the rice mushy.
Even Layering: Spreading both the meat and the rice mixture evenly in the baking dish ensures that all the flavors meld together beautifully during baking.
Golden Topping: Keep an eye on the feta cheese topping during the last few minutes of baking. If it’s browning too quickly, you can loosely tent the dish with foil.
Resting is Key: Allowing the bake to rest after it comes out of the oven is crucial. It helps the layers set and prevents it from falling apart when you serve it.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Greek