Homemade gyros: Unlock authentic Greek flavour at home

Gyros, much like the Turkish döner, means "turn," referring to how it is prepared—the meat is cooked on a vertical rotisserie and then sliced into thin pieces. Although Greeks and Turks dispute 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 popular street food, not only in Athens and Thessaloniki, but also in numerous Greek eateries established in Europe and the United States. At the turn of the 21st century, Poles also discovered and enjoyed gyros, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of places where one can try this simple and tasty dish.

Traditionally, gyros is made with pork, usually from ham or shoulder, but you can also use chicken breast, lamb, or beef tenderloin. A critical 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 also worth adding a teaspoon of ready-made gyros or kebab spice mix.

Put the prepared meat in the fridge for at least an hour, although experts say you’ll get the best flavour and aroma by marinating it overnight. Then, you can throw it into a pan. Fry the marinated meat in batches until it's browned and well-cooked on each side. Try not to add too much meat at once so it fries well and doesn’t steam.

Gyros meat can also be prepared in the oven. To do this, preheat the oven to 200°C (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. You can stir it halfway through baking.

Gyros can be served in pita bread, which you can buy or bake yourself. The pita dough needs flour, salt, yeast, and olive oil. Once risen, the dough is shaped into flatbreads and baked 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.