LAMB GYROS WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

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Ciao Bella|Beef|Greek|Lamb

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Ingredients

The Lamb:

1-pound ground lamb (or ground beef)

1 small onion, minced

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons Dish off the Block Ciao Bella Italian Spice Blend

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon cumin

1 egg

The Tzatziki Sauce:

2 cups plain Greek yogurt

8 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

2 tablespoons mint leaves, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

Zest from 1 lemon

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cups English cucumber, chopped into ¼ dice

2 tablespoons olive oil

4-6 fresh pita breads (or naan breads)

1 head butter lettuce (or Romaine)

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 red onion, thinly sliced

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all of the ingredients for the lamb in a bowl and massage it all together with your hands until everything is well incorporated. Press this mixture into a loaf pan in an even layer.

Place the loaf pan in a 9” x 13” baking dish and pour hot water around into the baking dish until it come 2-3” up the side of the loaf pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes until just cooked through and internal temp is 160 degrees. Drain any excess oil from the pan and let the loaf come to room temperature (or refrigerate overnight).

To make the tzatziki sauce, combine all of the ingredients together in bowl and mix to combine. If you are making the sauce in advance, add the cucumbers just before serving so the sauce doesn’t not get watered down.

When you are reading to make the sandwiches turn the loaf pan upside-down on a cutting board to release the meat! Cut the meat into ½” slices. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat and sear the slices on each side until browned and caramelized about 1-2 minutes per side.

Warm the pitas in the microwave and cover with a damp paper towel to keep warm.

Place a couple of lettuce leaves down the middle of one pita (I do not open the pocket for these sandwiches), followed by a generous amount of the tzatziki sauce, several slices of the seared meat, some tomatoes, onions, and lots feta cheese!! Wrap in parchment and tie with kitchen string to hold them together or just devour as you make them!