Mediterranean food is a favorite of mine.  Gyros (Greek style sandwiches) are more difficult to find in restaurants than a hamburger.  So, I created my own recipe I can make at home.

Gyros

12 oz sirloin steak, sliced in strips

2 t extra virgin olive oil

3 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice

3 T red or white wine vinegar

1 t garlic, minced

1/4 t sugar

1 t oregano leaves

1/8 t salt

1/8 t pepper

1 sweet onion, thinly sliced

3 tomatoes, sliced into small wedges

1 sweet pepper, (red, yellow or orange) thinly sliced

4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Tzatziki (recipe below)

8 thick, soft, pita breads, Greek style

In a medium bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper.  Add steak strips, toss to coat all pieces.  (Marinate a couple hours or overnight.  I often skip this step because I’ve failed to plan ahead.  You’ll still get great gyros.)

Cook beef by either, broiling, grilling or frying with no added fat in a nonstick skillet; set aside.  Warm pitas in a nonstick skillet, lightly toasting each side.  Place 1 to 2 ounces of beef on center of pita.  Add a few onion slices, tomato wedges and pepper slices.  Add a bit of feta cheese.  Drizzle a couple tablespoons Tzatziki on each pita.  Roll both sides over filling; wrap in a square piece of tinfoil with 1 end open (to keep the juices from running out.)

Serve with a few pitted Greek (Kalamata) olives on the side.

Tzatziki

1 English cucumber, peeled

2 t or 2 cloves garlic, minced

2 c plain lowfat yogurt

1 t lemon juice or white wine vinegar

Place in a food processor and chop fine.

(If you want thicker dressing, drain yogurt in cheesecloth overnight before processing.  Your gyros will be less messy but the dressing is just as tasty without this step.)