Pork gyros at home
Γύρος χοιρινός (gyros choirinos): spiced sliced pork thigh crisped in a pan, wrapped in pitta with chips
This is a pork recipe; chicken thigh works the same way. In Thessaloniki and Athens gyros is cut from a tall turning spit, so thin that the edges crackle, and wrapped with chips, tomato, onion and tzatziki for a late-night bite after a football match or a night out. Home kitchens have no spit, so here thinly sliced pork shoulder is marinated in paprika, cumin, garlic and oregano, roasted in a tight stack, then sliced and crisped in a hot pan to get those charred edges. Chef's tip: slice the cooked meat as thinly as you can, then fry it in a dry hot pan; the crisp edges are what make it taste like the street version.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the gyros
To serve
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 2 tsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and rub into the 1 ¾ lb boneless pork shoulder steaks. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
10 minStep 2: Heat the oven to 400°F (fan 350°F). Stack the slices tightly in a small loaf tin or pile them tightly in a small baking dish so they cook like a spit.
5 minStep 3: Roast for 35–40 minutes until the top is browned and the pork reaches 160°F in the middle (165°F if using chicken). Cook the 14 oz oven chips or homemade fries in the oven at the same time. Rest the meat for 5 minutes.
40 minStep 4: Turn the stack out and slice it as thinly as you can across the layers.
3 minStep 5: Heat a large frying pan over a high heat, add the sliced meat in one layer with some of its juices and fry for 2–3 minutes until the edges are crisp and charred. A common mistake is skipping this step, which leaves the meat soft and pale.
4 minStep 6: Warm the 4 pitta breads. Spread with 7 oz tzatziki, add the meat, a few 14 oz oven chips or homemade fries, 2 tomatoes and 1 red onion, dust with 1 pinch sweet paprika, for dusting and roll up tightly in baking paper to eat.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 780 kcal
- Protein
- 44 g
- Carbs
- 68 g
- Fat
- 36 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pork gyros at home take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of sweet paprika?
- Smoked paprika, half the amount.
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