Yummy, Tangy Gyros
I grew up eating gyros from a very young age. Something about the spice of the meat and the tang of tzatziki sauce has always appealed to me, even as a picky kid. Although, my mom did pronounce it ”Ji-row” my whole childhood and I wasn’t corrected until I was in college - oops. Luckily for me I have some pretty nonjudgemental friends!
Anyway, now it is one of my go to dinner meals for the family because it is so shockingly easy to put together a delicious and healthy gyro. Your taste buds will seriously sing!
Ingredients
1 lb. ground turkey
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. cumin
½ tsp. paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
4 whole wheat pita pockets
1 cup 0% Greek yogurt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp dill seasoning
1 cucumber, diced/minced
1 tomato, diced
Crumbled feta cheese
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Form the mixture into small meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and starting to brown.
5. While the meatballs are cooking, dice your tomatoes and 3/4 of the cucumber and set aside. Mince the remaining 1/4 of the cucumber. Combine the Greek yogurt, dill seasoning, minced cucumber, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
6. Once the meatballs are done, heat up the pita pockets in the oven for a few minutes until warmed through.
7. Stuff each pita pocket with a few meatballs, diced cucumber and tomatoes, a dollop of the Greek yogurt sauce, and a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese.
8. Serve hot and enjoy! This recipe may be healthier, but it still packs a ton of flavor!
The meat is spiced to perfection and pairs perfectly with the refreshing cucumber and tomato. The Greek yogurt sauce is my favorite alternative to the traditional tzatziki sauce, adding protein but still gives that tangy burst of yummy.
One alternative I love to this is trading out the turkey balls for chicken. If you choose this option, cut a lb of chicken breast meat into strips and season the same way as listed above in step 2. Skip steps 3 and 4 and instead just sauté the strips on the stove for 7-10 minutes or until cooked through. Complete the rest of the recipe the exact same way!
Another secret? Both the turkey ball and the chicken options are GREAT in the freezer too. And your pitas can be frozen as well! This makes for a super simple meal prep that can save you tons of prep time on a busy night of dinner.
Enjoy!
