We all get cravings for takeaway foods that we know aren’t the best for our bodies, but still like to enjoy once in a while. This week, shoo away your guilt and make your own takeaway-style dinner at home!
From the flatbreads to the sauces, make everything yourself with fresh ingredients in this Greek gyros recipe.
Ingredients:
For the marinated chicken
-Chicken thighs
-2 cups Greek yogurt
-1 cup olive oil
-Chopped garlic (approx. 2 teaspoons)
-3 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
-1 ½ tablespoons salt
-1 tablespoon ground cumin
-1 tablespoon paprika
-1 teaspoon pepper
-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the tzatziki
-Cucumber (shred as needed)
-1 ½ cup Greek yogurt
-2 tablespoons lemon juice
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
-Salt & pepper to taste
For the chili sauce
-1 can chopped tomatoes, blended (use about 1/4)
-1 teaspoon olive oil
-1 teaspoon chopped red chilies
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
-Salt & pepper to taste
For the flat breads
-2 ½ cups bread flour
-1 cup water
-1 cup Greek yogurt
-1 teaspoon dry active yeast
-3 ½ tablespoons olive oil
-1 tablespoon sugar
-1 ½ teaspoon salt
Toppings:
-Chopped lettuce
-Chopped red onion
-Chopped tomato
Instructions:
-In a large bowl, mix together the marinade and add the chicken thighs. Mix well, ideally by hand, to make sure all the chicken is covered evenly. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 30 min.
-Pre-heat oven to 200°C, and sit the chicken on a large tray. Cook for approx. 45min, checking regularly and flipping halfway through cooking time. Leave in longer if needed.
-When ready, cut into small chunks and transfer to a bowl, covering with kitchen foil to keep warm.
-In a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the flat breads. Fold the mix with a wooden spoon until a paste forms, then knead with hands into a dough. Dust more flour in as needed if the dough is too sticky.
-Once the dough is nice and smooth, leave in the bowl, cover with a cloth and leave to rest and rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
-When ready, dust countertop in flour and knead into a log, then cut into equally sized pieces.
-Flatten all pieces, heat a large pan and wipe in olive oil with kitchen paper. Once the pan is hot, start cooking the flatbread for 1 to 2min on each side. Once ready, serve immediately or cover all the flatbreads with kitchen foil to keep warm until serving. You can also re-heat in a pan before serving if needed.
-To prepare the tzatziki, use a cheese grater to shred the cucumber into the yogurt. Mix together the ingredients, and add salt and pepper to taste before refrigerating until serving.
-To prepare the chili sauce, blend the canned chopped tomatoes for a smooth sauce. Add your choice of fresh red chilies or canned chopped red chilies, and add in the rest of the ingredients. Leave to rest at room temperature until serving.
Add all the toppings to your delicious flatbread and enjoy! You can add to this recipe by adding any other toppings you fancy, like feta or peppers for example. This is a fun dinner idea for all the family, where everyone gets to make their own gyros with their favourite toppings! It may take a bit of preparation but the fresh and savoury taste makes it oh so worth it!