More Winter Grilling: Lamb Pitas with Cucumber, Feta, and Mint Yogurt Sauce Recipe
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You know that little hole-in-the-wall Greek place on the corner that serves the fantastic gyros? The one with the great fried eggplant, the killer cucumber sauce, and the really long line at the counter? Yeah -- those gyros. The ones that are just a little too salty, a bit too greasy, but somehow positively perfect on one of those nights when you don't feel like cooking?
Yeah, well, these aren't those gyros.
However, I'm going to urge you to keep on reading. These lamb pitas take a little bit of fore-thought. And definitely require more effort than take-out. But, they're well worth it. In fact, if you're the sort who loves a good gyro (but who would prefer to avoid all the salt and nastiness that are included with the ones…
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,%20I'd%20encourage%20you%20to%20make%20these%20sandwiches.%20At%20least%20once.%20It's%20so%20easy%20you%20don't%20even%20need%20a%20recipe.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20do%20need%20a%20few%20basics%20--%20a%20pound%20or%20two%20of%20%20fresh%20local%20lamb%20(we%20usually%20go%20for%20the%20meat%20from%20the%20leg)%20sliced%20into%20strips,%20a%20few%20sprigs%20of%20fresh%20mint,%20some%20fresh%20oregano,%20a%20bit%20of%20lemon%20juice,%20salt,%20and%20a%20nice%20flavorful%20olive%20oil.%20%20Mix%20the%20lemon%20juice,%20salt,%20and%20olive%20oil%20together.%20Then%20chop%20the%20herbs.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESpread%20the%20herbs%20over%20the%20strips%20of%20lamb,%20turning%20them%20to%20distribute%20the%20herbs%20evenly.%20%20Then,%20pour%20the%20lemon%20juice%20mixture%20over%20the%20top.%20%20Allow%20the%20meat%20to%20marinate%20for%20at%20least%202%20hours.%20%20The%20trick%20with%20marinating%20the%20strips%20is%20to%20go%20long%20enough%20that%20the%20meat%20is%20seriously%20imbued%20with%20flavor%20--%20but%20not%20so%20long%20that%20you're%20going%20to%20severely%20alter%20the%20meat's%20texture%20(lemon%20juice%20can%20be%20harsh%20that%20way).%20%20So,%20you%20probably%20don't%20need%20an%20all-night%20marinade%20here...%20but%20definitely%20give%20the%20lamb%20a%20bit%20of%20time%20to%20linger%20in%20the%20seasonings.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20meat%20is%20marinating,%20you'll%20want%20to%20thinly%20slice%20a%20small%20red%20onion%20and%20sprinkle%20it%20with%20a%20bit%20of%20red%20wine%20vinegar.%20%20The%20vinegar%20takes%20a%20bit%20of%20the%20pungency%20out%20of%20the%20onions%20while%20imparting%20them%20with%20a%20nice%20vibrant%20kick.%20%20When%20you're%20done,%20these%20onions%20make%20a%20great%20addition%20to%20salads,%20sammiches,%20and%20the%20like%20(if%20you're%20me,%20you%20might%20even%20decide%20to%20eat%20them%20straight%20out%20of%20the%20bowl).%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAfter%20you%20marinate%20your%20onions,%20you%20might%20also%20want%20to%20throw%20together%20a%20bit%20of%20yogurt%20sauce%20for%20your%20lamb%20pitas.%20%20Take%20a%20cup%20of%20greek-style%20yogurt%20(or%20regular%20whole%20milk%20yogurt%20that's%20been%20drained%20for%20a%20couple%20of%20hours%20through%20a%20coffee%20filter),%20add%20about%202%20T%20red%20wine%20vinegar,%203%20T%20chopped%20mint,%20and%20about%201/2%20tsp%20of%20salt.%20Stir%20to%20combine.%20Then,%20go%20ahead%20and%20slice%20some%20cucumber.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20can%20also%20crumble%20some%20feta%20cheese.%20%20And,%20if%20it%20weren't%20the%20middle%20of%20January%20here%20in%20Wisconsin,%20you%20can%20be%20sure%20I'd%20suggest%20you%20slice%20up%20a%20few%20garden%20fresh%20tomatoes%20as%20well.%20%20But,%20honestly%20people,%20winter%20tomatoes%20scare%20me.%20So,%20we're%20not%20even%20going%20there.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EBefore%20you%20know%20it,%20it%20will%20be%20time%20to%20deal%20with%20the%20lamb%20again.%20%20Take%20the%20lamb%20strips%20and%20weave%20them%20onto%20skewers.%20Set%20them%20aside%20on%20a%20baking%20sheet%20until%20you've%20got%20your%20grill%20nice%20and%20preheated.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThen,%20place%20them%20on%20a%20hot%20grill%20--%20preferably%20on%20an%20outdoor%20charcoal%20grill.%20Although%20you%20can%20place%20your%20kebabs%20under%20the%20broiler,%20or%20brown%20them%20up%20on%20a%20grill%20pan%20inside,%20I%20really%20love%20firing%20up%20a%20nice%20hot%20outdoor%20grill%20on%20a%20cold%20winter%20afternoon.%20%20The%20air%20temperature%20might%20be%20frigid,%20but%20the%20smell%20of%20that%20grill%20reminds%20me%20of%20warmer%20days%20--%20and%20it%20tends%20to%20give%20my%20mood%20a%20bit%20of%20a%20boost.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERegardless%20of%20the%20method,%20direct%20heat%20is%20best%20here,%20since%20the%20thinly%20sliced%20lamb%20will%20cook%20quickly.%20You%20want%20the%20outside%20to%20sear%20nicely,%20while%20the%20inside%20remains%20tender.%20%20Aim%20for%20medium%20rare%20on%20the%20kebabs,%20since%20they'll%20cook%20a%20bit%20more%20even%20after%20you%20take%20them%20off%20the%20grill.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20there%20are%20two%20of%20you,%20one%20of%20you%20can%20grill%20while%20the%20other%20throws%20together%20a%20delicious%20salad%20--%20romaine%20lettuce,%20some%20of%20those%20chopped%20cucumbers%20and%20marinated%20red%20onions,%20a%20few%20kalamata%20olives,%20and%20a%20bit%20of%20red%20wine%20vinaigrette%20with%20plenty%20of%20garlic%20and%20oregano.%20Top%20everything%20off%20with%20a%20few%20crumbles%20of%20feta%20cheese,%20just%20for%20good%20measure.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhen%20the%20lamb%20is%20cooked%20and%20the%20salad%20is%20assembled,%20you%20can%20start%20putting%20together%20your%20gyros.%20%20Peef%20likes%20his%20loaded%20up%20with%20lamb,%20cucumbers,%20onions,%20tzatziki,%20and%20feta%20cheese...%20but%20you%20can%20make%20yours%20however%20you%20like.%20%20Any%20way%20you%20look%20at%20it,%20your%20sandwich%20will%20rival%20anything%20you%20can%20get%20at%20that%20greasy%20little%20gyro%20joint...%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E..%20and%20no%20matter%20how%20you%20load%20up%20your%20sammich,%20you're%20bound%20to%20be%20saving%20some%20serious%20fast-food%20calories%20at%20the%20same%20time.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAnd%20who%20can%20really%20argue%20with%20that?%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A9BURP!%20Where%20Food%20Happens%3C/p%3E){kind=link}