The Authentic Greek Gyro - “a Greek Grill Party” Recipe

Directions:

1. The morning before an afternoon or evening BBQ, make marinade by combining oil, lemon juice, garlic cloves, herbs & pepper in a med bowl. Set aside about 1/4 cup of the marinade to mix w/the onions. Place cubed lamb in bowl w/remaining marinade & toss to coat well. Refrigerate lamb & marinade reserved for onions.
2. The morning of the BBQ, place onions in small bowl & toss w/reserved marinade. Cover w/plastic wrap, refrigerate several hrs & stir to mix well several times.
3. Make yoghurt sauce by lining a med bowl w/cheesecloth & spooning in the yoghurt. Tie up edges of cheesecloth w/string to form a pouch. Suspend over a bowl or place in a colander over a bowl & let stand to drain several hours. Moisture will drip from the yoghurt & give it a thick consistency. (Eliminate this step if able to get real thick Greek yoghurt.).
4. Mix yoghurt w/minced garlic, herbs, lemon juice, oil, salt & pepper. Cover & chill.
5. When ready to BBQ, stack pita bread in 2 piles of 6 & wrap each pile in foil (dull side out).
6. Heat coals or gas grill. Remove meat from marinade & reserve marinade for basting. (Discard any large garlic pieces.) Thread lamb onto greased skewers & grill over greased grill about 4 in from hot coals. Cook (turning & basting often) about 10 min or till lamb is brown on the outside, but still pink inside.
7. Warm pita rounds over barbecue.
8. Before serving, lift onions from the marinade w/a slotted spoon & place in a serving bowl. Cut whole tomatoes into thin wedges & place on a serving plate w/the lettuce leaves. Set out yoghurt sauce & lots of napkins (You'll need them!).
9. To serve, cut each warmed pita round in half & separate to form 2 pockets. Each person fills a warmed pita picket with some of the grilled lamb cubes, lettuce, tomatoes & onions, then tops with a spoonful of the sauce.