Many people enjoy Greek cuisine, one of the most popular examples of a Greek sandwich is the gryo. And perhaps, you are fans of the delicious flavors of Mediterranean fare. They are fun, delicious and can be easy to make at home. They are a popular dish to serve at casual parties.

What is a gryo or gyro?

When a gryo is made in the traditional Greek way, it is a sandwich made with a large piece of meat (usually lamb) that is roasted on a vertical spit. When the meat is cooked, it is shaved off into individual portions and then placed on a pita with tzatziki sauce and tomato, lettuce, and onions. Since most of us don’t have a vertical spit at home, it can be difficult to make a gryo exactly as they are made in Greek restaurants.

However, when ground lamb or beef is substituted for the traditional gryo meat, it can be an easy and delicious recipe to prepare at home.

Tips & Tricks for Gryo Recipe

*Tzatziki sauce can usually be found in grocery stores, or you can make your own tzatziki with plain Greek yogurt, sour cream, cucumber and fresh dill. Tzatziki sauce has a cool, refreshing taste which helps to allay the heat of the spices in the meat patties. Although these gryos can be made in a grill pan or a skillet, a charcoal or gas grill can add a smokier flavor.

Gryos can be messy to eat. Wrap each gryo in aluminum foil or parchment paper before serving in order to protect clothing. When selecting the meat for the gryo, avoid extra lean varieties. An extra lean ground meat will result in dry gryos. The cooked meat for gryos can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days before serving, or frozen in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Nutrition Information of Gryo Recipe

The average calorie count for a traditional gryo sandwich is 158 calories. It contains 11.3 gm protein, 3.1 gm fat, and 19 gm carbohydrates. Any variation to the recipe will change the calorie and nutritional information.

Variations on the Gryos

Since gryos are a Greek recipe, olive oil is the preferred oil for the recipe. However, any oil can be used to prepare gryos.

You can also substitute ground pork, chicken or turkey for beef or lamb. However, both chicken and turkey result in a milder taste. Some recipes add rosemary, thyme, and marjoram to the spice mix. You can select these spices or experiment with your own favorite spice mix. If you can find

Greek oregano instead of traditional oregano, this will add to the authenticity of the gryo taste.

You can make a spicier version by including hot sauce in the meat mixture and including roasted red peppers instead of tomatoes.

Gryos are sometimes confused with wraps, because they have a similar appearance. In addition to flatbreads and pitas, gryos can be made with wraps or tortillas However the term “gryos” is reserved for sandwiches with a Greek spice mix; while wraps can be made with any type of filling and any type of ethnic spice mix.

Although tzatziki sauce is essential for a traditional gryo, it can also be found in other sandwiches. While there is no such thing as an official “tzatziki sandwich”, it tzatziki can be added to other sandwiches, including:

1.   Falafel sandwich
2.   Chicken Tzatziki sandwich
3.   Cucumber Sandwiches
4.   Avocado and Feta salad sandwich

Tzatziki is also a popular dip for vegetables and is often placed on plates of crudites next to hummus. You can also place pita chips or pretzels out with tzatziki.

As with any popular recipe, there are many variations for gryos

     1. Sausage gryo

Instead of patties, a sausage placed inside a pita or flatbread with traditional vegetables is becoming a popular choice. Any type of sausage can be good, but if you want to keep your flavors Greek, you should choose Greek sausage – also called loukaniko. Loukaniko usually includes coriander, fennel, oregano and pepper.

2. Substitute hummus for tzatziki

This produces a different flavor profile, which is not as spicy.

     3. Fried eggplant gryo

A vegetarian option for gryos; substitute eggplant for the meat and use the same spices.

4. Greek salad gryos

Omit the pita or flatbread and place all the ingredients on a bed of lettuce. Add feta cheese to the salad for an extra piquant kick.

5. Fried fish gryo

This is a great variation, and it is also a good choice for Fridays in Lent.

      6.Gryo Kebabs

This variation also involves removing the pita or flatbread, but places pieces of the meat patty and the vegetables on the kebab.

Conclusion

Gryos are a delicious Greek sandwich which can be adapted to a home recipe by using ground meat. These sandwiches are a delicious choice for lunch or dinner. They are easy to make, and they are fun to eat.