Gyro Tacos with Tzatziki Sauce

Gyro Tacos??? Yes you heard right… Why not take 2 things I love and just put them together (Gyros + Tacos = perfection!)

I’m always trying to switch things up and try different foods and the result is hopefully healthier and delicious recipes for you and I!

Gyros have always been a guilty pleasure my whole life… it would be such a treat when my parents would pick up a few gyros on the way home from work! So much flavor all wrapped up in a warmed pita… ah just the best combo 🙂

Now as I’ve gotten older I find I need to limit my take out ( as I’m sure a lot of you feel me on this!) but that doesn’t mean I don’t indulge from time to time. But I also find with meals like this that give me the feel of a take out meal and leave me feeling fulfilled, I don’t crave that bad stuff as much.

These gyro tacos are so flavorful and filling, packed with all the seasonings and spices you love from a traditional gyro topped with a creamy and rich tzatziki sauce, load this up with veggies (red onion, tomato, cucumbers… the works) all wrapped up in a corn tortilla or even a  low calorie pita wrap (I’ve found some for 100 calories).

Gyro Tacos Ingredients:

For the Gyro meat:

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 lb. ground lamb
1/2 sweet onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp. majoram
1 1/2 tsp. rosemary
2 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup tomato sauce
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce

cooking spray
loaf pan
corn tortillas or low-calorie pita pockets

For the Tzatziki Sauce: 

1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt
1 cucumber, seeded and finely chopped
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Optional toppings:

red onion
lettuce
cucumber
tomatoes
crumbled feta or goat cheese
olives

Directions:

For the Gyro Meat:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a large mixing bowl add turkey, lamb, chopped onion, majoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano, cumin, garlic, salt, pepper, 1/3 cup tomato sauce, egg, panko, breadcrumbs and olive oil.
3. Using your hand mix together all ingredients, try not to over mix but mix until all ingredients seem evenly incorporated.
4. In a loaf pan spray with cooking spray, take meat and pat into a even log shape to fit the loaf pan.
5. Place meat into pan, spread remaining 1/4 cup tomato sauce over the top evenly.
6. Place into the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. (prep the sauce in the meantime, see below)
7. Remove from oven when fully cooked and let rest for 10 minutes.
8. Slice into 3 oz. slices, cut those in half, lengthwise.
9. One half will go in each taco, so 3oz. of meat for 2 tacos.

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

1. While the meat is cooking you can start to prep the sauce.
2. In a medium sized bowl add greek yogurt, chopped cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
3. Stir all ingredients together until fully combine.
4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutritional Information:

For the Gyro Meat:

Servings: 12
Serving Size: 3 0z. meat (enough for 2 tacos) *

Calories: 192
Fat: 12 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 115 mg (w/o added salt)
Protein: 15 g

* this doesn’t include the tortillas or toppings, just the meat

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

Servings: 8 approx.
Serving Size: 2 tbsp. approx.

Calories: 21
Fat: >1 g
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: >1 g
Sodium: 13 mg (w/o added salt)
Protein: 3 g