A Gyro is a pita wrap made with meat (chicken, lamb, beef, or pork), vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions) and sauce (tzatziki, hummus).
In Greece, they actually place French fries inside of their gyros which gives the pita a full flavoring of salt and potatoes.
What is Tzatziki Sauce made of
Tzatziki Sauce is made of strained plain yogurt, cucumber, garlic, salt, olive oil and herbs, such as mint or dill. The tzatziki sauce base of plain yogurt is strained by using a cheese cloth.
What is a cheese cloth
A cheese cloth is a crisscross light fabric that is use to strain liquid out of food. The liquid is able to pass through the small holes in the cheese cloth, leaving the food in the cheese cloth. Typically a bowl is place underneath the cheesecloth to gather the liquid that falls through.
Where to buy cheese cloth
You can find cheese cloth in your local grocery store.
You can try near the salmon (tartar sauce), baking aisle, or cooking utensils to find the cheese cloth. It’s not generally in any specific aisle, so it’s best to ask your grocery store clerk where you can find it.
You will get a large amount of cheese cloth that will be folded up in a plastic packaging.
Can you reuse cheese cloth
You can reuse cheesecloth by washing it with hot water and baking soda. However, there is still a risk of leftover food in the cheese cloth. It is recommended to use a fresh piece of cheese cloth for each time you use it.
How to Make Tzatziki Sauce for Gyros
Equipment
- cheese cloth
- strainer or sifter
Materials
- 2 cups plain yogurt 5% fat (high fat content)
- 1/2 cup cucumber grated
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tbsp mint fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Take your cheese cloth and fold a few times to have it about 4 layers in thickness. You'll need the size of the folded cheese cloth to be about 12"x12".
- Place the cheese cloth centered in your strainer or sifter. Add yogurt to the cheese cloth. Tie the cheese cloth with an elastic band to have the yogurt fully enclose. Place a small bowl underneath the sifter or strainer to catch the drippings. Place the straining yogurt in the fridge for 2 hours.
- Remove the yogurt from the fridge and place in a small bowl.
- Using your cheese cloth, place the cucumber inside. Squeeze the water out of the cucumber. Place your cucumber in the bowl with the yogurt.
- Add olive oil, mint, dill, garlic, salt, and vinegar to the yogurt bowl. Mix well until fully combined.
- Taste test your tzatziki sauce, you might need more garlic, mint or dill to finish off the tzatziki sauce to your liking.
- Store the tzatziki sauce in the fridge for up to 3 days.
