Cucumber Sauce

[logan82]

Has anybody ever made their own cucumber sauce or gyro meat? I have a craving for some Gyros and will probably get some one way or another this weekend, but the closest place that makes decent ones is on State Street in Madison and that isn't very convenient(it's the only place I know of in Madison though). I think I know a place where I can score some gyro meat and am going to give it a try. Pita bread is easy to find as well.

[JoeHova]

It's really easy to make, just google some recipes for "tzatziki". It only requires 5 ingredients: yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil & garlic. Some recipes call for an additional couple ingredients (and a couple substitute vinegar for lemon juice), but those are the basics.

[lodiness]

If you use the yogurt, be sure to get Greek Yogurt if you can find it, it has a little different flavor than regular yogurt. I make mine with Cucumber (remember to take out the seeds), Greek Yogurt, a little bit of sour cream, garlic, salt, white pepper, and a little bit of tumeric. That's how I used to make it when I worked in restraunts.

[burniebrewer]

If you're not picky, you can buy gyro meat and tzatziki in the frozen section at the grocery store.

 

Logan, there's also (this is gonna sound weird) a Shell gas station out on Hwy. M near Westport that has a gyro stand run by the former manager of Parthenon's.

 

I've read many great reviews about their gyros.

 

http://www.tradergus.com/

[logan82]

We tried some gyro meat from a grocery store in Madison, but my wife thought the meat had to many bread crumbs in it. Thanks for the tips guys.

[MJLiverock]

burniebrewer is right, the Shell station on M and 113, near Skipper Buds has good gyros. Atlantis Taverna in Sun Prairie has good greek food as well if you are on the far east side.

 

As others have said, remove the seeds from the cucumbers. If you can't find greek yogurt use regular plain yogurt but lay it in a paper towel lined collander for a half hour or so to drain off some of the water. The yogurt can be sort of rolled off the paper towel fairly easily and the texture is much firmer this way.

[Baldkin]

This thread has me thinking...

 

Anyone ever tried to do Gyros on the grill?

[logan82]

No, but I think I will at some point. I am going to attempt to make gyro meat and the grill would be the next step after that.

[Fatter than Joey]

Isnt there a Parthenon guy on this board?

[Worm8181]

I miss Nyko's

[lodiness]

Nyko's was the best, especially at bar time.

[logan82]

They have a place that is just as good called Gyro Kabob(or maybe Gorilla Gyros). It is just across the street from Kelly's(or was when I was up there in March).

[homer]

Oakland Gyros is the best ever.

[rluzinski]

Oakland Gyros is the best ever.

Agreed. It's all about the meat, IMO. If it's not freshly shaved from the spit, it has a good chance of being dried out. Yuck.

[Gobias Industries]

I had Nyko's yesterday for lunch, and the meat was very dry.

 

Maybe it always is, as it's the first time I've ever eaten a Gyro there while sober.

[logan82]

The outside meat tends to get dry if it sits long. That is why it is usually good at bar time. The outside dry meat is cut off unless you are first in line.

[logan82]

I finally got around to making gyros. I bought gyro meat at Johnsons Sausage Shoppe in Rio. We thought the meat was pretty good. I used this recipe for the tzatziki sauce. I quartered the recipe.

• 2 English cucumbers
• 2 (16 ounce) containers sour cream
• 1 (16 ounce) container Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1. Peel cucumbers and grate into a colander. Squeeze out excess water.
2. Mix together sour cream, yogurt, garlic, and olive oil in a large bowl. Stir in cucumbers. Chill at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving.