Well there’s lamb in them, which seems very Easter like to me, so I am going to go with it. YES!! I mean, let’s make Easter dinner a little fun this year, right? Bring on the lamb gyros filled to the brim with fries, feta and harrisa Tzatziki! Oh, oh or what about an Easter picnic full of gyros. Oh my gosh, or an Easter gyro bar. HECK YES! How awesome would a gyro bar be? You could do one at a giant table filled with different meats, toppings… and of course fries. You simply cannot do a REAL Greek inspired gyro without fries. I tried that one time and was pretty disappointed (I think the boys were even more disappointed) when I realized that Gyros in Greece are usually served with fries, yet mine had none. Note to self – foods topped with fries are just better. <–Fact
In all seriousness though, I really am thinking about re-creating these Greek Style Roasted Lamb Gyros for Easter. I think I might be in Florida with my family, so I should have time to cook things that actually are not for the blog (this never happens). The reason I say “I think” I might be in Florida? Well, at this exact time I currently only have a return ticket. Like one ticket, from Florida to Colorado. Why I have only purchased the return is beyond me. Who in their right mind buys the return ticket first?!? I would SO much rather have the ticket there…and no return. Vacation forever please, please, please and in a sunny warm climate?!? Oh yes, this sounds perfect. But of course I have the return ticket. LAME. In all honesty, the return was a good deal that I didn’t want to miss out on, but I am SO hoping the ticket there goes down in price in the morning! Well at least if I have the return that means I am totally buying the ticket there. Totalllyyy. I need some eighty degree heat and sunshine in a bad way. Have I mentioned Florida may be my very favorite place? Granted, I have never been to Hawaii or Mexico, but until I make it to those places and can compare, Florida it is!
I have not been on vacation with my family in years and I haven’t been to Florida for Easter since I was in middle school, so I am pretty excited to chill by the pool and get to hang with my grandma and little Asher (and actually give her my full attention for once!). Plus, Asher is demanding that we spend lots of time shopping (shopping and shopping), playing by the pool, heading out in a boat and then having a spa day. No joke, those where her exact words. Spa day? I mean, whoa. Sometimes, she scares me a bit, but I gotta say, her plans sounds pretty awesome to me. I don’t even think she remembers what Florida is like since she hasn’t been there since she was little (only mountain trips for her), but she sure seems to have a pretty good grasp on what she thinks it will be like! Smart little six-year old.
Anyway, the point is, I think I will be making this lamb for Easter. My grandma asked me to come up with some side dishes for Easter, but I don’t know, Gyros would still be ok as a side, right? Whatever, the more food the merrier I say!! And surprisingly these are really pretty simple to make. You’re basically just roasting the lamb, which prior to this lamb I had never done before. Don’t worry, if you have never made lamb, it’s easy. Like easier than a chicken…hello no nasty insides and stuff to deal with. SCORE.
So you are roasting some lamb, mixing up a yogurt sauce, frying some fries (they really HAVE to be fried to get the full Greek effect – DO IT) and throwing it all in pita (homemade if you can, it’s so worth it!). Add some feta cheese, veggies and maybe some pickled red onions if you’re into them. Done. Ok, so it sounds like a lot, but it’s not, and none of it is hard. You can do this. You need to do this. Let’s do this!
Wait though! I have to tell you a little about the Tzatziki though. It’s just like the Tzatiki that we all love, but with a little added kick from the Harissa. I got the idea to add Harissa from this Souvla in San Francisco, CA. They have a Harissa yogurt and I thought it sounded awesome, so I did my own thing and made a version of Harissa Tzatziki for these gyros… and guys, it’s a killer sauce!
Please try it and then proceed to use any leftovers for dipping with warm pitas. In fact make extra pitas just so you can do this for snacking the next day.
You can thank me later.
Oh but those fries. Fries were meant for stuffing in Gyros. NO JOKE.
