Greek Hero Recipes

GREEK HERO

Steps:

• For hummus, in a food processor, combine the lemon juice, oil and beans; cover and process until smooth. Stir in the garlic, oregano, salt and pepper., Slice bread in half horizontally. Carefully hollow out bottom half, leaving a 1/2-in. shell. Spread hummus into shell. Layer with the red peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, olives, cheese and lettuce. Replace bread top. Cut into four portions.

TRADITIONAL GYRO MEAT

Steps:

• Place the onion in a food processor, and process until finely chopped. Scoop the onions onto the center of a towel, gather up the ends of the towel, and squeeze out the liquid from the onions. Place the onions into a mixing bowl along with the lamb and beef. Season with the garlic, oregano, cumin, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and salt. Mix well with your hands until well combined. Cover, and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place the meat mixture into the food processor, and pulse for about a minute until finely chopped and the mixture feels tacky. Pack the meat mixture into a 7x4 inch loaf pan, making sure there are no air pockets. Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place the loaf pan on the towel, inside the roasting pan, and place into the preheated oven. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the loaf pan.
• Bake until the gyro meat is no longer pink in the center, and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) on a meat thermometer, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Pour off any accumulated fat, and allow to cool slightly before slicing thinly and serving.

GREEK MEATBALL HERO

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix the breadcrumbs with the milk in a small bowl and rest for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumb mixture, the beef, feta, Parmesan, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and eggs. Portion the meatballs into 3-ounce balls (16 meatballs total), then roll in your hands and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the meatballs start to brown, 15 minutes.
• For the hero: Place the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and parsley in a bowl. Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice into the bowl and gently toss the vegetables to coat. Season the salad with salt and set aside.
• Split the hero rolls lengthwise three-quarters of the way through (one end should still be connected). Toast the inside of the rolls on a hot griddle. Place the cooked meatballs on the griddle to crisp the outside and heat through. Place 4 meatballs in a toasted hero roll, then dollop 2 ounces of the tzatziki over the top, and finish with some of the salad. Repeat for the remaining hero rolls, then serve.