September 1st is National Gyro Day. Perhaps the first things you need to know about Gyros is how to pronounce the classic Greek food correctly. In Greece, this classic dish of meat roasted on a vertical spit and turned in front with a source of heat (usually an electric broiler) is pronounced “YEE-ro,” not JI-ro, GEE-ro or GUY-ro.
The meats chosen to be roasted for Gyros are usually Lamb, but Beef and Chicken are both perfectly acceptable. (If the meat is not fatty enough, strips of fat are added so that the roasting meat remains always moist and crisp.) The rate of roasting can be adjusted by varying the strength of the heat and the distance between the heat and the meat, allowing the cook to adjust to varying rates of consumption. The outside of the meat is sliced vertically in thin, crisp shavings when done.
And today, with Vegans and Vegetarians popping up all over the globe, you can now get gyros made with mushrooms, chickpeas, tempe or cauliflower replacing the meat, and even the tzatziki sauce can be made from tofu or hemp instead of yogurt. Once the roasted meat (or veggie) is shaved off the spit, it’s typically served as a sandwich with tomatoes, onions, sometimes feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce (or similar) wrapped in Pita bread.
On Gyro Day, some places may hold giveaways, raffles or draws for customers to receive free gyros for a month or a year. Others may offer reduced prices, or even buy one, get one free deals. So today, on National Gyro Day, treat yourself to a gyro for lunch or dinner! Heck, because it’s Gyro Day, you could even have one for breakfast as well, if you wanted!
#GyroDay #NationalGyroDay
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