Greek Style Lamb Pita Sandwiches Recipe

SERVES 4

The traditional method of cooking the meat for a restaurant-style Greek Style Lamb Pita Sandwich employs an electric vertical rotisserie, on which layers of marinated leg of lamb are stacked. After cooking for hours, the meat is shaved with a long slicing knife, revealing pieces with crisp crusts and moist interiors infused with herbs and garlic.

Since most home cooks don’t have access to a rotisserie, here is a lGreek Style Lamb Pita Sandwich recipe that provides the same flavors and textures in a simple patty.

Start with ground lamb. Using onion and pita bread, as well as add-ins including oregano and garlic, create a panade to mix with the lamb to ensure that each patty was moist and juicy. Sear the patties in our hot cast-iron skillet to develop a flavorful crust on both sides. To accompany the lamb, make a quick cucumber-yogurt sauce with rich Greek yogurt, cooling cucumber, tangy lemon juice, bold garlic, and bright fresh herbs.

Greek Style Lamb Pita Sandwiches Recipe Process

Combine yogurt, cucumber, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon garlic, mint, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in bowl; set aside.

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top quarter off each piece of pita bread. Tear 1 top quarter into 1-inch pieces and discard remaining 3 top quarters. (You should have about 1/4 cup pita pieces.) Stack trimmed pitas and wrap tightly in aluminum foil; set aside.

Process pita pieces, onion, oregano, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and remaining garlic in food processor to smooth paste, about 20 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed; transfer to large bowl.

Add lamb and gently knead with your hands until uniformly combined. Divide lamb mixture into 12 lightly packed balls, then flatten into .-inch-thick patties.

Heat 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add oil and heat until just smoking. Cook patties, without moving them, until well browned on first side, about 5 minutes. Flip patties and continue to cook until well browned on second side, about 5 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, place foil-wrapped pitas directly on oven rack and heat for 10 minutes. Divide patties, tomato, lettuce, and feta evenly among pitas and serve with sauce.

Greek Style Lamb Pita Sandwiches Recipe Ingredients

3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and chopped fine
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh mint or dill
Salt and pepper
4 (8-inch) pita breads
1/2 onion, chopped coarse
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound ground lamb1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 large tomatoJ sliced thin
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 ounces feta cheeseJ crumbled (1/2 cup)