Description
Greek chicken gyros bring Mediterranean flavors to your kitchen with succulent marinated meat and classic tzatziki sauce. Home cooks can easily recreate this street-style sandwich, enjoying crisp vegetables and tender chicken wrapped in warm pita bread.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.32 lbs (600 g) boneless chicken thighs
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2.5 tbsps dried rosemary
- 2.5 tbsps whole coriander seeds
- 2.5 tbsps red chili flakes
- 2 tbsps paprika
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 2 tbsps finely chopped garlic
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ large onion
- 1 bamboo skewer
- Coarse sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Tenderize chicken thighs to uniform thickness using a meat mallet within a protective plastic bag, creating an even surface for optimal marination and cooking.
- Spice Blend: Grind paprika, coriander seeds, peppercorns, dried rosemary, chili flakes, and kosher salt into a semi-coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, releasing their aromatic essences.
- Marinade Creation: Integrate minced garlic with the spice blend, whisking in extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice to craft a vibrant, flavor-packed marinade that will infuse the chicken with traditional Greek flavors.
- Marinating Process: Massage the marinade thoroughly into each chicken thigh, ensuring complete coverage, then wrap securely and refrigerate for 2-8 hours to allow deep flavor penetration.
- Roasting Setup: Create a vertical roasting structure by inserting a sturdy bamboo skewer through a halved onion, then carefully thread marinated chicken thighs onto the skewer in a vertical arrangement for authentic rotisserie-style cooking.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), positioning the chicken skewer on a rimmed baking tray to ensure proper heat circulation and even cooking.
- Cooking and Monitoring: Roast the chicken for 55-65 minutes, carefully tracking the internal temperature until it reaches 165°F (74°C) with a meat thermometer, guaranteeing both safety and optimal tenderness.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the roasted chicken to rest for 15-20 minutes, permitting juice redistribution, then slice thinly and present alongside cool tzatziki sauce for an authentic Greek culinary experience.
Notes
- Tenderizing Technique: Use a meat mallet inside a plastic bag to prevent messy splatters and ensure uniform chicken thickness for even cooking.
- Spice Grinding Tip: Crush whole spices with a mortar and pestle to release maximum flavor and create a more authentic, aromatic marinade.
- Marinating Magic: Allow chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to deeply infuse the meat with rich, complex Greek flavors.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring perfectly cooked and juicy meat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 415
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg