National Gyro Day: How To Celebrate Like a Pro

National Gyro Day happens every year on September 1st in USA and other places where Gyros are famous. So mark your food calendars.

Gyro is a Greek sandwich. Picture roasted meat layered with a creamy tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, onions in a soft pita bread.

National Gyro Day provides us a chance to learn more about the history of Gyros and how to make them.

So lets dive right into one of the delicious National Food Days.

History of National Gyro Day

Lets explore how National Gyro Day began and who is behind this delicious day.

Creation and background of National Gyro Day

National Gyro Day began with social media around 2015. A bunch of gyro lovers and enthusiast began sharing recipes and versions of the dish.

They would share it each year on September 1st. Moreover, YouTubers began to show how to make gyros and review different places that serve gyro.

This trend has carried forward over the years till date.

Founding organization or individuals

There are no recognized organizations behind National Gyro Day. However, some credit Chicago companies that brought gyros to USA in 1970’s.

They were Grecian Delight, Kronos Foods and Olympia Gyros. Those organizations popularized gyros in USA by sending them to restaurants and food trucks across the country.

Gyros became accessible and were also affordable. Till date many people still like Chicago-style beef and lamb gyros while others prefer pork and chicken.

Origins of the Gyro

It would not be National Gyro Day without learning the origins of gyro in its birth place. So lets take a trip into ancient Greece and learn the origins of gyro.

Greek influence

Gyro in Greek translates to “turn” or “rotate”. In the book “Greek Cooking for the Gods” the authors states that cooking meat on a spinning spit began in ancient Greece.

Meat cooked in this way stayed tender and juice. It was the usual way back then to cook meat for parties or celebration, where people would require a lot of meat.

In ancient Greece there was a practice called “Ovelias.” It involved roasting whole animals such as lamb. This was performed during religious festivals or communal feats.

The animals being roasted were offerings made to the gods. This culinary tradition and religious ceremony would continue throughout different periods of Greek history.

Turkish influence

While the gyro carried Greek roots, it also has been influenced by Turkish cuisine. The Ottoman Empire had a strong presence in the region. This has contributed to culinary and cultural exchange between Greece and Turkey.

This exchange had an influence on the evolution of the Gyro. The book entitled The Sultan’s Kitchen: A Turkish Cookbook discusses how the döner kebab played a role in the gyro’s evolution.

The döner kebab has a similar cooking technique as “Ovelias”. Moreover, the Ottoman Empire contributed to different marination and flavors for the meat.

Regional variations and adaptations

Over time the gyro has changed and there are now different versions and changes. In Greece, pork gyros are more common than lamb or beef. It is very common in Athens.

In Cyprus and some parts of Turkey, the gyro has different meats and spices, it is adapted to the local preferences.

The influences from those nearby countries have made gyro in different styles, flavors and looks.

How to Celebrate National Gyro Day

Discover some ideas to celebrate National Gyro Day on the 1st of September.

Hosting a Gyro-themed event or party

One of the best way to celebrate this delicious day is to host a Gyro-themed event or party with your friends, family, or colleagues.

You can serve your guests to a gyro feast with different kinds of meat: pork, chicken, beef, lamb, or vegetarian. Moreover, you can experiment with different toppings and sauces.

Some ideas would be tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, tzatziki, hummus, fries, onion rings, and salad.

Additionally, its a great time to immerse yourself in Greek culture. Learn about the music, decorate your party with colors such as white and blue. Finally, get yourself some traditional Greek costumes or try to wear a toga.

Visiting local Greek or Mediterranean restaurants

Another way to celebrate National Gyro Day is to visit a local Greek restaurant. Get yourself a yummy gyro prepared by professionals.

This helps to support local businesses while enjoying delicious flavors at the same time. Moreover, it’s a good opportunity to try other Greek and Mediterranean dishes. For example, you might to try souvlaki, spanakopita, baklava and so much more.

Finally, another benefit by visiting local Greek restaurant is to learn more about the history and culture of Greece and the gyro from locals.

Celebrate National Gyro Day with homemade recipes

If you prefer to make your own Gyros at home, you can also celebrate National Gyro Day by trying some homemade Gyro recipes.

You can find many simple and easy recipes online or in cookbooks that will guide you through the process of making your own Gyro meat, pita bread, and sauces.

Additionally, you can also customize your Gyros according to your preferences and dietary needs.

Finally, you can use different kinds of meat or vegetables, add more or less spices, and experiment with different combinations of ingredients.

Gyro recipes to try for National Gyro Day

Please remember that the amounts are not exact, and you can change them to suit your taste.

Original Recipe: Traditional Gyro

Tzatziki Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cucumber, grated and squeezed to get rid of extra water
2 cloves garlic, chopped small 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (if you like)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, chopped garlic, lemon juice, and fresh dill. Mix well.

Add salt and pepper to suit your taste.

Put the tzatziki sauce in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors come together.

Mix well before serving with the Gyro.

Variation: Chicken Gyro

If you like chicken more, here’s a tasty version of the Gyro using chicken.

Ingredients

1.5 pounds (700g) boneless chicken thighs

cut thin 4-6 pita bread rounds

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cloves garlic chopped small

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper to taste

Sliced tomatoes

Sliced onions

Chopped fresh parsley (to make it look nice)

Instructions

Do steps 1-4 from the original recipe to make the marinade and marinate the chicken thighs.

Turn on your grill or pan over medium-high heat. If using a grill, make sure it’s hot and has a little oil.

Take out the marinated chicken from the fridge and put it on metal skewers or right on the grill or pan. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is done and has nice grill marks.

When done, move the chicken to a cutting board and let it sit for a few minutes. Cut the chicken into thin strips.

Heat the pita bread rounds on the grill or in a pan for a few seconds on each side until they are a little toasted and soft.

To make the Chicken Gyro, put some tzatziki sauce on each pita bread round. Put a lot of the sliced chicken on top, then add sliced tomatoes, onions, and some fresh parsley.

Fold the pita bread in half, holding the filling inside, and serve right away.

Enjoy your homemade Chicken Gyro!

Health Benefits of Gyro: Awareness for National Gyro Day

Lets explore the nutrition of gyro ingredients and the possible health benefits of having gyros sometimes.

Nutritional value of Gyro ingredients

Meat: The meat for gyro is usually lamb or beef, which contain protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Proteins is beneficial for muscles, tissues, and organs.

Iron helps carry oxygen in the blood. Zinc aids the immune system and healing wounds. Vitamin B12 is good for making red blood cells and maintaining nerve function.

However, lamb and beef contain a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can make the risk of heart disease and stroke higher if you have too much.

A 3-ounce piece of cooked lamb or beef has about 200 calories, 23 grams of protein, 13 grams of fat (5 grams of saturated fat), and 75 milligrams of cholesterol .

Pita bread: Pita bread is a flatbread. It is made from wheat flour, water, yeast, salt, and sometimes oil.

Pita bread has carbohydrates, which provides energy for the body. It also contains some fiber, which helps with digestion and blood sugar. But, pita bread is made from refined grains, this means it has lost some of its nutrients and fiber when it was made.

A 6-inch pita bread has about 170 calories, 6 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat (0 grams of saturated fat), 35 grams of carbohydrates (1 gram of fiber), and 320 milligrams of sodium .

Tzatziki sauce: Tzatziki sauce is a cold and creamy sauce. Its made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and different spices. Yogurt contains calcium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, and probiotics.

Calcium and phosphorus promote bone health. Potassium aids in the control blood pressure and fluid balance. Moreover, protein helps muscle growth and maintenance. Probiotics are good bacteria that help gut health and immunity. Cucumber adds some water, vitamin C, and antioxidants to the sauce.

On the other hand, garlic adds taste. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial things. Herbs like dill, mint, or parsley add more taste and antioxidants too.

A 1/4 cup of tzatziki sauce has about 35 calories, 2 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat (1 gram of saturated fat), 3 grams of carbohydrates (0 grams of fiber), and 105 milligrams of sodium.

While the gyro’s ingredients have some health benefits, it is also important to exercise moderation.

Key Takeaways

September 1st is National Gyro Day in the USA and other places where gyros are popular.

A gyro is a heavenly combination of roasted meat, creamy tzatziki sauce, fresh tomatoes, and onions in a soft pita bread. You can find it in many Greek or Mediterranean restaurants. Or you can make your own at home with some simple ingredients and a grill or oven.

National Gyro Day is a fun way to learn more about the history and culture of gyros and how to make them. It started as a social media trend around 2015. Gyro lovers shared their favorite recipes and places to eat gyros. They also showed their appreciation for this amazing dish.

The gyro has a long and rich history that goes back to ancient Greece. People cooked meat on a rotating spit for special occasions and religious festivals. The word “gyro” means “turn” in Greek. It refers to the way the meat is cooked.

The gyro also has some Turkish influences, especially from the döner kebab. It’s a similar dish that was popular in the Ottoman Empire. The two cuisines have shared many recipes and techniques over the centuries. They created diverse and tasty dishes.

You might find different types of gyros depending on where you go. For example, in Athens, Greece, pork gyros are more common. In Cyprus and some parts of Turkey, you might find chicken or lamb gyros with different spices and sauces.

There are many ways to celebrate National Gyro Day if you want to join the fun. You can host a gyro party with your friends or family. You can make your own gyros or order from your favorite restaurant. You can also visit a local Greek or Mediterranean festival or event.

References

Zane, E. (1985). Greek cooking for the gods. 101 Productions.

Ozan, Ö. (2001). The sultan’s kitchen: A Turkish cookbook. Periplus Editions.

America’s Test Kitchen. (2016). The complete Mediterranean cookbook. America’s Test Kitchen.

Loi, M. (2016). The Greek cookbook: Easy traditional Greek recipes. Rizzoli.

FoodData Central. (2021). Feta cheese. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171417/nutrients

FoodData Central. (2021). Cucumber, peeled, raw. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170150/nutrients

FoodData Central. (2021). Garlic, raw. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168917/nutrients

MyFitnessPal. (n.d.). Tzatziki sauce 1/4 cup (113g). https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/tzatziki-sauce-1-4-cup-113g-109848539

Link, R. (2018, July 5). How much protein do you need per day? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-per-day

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, November 14). Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983

Gunnars, K. (2018, August 28). 7 impressive health benefits of yogurt. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-yogurt-benefits

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