Gyros Smash Tacos

🧾 Ingredients

For the meat:

• 500g ground beef, lamb, or a mix
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt & black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tbsp olive oil

For the tacos:

• 6–8 small flour tortillas
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 tomato (diced)
• ½ red onion (thinly sliced)

For tzatziki sauce:

• 1 cup thick yogurt (Greek yogurt preferred)
• ½ cucumber (grated and squeezed dry)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt (to taste)
• Optional: fresh dill or mint

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare tzatziki
   Mix yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Chill in the fridge.
2. Season the meat
   Combine ground meat with garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Smash onto tortillas
   • Take a small ball of meat and press it thinly onto one side of each tortilla.
   • Make sure it covers evenly to the edges.
4. Cook (smash taco style)
   • Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
   • Place the tortilla meat-side down.
   • Press gently and cook for 3–4 minutes until browned and crispy.
   • Flip and cook the tortilla side for 1–2 minutes until golden.
5. Assemble
   • Remove from pan.
   • Add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a generous spoon of tzatziki.
6. Serve hot
   Fold and enjoy immediately while crispy.

💡 Tips

• Use high heat for that signature crispy crust on the meat.
• Don’t overwork the meat—it should stay tender, not dense.
• Drain cucumber well for thick, non-watery tzatziki.
• Try pita-style: Use mini flatbreads instead of tortillas for a more authentic feel.
• Add extras: Crumbled feta, olives, or a splash of hot sauce elevate it further.
• Lean vs fatty meat: A bit of fat (like lamb or 80/20 beef) gives the best flavor and crisp edges.