Greek Grilled Leg of Lamb: Gyros, Greek Salad

Greek Grilled Leg of Lamb: Gyros Total Time: 1 hr 52 min Prep: 20 min Inactive: 2 min Cook: 1 hr 30 min Yield:16 servings Level:Easy Ingredients 1 (4 to 5-pound) boneless leg of lamb, trimmed of visible fat 5 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into 20 slivers 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Essence, recipe follows 16 pita breads Tzatziki Sauce, recipe follows Chopped tomatoes Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning): 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons salt 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano 1 tablespoon dried thyme Tzatziki Sauce: 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped 1 cup plain yogurt 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white wine vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon oregano Directions With a sharp knife, make 20 slits across 1 side of the lamb and insert the garlic slivers. Place in a large non-reactive dish. In a bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the lamb and rub evenly across the surface. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 2 and up to 6 hours, turning occasionally. Remove from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Season lightly on all sides with Essence. Brush a grill lightly with olive oil and preheat to medium heat. Remove the lamb from the marinade and place on the grill. Cook, turning occasionally until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the grill and transfer to a platter. Tent with foil and let rest for 12 minutes before carving. Thinly slice the lamb and place the meat in the center of the pita breads. Top with Tzatziki Sauce and chopped tomatoes, and serve. Essence Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container. Yield: about 2/3 cup Tzatziki Sauce: In a medium bowl combine all the ingredients and chill for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.

Ingredients 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 red bell pepper, large-diced 1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 1/2 red onion, sliced in half-rounds 1/2 pound feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled) 1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted For the vinaigrette: 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup good red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup good olive oil Judi Singleton is a free lance writer who writes 20+ blogs a week. You can advertise in her blogs for only $5. per week per blog