Patrick Oconnell
Gyros are a Greek dish that traditionally consists of meat wrapped in a pita with vegetables, sauces, and cheese. The type of cheese used in gyros can vary, but feta cheese is a popular choice due to its tangy and salty flavour, which pairs well with the other ingredients. Other types of cheese that can be used in gyros include Greek melty cheeses like kasseri, or even white cheese or Kesong Puti as a substitute.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Feta |
| Other Names | White Cheese, Kesong Puti, Kasseri |
| Flavour | Tangy, Salty |
| Texture | Melted |
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What You'll Learn
Feta is a common choice
Feta is a Greek brined curd cheese that is made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It has a tangy, salty, and slightly pungent flavour, with a creamy yet crumbly texture. Feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, and wraps. It is a key ingredient in many Greek recipes, including the traditional Greek gyro.
When making a gyro at home, feta cheese can be added to enhance the flavour and provide a salty contrast to the other ingredients. The cheese can be crumbled or cut into small cubes and sprinkled on top of the other fillings, such as tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Feta pairs particularly well with the traditional gyro sauce, tzatziki, which is made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and mint.
In addition to its flavour and texture, feta cheese also has a relatively long shelf life compared to other types of cheese. This makes it a convenient option for adding to gyros, as it can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. For those who prefer a more melted cheese experience in their gyro, feta can be combined with other cheeses that melt more easily, such as kasseri, to create a blend that still has the distinctive flavour of feta but with a creamier texture.
Overall, feta is a popular and traditional choice of cheese for gyros due to its distinctive flavour, texture, and versatility. Its salty and tangy taste complements the other ingredients commonly found in gyros, and it is a key component in creating an authentic Greek culinary experience.
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Greek melt-y cheese like Kasseri
Gyros are a Greek dish that traditionally consists of meat, vegetables, and sauces wrapped in a pita. While the classic Greek gyro typically includes lamb, beef, or chicken, a popular variation is to turn this dish into a grilled cheese sandwich, also known as a gyro melt.
A gyro melt is a massive grilled cheese sandwich that incorporates all the flavours of a traditional gyro. The sandwich includes ingredients such as grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, and tzatziki sauce. The key to a delicious gyro melt is the cheese, and a Greek melt-y cheese like Kasseri is the perfect choice. Kasseri cheese is a semi-hard, pale yellow cheese with a slightly sharp flavour that is commonly used in Greek cuisine. It has a high melting point, which makes it ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches as it melts slowly and evenly, creating a creamy and gooey texture without becoming greasy or oily.
When making a gyro melt, it is important to use a generous amount of cheese to ensure that every bite is packed with flavour. The sandwich is typically prepared by buttering the outside of each slice of bread. Then, a layer of cheese is sprinkled on the inside of one slice, followed by the chicken, and then topped with feta cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, tzatziki sauce, and finally, another layer of cheese. The second slice of bread is placed on top, buttered side up, and the sandwich is grilled until golden brown and the cheese has melted.
For a truly Greek experience, serve your gyro melt with a side of Greek salad or fries. You can also add some sliced roasted red peppers or kalamata olives to your sandwich for an extra burst of Mediterranean flavour.
So, the next time you're craving a taste of Greece, whip up a gyro melt with plenty of Greek melt-y cheese like Kasseri, and transport yourself to the sunny shores of the Aegean Sea with every bite!
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White cheese or Kesong Puti can be used as a substitute
A gyro is a Greek dish that is typically served in a pita bread and stuffed with meat slices, shredded lettuce, tomato slices, red onion slices, feta cheese crumbles, and tzatziki sauce. The cheese used in gyros is typically feta cheese, a Greek melty cheese like Kasseri, or salty, soft cheeses.
When making gyros with Kesong puti, the cheese can be crumbled or grated and mixed with the other ingredients. The soft texture of the cheese will complement the other flavors in the gyro, such as the juicy tomatoes, sweet onions, and garlicky tzatziki.
In addition to its use in gyros, Kesong puti can also be used as a substitute for mozzarella in Caprese salad or as a topping for grilled dishes. Its mild flavor and soft texture make it a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes.
For those who are unable to find or prefer not to use feta cheese in their gyros, White cheese or Kesong Puti is a suitable substitute that can be easily sourced and provides a similar taste and texture.
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Salty, tangy feta complements the meat
Gyros are a Greek dish that typically consists of meat, vegetables, and sauces wrapped in a pita. While the traditional gyro does not include cheese, some variations include salty, tangy feta crumbles, which complement the meat and other toppings.
Feta is a Greek brined curd cheese with a salty and tangy flavour. It is made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, or sometimes cow milk, and aged in a brine solution for several months. This process gives the cheese its distinctive sharp flavour and crumbly texture.
In a gyro, the feta crumbles add a salty and tangy contrast to the other ingredients. Gyros typically include meat, such as lamb, beef, or chicken, which can be roasted or grilled. The meat is often seasoned with garlic, oregano, cumin, and other spices. Adding feta to the gyro enhances the flavour of the meat and provides a creamy texture that melts in the mouth.
The salty, tangy feta also pairs well with the other toppings commonly found in gyros. These toppings can include crisp onions, juicy tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and cucumber. The feta adds a savoury note that complements the freshness of the vegetables.
In addition to the meat and vegetables, gyros are often served with a creamy sauce called tzatziki. Tzatziki is made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, mint, and spices. The salty, tangy feta enhances the flavour of the tzatziki, creating a harmonious blend of flavours in each bite.
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Feta crumbles add texture
Feta cheese is a popular choice for adding a tangy and salty flavour to gyros. Crumbling the feta, as opposed to grating or slicing it, adds texture to the dish. Crumbled feta has a different mouthfeel to other forms of feta, providing a contrast to the other ingredients in a gyro. Crumbling the cheese also allows for an even distribution of feta throughout the gyro, ensuring that each bite contains the desired combination of flavours and textures.
Feta crumbles can be included in a gyro in a number of ways. They can be sprinkled on top of the other ingredients, or they can be layered within the sandwich. For example, in a grilled cheese sandwich inspired by the gyro, feta crumbles can be added between layers of meat and vegetables, ensuring that the cheese is evenly distributed and providing a textural contrast to the other ingredients.
The texture of crumbled feta also allows it to be mixed into sauces, such as tzatziki, which is another common ingredient in gyros. Mixing feta crumbles into a sauce can add a tangy and salty flavour to the sauce, as well as a creamy texture. This can then be spread onto the pita bread or used as a dip for the gyro.
In addition to its use in gyros, feta cheese is a popular ingredient in Greek cuisine more generally. It is often used in salads, such as the traditional Greek salad, and can be crumbled on top of other dishes, such as grilled meats or vegetables. Feta cheese is also a key ingredient in the popular Greek dip, feta tirokafteri, which is made by blending feta cheese with peppers and olive oil.
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Frequently asked questions
Feta cheese is often used in gyros.
Feta is a tangy and salty Greek cheese that complements the meat and other toppings in a gyro.
Yes, some people use kasseri, a Greek melty cheese, or white cheese or Kesong puti as substitutes.
Gyros typically include meat such as lamb, beef, or chicken, as well as vegetables like tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.
Tzatziki sauce, made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, mint, and spices, is a common sauce used in gyros.
