A gyro hummus platter puts everything you like about a gyro on one plate: shaved meat, creamy hummus, warm pita and a crisp salad. Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria listed a “gyro humus plater” among its highlights. Here is what goes on one and how to build it.
What’s on a gyro hummus platter?
- Gyro meat: seasoned beef and lamb, shaved thin and crisped on the grill
- Hummus: a generous swoosh, finished with olive oil and paprika
- Warm pita: wedges for scooping
- Salad: tomato, cucumber, red onion, often lettuce and feta
- Tzatziki: yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill
- Sometimes rice, fries or kalamata olives
What is gyro meat?
In Greece, gyros (from the Greek word for “turn”) are usually stacked pork or chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie, a relative of the Turkish döner kebab. In the United States, especially the Midwest, gyro meat is usually a seasoned beef-and-lamb loaf pressed into a cone, roasted on a vertical broiler and shaved to order.
Hummus basics
Hummus is chickpeas blended with tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, garlic and salt. For restaurant-smooth hummus, use very well-cooked chickpeas, blend while warm, and add ice water a spoonful at a time.
Build it at home
- Spread hummus across one side of a plate and make a well with the back of a spoon; fill it with olive oil.
- Sear store-bought gyro slices in a hot skillet until the edges crisp.
- Toss tomato, cucumber and red onion with olive oil, lemon, oregano and salt.
- Warm the pita in the oven or on a dry pan and cut it into wedges.
- Add tzatziki and crumbled feta.
Quick tzatziki
Grate half a cucumber, squeeze out the water, and mix it with 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 small grated garlic clove, lemon juice, dill, salt and a drizzle of olive oil. It tastes better after resting for 30 minutes.
Want it lighter?
Skip the pita and serve everything over greens. That is essentially a gyro salad. Or put the same flavors on a pizza (see combination #11 in our topping combinations guide).
Frequently asked questions
What meat is in a gyro?
In the US it is usually a seasoned beef-and-lamb blend; in Greece, pork or chicken is more common.
Is a gyro platter healthy?
It is protein-rich and includes vegetables and legumes. Portion size, pita and fries drive the calories.
What is the difference between hummus and tzatziki?
Hummus is chickpea-based and dairy-free; tzatziki is a yogurt and cucumber sauce.
This guide is published by the team preserving the Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria website. Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria at 521 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN has permanently closed; this page offers general food information and is not an offer to order.
