Ingredients
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 tablespoon vinegar
– 2 firm tomatoes (seeded and diced)
– 1 cucumber (seeded and diced)
– ½ onion (diced)
– 1 cucumber (seeded and finely diced and drained)
– 1 cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
– ½ cup feta cheese (plus extra for serving)
– 1 clove garlic (minced or pressed)
– 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 ½ pounds ground lamb, beef, or turkey
– ½ red onion (minced)
– 2 teaspoons dried oregano
– 4 cloves garlic (minced)
– 2 tablespoons tomato paste
– 4 tablespoons dry red wine, cooking wine, or red wine vinegar
– 4 to 6 pitas
Instructions
1-Step 1: Prepare the Cucumber Tomato Relish Begin by making the relish to let the flavors meld. Toss 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 firm tomatoes (seeded and diced), 1 cucumber (seeded and diced), and ½ onion (diced) in a bowl. Season it to your liking and cover it, then let it sit for at least 1 hour this step really brings out the fresh taste.
2-Step 2: Make the Feta Mint Tzatziki Next, focus on the tzatziki for a creamy contrast. Salt 1 cucumber (seeded and finely diced) and let it drain for 10 minutes, then squeeze out the excess moisture. Mix it with 1 cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup feta cheese, 1 clove garlic (minced or pressed), and 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint. Adjust the seasoning and prepare this at least an hour in advance for fuller flavors.
3-Step 3: Cook the Lamb or Turkey Filling Now, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and brown 1 ½ pounds ground lamb, beef, or turkey with salt and pepper for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the meat and keep it warm. Lower the heat, sauté ½ red onion (minced) in the juices until soft, then add 2 teaspoons dried oregano and 4 cloves garlic (minced) and cook until fragrant. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste to caramelize, deglaze with 4 tablespoons dry red wine, cooking wine, or red wine vinegar, scrape the pan, return the meat, and stir to combine. Keep it warm until serving.
4-Step 4: Toast the Pitas Warm up 4 to 6 pitas by drizzling a bit of olive oil in a hot heavy skillet and heating each side for about 20 seconds. This makes them soft and ready for filling. For a handy tip, if you want to explore more Greek-inspired dishes on our blog, it’s a great way to expand your meal ideas.
5-Step 5: Assemble and Serve Finally, set everything out buffet-style so diners can build their own tacos with the meat, relish, tzatziki, extra feta cheese, and pitas. This interactive style keeps things fun and ensures everyone gets their perfect bite. Remember, the total prep time is about 1 hour, with cooking taking around 20 minutes, so plan accordingly for a stress-free meal.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
⏰ Make the relish and tzatziki ahead for fuller flavor; overnight rest is best.
🍳 Prepare the meat mixture several hours ahead and keep warm to deepen seasoning.
🌿 Add optional za’atar seasoning to meat for extra Mediterranean flavor.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- undefined: undefined
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Sautéing, Toaster cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Calories: 454
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Sodium: 266 milligrams
- Fat: 34 grams
- Saturated Fat: 14 grams
- Carbohydrates: 11 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 25 grams
- Cholesterol: 95 milligrams
