Description
Crispy, saucy, and incredibly flavorful Gyros Smashed Tacos make a perfect quick weeknight meal. Using budget-friendly supermarket ingredients, these tacos combine seasoned minced beef or lamb with crispy tortillas, topped with fresh tzatziki, tomatoes, sumac onions, parsley, and fries. Ready in 45 minutes, they are customizable and sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef or Lamb Mixture
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) regular (20% fat) minced (ground) beef or lamb
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Tacos
- 8 mini flour tortillas (15 cm / 6 inches)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Serving Suggestions
- The BEST Tzatziki (recipe not included)
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- Sumac onions (onions mixed with sumac spice)
- ¼ bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Air-fryer chips (fries) or freezer chips
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the meat mixture: In a large bowl, combine minced beef or lamb with garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, sweet paprika, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper. Use your hands to mix thoroughly until the spices are evenly distributed. Divide the mixture into eight equal portions.
- Prepare the tacos: Lay out the tortillas on a flat surface, preferably on baking or parchment paper for ease. Place one portion of the meat mixture in the center of each tortilla and press down firmly with your fingers to evenly spread the meat out to the edges of the tortilla, forming a thin layer.
- Cook the tacos: Heat half of the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Place the tortillas meat-side down carefully in the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the meat is browned and crispy. Flip each taco and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until the tortilla side is golden. Repeat the process in batches using the remaining oil as necessary. Keep the cooked tacos warm in a preheated oven at 120°C (250°F) conventional or 100°C (200°F) fan-forced, which will continue to crisp the tacos further without drying out the meat. Optionally, brush with extra olive oil before placing in the oven.
- Serve: Top each taco with a generous dollop of tzatziki, followed by sliced tomatoes, sumac onions, a sprinkle of chopped flat-leaf parsley, and a few fries on the side. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over for added brightness.
Notes
- Use 20% fat minced beef or lamb to keep the meat juicy when cooking and in the oven.
- If you want extra crispy tacos, you can lightly brush the tops with olive oil before placing them in the warming oven.
- Sumac onions are made by tossing sliced onions with ground sumac spice; they provide a tangy, slightly lemony flavor that complements the gyros seasoning.
- Leftover tacos can be reheated in the oven at low temperature to maintain crispness, but they are best enjoyed fresh.
