Souvlaki is a classic Greek street food. Souvlaki, (‘souvla’ is Greek for skewer) is marinated meat that is skewered and grilled, then served alongside veggies or added to a salad. In this recipe, the protein used is chicken. A simple marinade renders the meat tender and flavorful.
The grilled chicken is then paired with a creamy & tangy herbed sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, lemon, garlic, dill, black pepper, and a touch of red pepper flakes. We served the chicken and sauce in a pita bread with romaine lettuce and tomatoes. We have also turned a tomato and cucumber side dish into an entrée salad by adding some of this marinated grilled chicken to it. The tzatziki sauce can be used with additional foods, as well. (It is wonderful with falafel.)
We’ll be making both the chicken souvlaki and the tzatziki sauce often to use in a variety of different dishes.
Chicken Souvlaki
Chicken Souvlaki (adapted from delish.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour 5 minutes, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
For the Tzatziki:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- juice of 1/2 lemon (1-1/2 tablespoons)
- 1/3 cup finely chopped cucumber
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped dill
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- pinch red pepper flakes
For Serving:
- pita, warmed
- thinly sliced tomatoes
- chopped romaine
Directions:
In a large bowl, season the chicken pieces well with salt and pepper, and toss them to coat.
Salt & pepper the chicken pieces.
Add the oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, and again, toss to coat. Cover the chicken and let it marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or place in the refrigerator and marinate it for up to 8 hours.
Add the oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano to the chicken.
While the chicken marinates, make the tzatziki sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, garlic, and dill. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.
Make the tzatziki sauce.
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before starting to cook. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers.
Skewer the marinated chicken.
Grill the chicken pieces until they are golden, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, turning them once, about 6 minutes per side, 12 minutes in total.
Grill the chicken.
Serve the chicken with or in warmed pita bread with the tzatziki, tomatoes, and romaine.
This street food is even better when made at home! ~Linda
Chicken Souvlaki (adapted from delish.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour 5 minutes, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
For the Tzatziki:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- juice of 1/2 lemon (1-1/2 tablespoons)
- 1/3 cup finely chopped cucumber
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped dill
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
- pinch red pepper flakes
For Serving:
- pita, warmed
- thinly sliced tomatoes
- chopped romaine
Directions:
In a large bowl, season the chicken pieces well with salt and pepper, and toss them to coat. Add the oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, and again, toss to coat. Cover the chicken and let it marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or place in the refrigerator and marinate it for up to 8 hours.
While the chicken marinates, make the tzatziki sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, garlic, and dill. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before starting to cook. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers.
Grill the chicken pieces until they are golden, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, turning them once, about 6 minutes per side, 12 minutes in total. Serve the chicken with or in warmed pita with the tzatziki, tomatoes, and romaine.