Souvlaki meaning "little skewers" in Greek consists of chunks of meat cooked on a skewer. A popular fast food traditionally made with marinated pork or lamb. Now, commonly prepared with beef, chicken and even swordfish. The grilled meat is either stuffed in a pita (which is a partially leavened flat bread used as a pocket) along with garnishes like shredded lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce (a cucumber and yogurt-based condiment) or served with rice, salad and vegetables. An easy, tasty dish to prepare at home.
Boneless chicken breasts were cut into pieces and marinated for a couple of hours. The marination included a mixture of lemon juice, finely grated garlic, dried oregano, pepper powder, paprika, extra-virgin olive oil and salt. Threaded onto skewers, then grilled until the meat was juicy, moist and cooked through. Eaten with pita which was accompanied with garnishes and tzatziki sauce, the meat was succulent and delicious.
You can control the ingredients and cooking method when making souvlaki at home. Choose lean meat like chicken and use the technique of grilling to make souvlaki nutritious and delicious. The meat provides the protein, with the carbohydrates coming from the pita bread or rice, fibre and vitamins from the salad or vegetables with valuable antioxidants from the seasonings. Overall, a healthy and tasty dish if done right.
Boneless chicken breasts were cut into pieces and marinated for a couple of hours. The marination included a mixture of lemon juice, finely grated garlic, dried oregano, pepper powder, paprika, extra-virgin olive oil and salt. Threaded onto skewers, then grilled until the meat was juicy, moist and cooked through. Eaten with pita which was accompanied with garnishes and tzatziki sauce, the meat was succulent and delicious.
You can control the ingredients and cooking method when making souvlaki at home. Choose lean meat like chicken and use the technique of grilling to make souvlaki nutritious and delicious. The meat provides the protein, with the carbohydrates coming from the pita bread or rice, fibre and vitamins from the salad or vegetables with valuable antioxidants from the seasonings. Overall, a healthy and tasty dish if done right.
Chicken Souvlaki
(Serves 8)
You will require 12 metal or wooden skewers
Ingredients:
2 kg chicken breasts
salt
Marinade
4 large cloves of garlic (finely grated)
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Method:
Cut chicken breasts into 1" cubes, season with salt and mix in the ingredients for the marinade. Coat well, cover bowl and refrigerate for one to two hours.
Thread the chicken pieces onto metal or wooden skewers. (In case of wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before use.)
Preheat the grill to medium high.
Cook souvlaki turning frequently, ensuring to cook on all sides till chicken cooked through, around 15 to 20 minutes.
Alternatively, they can be either cooked in a preheated oven of 400 F or 200 C for 20 minutes or broiled (using the top grill in the oven) for 10 minutes. Ensure to turn the skewers after few minutes while cooking or broiling in the oven.
Serve with Greek pita bread, tzatziki sauce (recipe below) and garnishes (shredded lettuce, sliced red onions, tomatoes cut into chunks).
Note: Chicken can be replaced with pork tenderloin.
Tzatziki Sauce
(Yields 2 cups)
Ingredients:
2 cups (500 ml) full fat sour cream
2 cloves of garlic (finely grated)
1 large cucumber
1 tablespoon mint leaves (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
freshly ground pepper
salt
Method:
Peel cucumber, cut into half, scoop out the seeds and dice into very small pieces.
In a bowl, combine sour cream with cucumber pieces and rest of the ingredients.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.
(Serves 8)
You will require 12 metal or wooden skewers
Ingredients:
2 kg chicken breasts
salt
Marinade
4 large cloves of garlic (finely grated)
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Method:
Cut chicken breasts into 1" cubes, season with salt and mix in the ingredients for the marinade. Coat well, cover bowl and refrigerate for one to two hours.
Thread the chicken pieces onto metal or wooden skewers. (In case of wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before use.)
Preheat the grill to medium high.
Cook souvlaki turning frequently, ensuring to cook on all sides till chicken cooked through, around 15 to 20 minutes.
Alternatively, they can be either cooked in a preheated oven of 400 F or 200 C for 20 minutes or broiled (using the top grill in the oven) for 10 minutes. Ensure to turn the skewers after few minutes while cooking or broiling in the oven.
Serve with Greek pita bread, tzatziki sauce (recipe below) and garnishes (shredded lettuce, sliced red onions, tomatoes cut into chunks).
Note: Chicken can be replaced with pork tenderloin.
Tzatziki Sauce
(Yields 2 cups)
Ingredients:
2 cups (500 ml) full fat sour cream
2 cloves of garlic (finely grated)
1 large cucumber
1 tablespoon mint leaves (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
freshly ground pepper
salt
Method:
Peel cucumber, cut into half, scoop out the seeds and dice into very small pieces.
In a bowl, combine sour cream with cucumber pieces and rest of the ingredients.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.
