Description
This authentic Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe features tender, marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection, served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce and warm pita bread. Perfect for a flavorful Mediterranean meal that brings the taste of a traditional Greek taverna to your home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (approx. 1 kg/35 ounces)
- 4 tbsps olive oil
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 500g strained yogurt (18 ounces)
- 1-2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- pinch of salt
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
For Serving
- 8 pita breads
- olive oil for brushing
- 1-2 tsps dried oregano
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- fried potatoes (optional)
- romaine (cos) lettuce (optional)
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 8-9 wooden skewers
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Cut the chicken breasts into 2-3 cm pieces and place them in a large bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Mix thoroughly with your hands, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to marinate.
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: Peel and seed the cucumber, then grate it and place into a large bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, and let sit for 10 minutes. Afterward, wrap the grated cucumber in a clean towel and squeeze out excess water. In a blender, combine the olive oil and minced garlic and blend until smooth. In a mixing bowl, combine the squeezed cucumber, blended garlic and olive oil, strained yogurt, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Blend again to combine all ingredients. Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce and serve chilled.
- Prepare the Skewers: Cut wooden skewers to fit your grill or griddle pan and soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers, leaving some space between pieces for even cooking.
- Cook the Chicken Souvlaki: Preheat a grill or griddle pan on high heat. Cook the chicken skewers for about 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Prepare the Pita Breads: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Celsius. Brush both sides of each pita bread lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and dried oregano. Place a large oven tray upside down at the bottom of the oven and place the pita breads on top of the tray. Bake for 2 minutes until warm. Alternatively, you can use a griddle pan or grill to warm them.
- Serve the Souvlaki: Arrange sliced red onions on a platter and top with the cooked chicken skewers. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve immediately with warm pita breads and chilled tzatziki sauce. Optionally, assemble wraps by spreading tzatziki on pita bread and topping with chicken skewers, sliced onions, tomatoes, fried potatoes, and lettuce. Wrap and enjoy.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken for a full hour but a minimum of 30 minutes works well too.
- Soaking wooden skewers in water before grilling prevents them from burning.
- You can substitute Greek strained yogurt with plain Greek yogurt for a lighter tzatziki.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like dill or mint to the tzatziki for extra freshness.
- Serve with fried potatoes or a fresh Greek salad for a complete meal.
- Adjust lemon juice and garlic in marinade to taste, depending on preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 skewer
- Calories: 191 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 8.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.6 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 23.3 g
- Cholesterol: 72 mg
