Description
This classic Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe features tender marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a Mediterranean-inspired meal with warm pita bread, fresh vegetables, and optional fried potatoes for a complete and flavorful experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Souvlaki Marinade
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (approx. 1 kg)
- 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
- 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
Additional Ingredients
- 8 pita breads
- olive oil, for brushing
- 1-2 tsps dried oregano, for seasoning
- 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 to coat all pieces evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to marinate.
- Make the tzatziki sauce: Peel and seed the cucumber, then grate it into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and let it sit for 10 minutes. Wrap the cucumber in a kitchen towel and squeeze out the excess water. In a blender, combine the olive oil and minced garlic until blended. In a bowl, mix the grated cucumber, blended garlic with olive oil, strained yogurt, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Blend or stir until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator and serve cold.
- Prepare the skewers: Soak the wooden skewers in water to prevent burning. Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers comfortably without crowding.
- Cook the souvlaki: Preheat a grill or griddle pan on high heat. Grill the chicken skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally until they are nicely colored and cooked through.
- Prepare pita breads: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Celsius. Brush both sides of pita breads with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and dried oregano. Place an upside-down oven tray at the bottom of the oven and put the pita breads on top of the tray. Bake for 2 minutes until warm and slightly toasted. Alternatively, you can use a grill or griddle pan.
- Serve the souvlaki: Arrange sliced red onions on a platter, place the cooked chicken souvlaki skewers on top, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve warm with pita breads and tzatziki sauce. Optionally, make wraps by spreading tzatziki on pita, adding chicken, sliced onion, tomato, fried potatoes, and lettuce, then wrap and enjoy.
Notes
- Soaking wooden skewers in water before grilling prevents them from burning.
- Grated cucumber must be squeezed well to avoid watery tzatziki Sauce.
- Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes for best flavor; up to 1 hour is ideal.
- Optional fried potatoes and romaine lettuce add texture and freshness to souvlaki wraps.
- Use a grill or griddle pan for authentic charred flavor; oven warming works well for pita.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for juicier meat.
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
