Description
Enjoy the authentic taste of Greece with this Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipe featuring tender marinated chicken skewers grilled to perfection and served with refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce and warm pita breads. Perfect for a flavorful main course or a casual meal with family and friends.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (approx. 1 kg)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 500 grams strained yogurt (18 ounces)
- 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- pinch of salt
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
To Serve
- 8 pita breads
- olive oil for brushing
- 1-2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- fried potatoes (optional)
- romaine (cos) lettuce (optional)
- freshly ground black 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 pepper. Mix thoroughly using your hands, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
- Make the Tzatziki Sauce: While the chicken marinates, peel and seed the cucumber. Grate it finely into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wrap in a towel and squeeze out excess water. In a blender, combine olive oil and minced garlic until smooth. Add the cucumber, blended garlic and oil, strained yogurt, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Blend until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- 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 evenly without crowding.
- Cook the Chicken Souvlaki: Preheat a grill or griddle pan over high heat. Cook the chicken skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are nicely browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Prepare the Pita Breads: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Celsius. Brush both sides of the pita breads with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and dried oregano. Place a large upside-down oven tray in the oven as a baking surface and put the pita breads on top. Bake for 2 minutes until warm and slightly crispy. Alternatively, use a griddle pan or grill if preferred.
- Assemble and Serve: Arrange sliced red onions on a platter and top with the cooked chicken souvlaki skewers. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve warm alongside pita breads and chilled tzatziki sauce. To make wraps, spread tzatziki on pita, add chicken, onions, sliced tomatoes, fried potatoes, and romaine lettuce, then wrap and enjoy.
Notes
- This recipe captures the traditional flavors of Greek souvlaki, perfect for recreating a classic taverna experience at home.
- Soaking wooden skewers prevents them from burning during grilling.
- Grated cucumber should be squeezed well to avoid watery tzatziki.
- Fried potatoes and romaine lettuce are optional but add lovely texture and flavor when served as a wrap.
- If you do not have a grill or griddle pan, cooking chicken under the broiler can be a good alternative.
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: 72.4 mg
