Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Greek Chicken Souvlaki is really a flavorful, traditional meal that highlights the essence of Greek food. Souvlaki, which equals “small skewer,” is typically made out of marinated chicken, threaded onto skewers, and grilled to perfection. The marinade is filled with vibrant Mediterranean tastes, like olive oil, lemon, garlic, as well as a number of herbs, which infuse the chicken by having a zesty, mouthwatering taste. This dish is normally served with warm pita breads, more fresh vegetables, and a creamy tzatziki sauce, making it a well-rounded and delicious dinner.

This dish for Greek Chicken Souvlaki will guide you through the measures to prepare and prepare this classic meal, providing a taste of Greece right in the home.

Directions

Step one: Ready the Chicken

Cut the Chicken:

Start by cutting the chicken breasts or upper thighs into 1-inch cubes. The uniform size assists the chicken cook uniformly and allows for effortless skewering.

Make the Marinade:

Within a big blending bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, lemon liquid, minced garlic, dried out oregano, thyme, cumin, paprika, burgandy or merlot wine vinegar, and honey. Season with salt-and-pepper to taste. This marinade is exactly what provides chicken its classic Greek flavor.

Marinate the Chicken:

İnclude the chicken cubes into the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Protect the dish with synthetic place and refrigerate for at the least an hour, but for the greatest flavor, marinate the chicken for 4-6 hours or instantly. The longer the chicken marinates, the greater flavorful and tender it’ll come to be.

Action 2: Prepare the Skewers

İmmerse Wooden Skewers (if using):

Even though the chicken is marinating, if you’re making use of wooden skewers, soak them in liquid for at the very least half an hour to stop them from burning up in the barbeque grill.

Skewer the Chicken:

Thread the marinated chicken cubes on the skewers, making a little room between each piece to ensure they prepare uniformly. You’ll alternate chicken pieces with veggies like bell peppers or onions, but traditional souvlaki is oftentimes simply the animal meat on its own.

Step 3: Cook the Souvlaki

Grill the Chicken:

Preheat your barbeque grill to medium-high temperature (about 375°F – 400°F). If you don’t have a barbecue grill, you can use a barbeque grill cooking pan or even a broiler when you look at the range.

Place the skewers from the preheated barbecue grill, preparing for about 10-12 minutes, switching every short while to ensure even cooking in all edges. You need the chicken becoming completely cooked through having a nice char on the exterior. The inner heat should reach 165°F (75°C).

Alternative Cooking Methods:

Broiling: If employing a broiler, preheat your range to high broil. Put the skewers on a broiler cooking pan or a wire rack over a cooking sheet. Broil for 4-5 minutes per side, seeing very carefully in order to avoid burning.

Stovetop Grilling: If utilizing a grill pan, temperature it over medium-high temperature and prepare the skewers for 8-10 mins, switching frequently.

Step four: Ready the Tzatziki Sauce (Optional but advised)

Tzatziki sauce is a tangy yogurt-based sauce that complements souvlaki perfectly. Here’s a straightforward recipe to make it:

Ingredients for Tzatziki Sauce:

1 glass Greek yogurt (simple, full-fat or low-fat)

1 cucumber, grated and squeezed to remove extra dampness

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon liquid

1 tablespoon fresh dill or mint, sliced (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Inside a medium dish, combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, essential olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh natural herbs if using.

Stir until really combined and period with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the tzatziki for at the least half an hour allowing the flavors to meld collectively.

Step 5: Offer the Chicken Souvlaki

Warm the Pita Bread:

While the chicken is grilling, warm the pita bread in the barbecue grill for about 1-2 minutes per side until smooth and slightly charred. You may warm them within the oven or microwave if needed.

Assemble the Souvlaki:

Take away the chicken from the skewers and provide it in the cozy pita breads. İnclude fresh vegetables such sliced red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce. Top it all down by way of a substantial spoonful of tzatziki sauce.

Serving Suggestions:

Greek Chicken Souvlaki is normally offered being a place or for a dish with pita on the side. You can add a side of rice pilaf or perhaps a traditional Greek salad to round out the meal.

Tips for Ideal Chicken Souvlaki

Marinating Time:

The marinade is key to juicy, flavorful chicken. Don’t skimp on the marinating time—if possible, let the chicken sit into the marinade instantaneously to absorb all the tastes.

Cooking Temperature:

Ensure that your grill is precisely preheated to medium-high heat before ıncorporating the skewers. If the barbeque grill is just too cool, the chicken will cook also slowly and dry up.

Customize Your Souvlaki:

Go ahead and include your favorite vegetables to your skewers, like bell peppers, purple onions, or cherry tomatoes. You can also switch within the necessary protein through the use of pork, beef, or lamb rather than chicken for the various version of souvlaki.

Tzatziki Tips:

Make sure to press down any extra water from the grated cucumber to prevent the tzatziki from getting also runny. Fresh herbs like dill or mint put in a burst of flavor, however they are optional if you need a simpler sauce.

Make-Ahead and Storage Recommendations

Make-Ahead:

The chicken can be marinated as much as twenty four hours ahead of time, therefore the tzatziki is made 1-2 days forward. Shop the chicken when you look at the ice box until prepared to grill.

Leftovers:

Store leftover chicken in a airtight container within the fridge for as much as 3 times. The chicken could be reheated within a cooking pan over medium heat or perhaps in the microwave.

Freezing:

If you would like produce a larger group, you can easily freeze the marinated chicken before grilling. Position the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe case and freeze for as much as 3 months. Whenever prepared to prepare, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator instantly before grilling.

Why You’ll Prefer This Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Genuine taste: The marinade is packed with the bright, fresh flavors of Greece—lemon, olive oil, garlic, and herbs.

Healthy and Versatile: This meal is not just tasty but in addition a wholesome alternative filled with lean protein and more vegetables.

Perfect for Grilling: Chicken souvlaki is straightforward to prepare and perfect for summer time grilling, but can be manufactured year-round for an indoor barbecue grill or broiler.

Customizable: provide it like a wrap, on a plate, or even with rice or salad—there tend to be limitless methods to relish it!

Yield: 4

Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

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Greek Chicken Souvlaki is really a flavorful, traditional meal that highlights the essence of Greek food. Souvlaki, which equals "small skewer," is typically made out of marinated chicken, threaded onto skewers, and grilled to perfection. The marinade is filled with vibrant Mediterranean tastes, like olive oil, lemon, garlic, as well as a number of herbs, which infuse the chicken by having a zesty, mouthwatering taste. This dish is normally served with warm pita breads, more fresh vegetables, and a creamy tzatziki sauce, making it a well-rounded and delicious dinner.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Marinating Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

• For the Chicken Souvlaki:
• For the Chicken Souvlaki:
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), slashed into bite-sized cubes
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), slashed into bite-sized cubes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 tsp surface cumin
• 1 tsp surface cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Skewers (metal or wet wood skewers)
• Skewers (metal or wet wood skewers)
• For Serving:
• For Serving:
• Pita bread or flatbread
• Pita bread or flatbread
• Tzatziki sauce
• Tzatziki sauce
• Sliced purple onions
• Sliced purple onions
• Diced tomatoes
• Diced tomatoes
• Cucumber slices
• Cucumber slices
• Crumbled feta mozzarella cheese
• Crumbled feta mozzarella cheese
• Lemon wedges for garnish
• Lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions

1. Ready the marinade:
   Within a huge bowl, whisk together essential olive oil, lemon liquid, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, sodium, and pepper.
   
2. Marinate the chicken:
   İnclude the cubed chicken pieces to the marinade, making sure all pieces tend to be evenly covered. Protect the bowl and refrigerate for at the very least 2 hours (up to 4 hours) allowing the flavors to develop.
   
3. Preheat the barbeque grill:
   Preheat your barbecue grill or barbecue grill pan over medium-high temperature. If utilizing wood skewers, drench all of them in water for thirty minutes to prevent burning.
   
4. Skewer the chicken:
   Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the skewers, making just a little room between each piece to ensure even cooking.
   
5. Grill the chicken:
   Grill the skewers for about 4-5 mins per side, or until the chicken is totally cooked and has now good barbecue grill marks (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 75°C).
   
6. Provide:
   Serve the chicken souvlaki with hot pita or flatbread, tzatziki sauce, and your selection of toppings: sliced red onions, diced tomatoes, cucumber cuts, crumbled feta, and lemon wedges.

Notes

• For extra flavor, it is possible to grill a number of the vegetables alongside the chicken, such as peppers or zucchini.
• Chicken souvlaki is perfect for meal prep! Marinate the chicken beforehand and shop it when you look at the refrigerator for approximately a day.
• If you don’t get access to a grill, you are able to prepare the chicken for a stovetop barbeque grill pan or bake it when you look at the range at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 20-25 mins.