Best Souvlaki Recipes

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, 2 cloves minced garlic, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large resealable bag. Add chicken, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Mix yogurt, cucumber, 1 tablespoon olive oil, vinegar, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1 pinch salt together in a bowl. Refrigerate tzatziki sauce for flavors to blend, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Soak wooden skewers in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes.
• Remove chicken from marinade and thread onto the soaked skewers. Discard unused marinade.
• Cook the skewers on the preheated grill, turning frequently until nicely browned on all sides and chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 8 minutes per side. Serve with tzatziki sauce.

SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• In a large glass bowl, mix together lemon juice, olive oil, soy sauce, oregano, and garlic; add pork, onions, and green peppers, and stir to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat grill for medium-high heat. Thread pork, peppers, and onions onto skewers.
• Lightly oil grate. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or to desired doneness, turning skewers frequently for even cooking.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Tip the chicken into a large bowl and add the marinade ingredients, along with 1 tsp salt and plenty of black pepper. Mix well, ensuring each thigh is well coated. Cover and chill for at least 3 hrs, or up to 48 hrs if you have time.
• A few hours before you want to eat, make the pitta. In a bowl, mix the flour, yeast, sugar and 1/ 2 tsp salt with your fingertips. Add 150ml lukewarm water and 2 tsp olive oil, and combine to a dough. Tip onto a work surface and knead for 8-10 mins (or use a tabletop mixer for 5 mins). Clean, then lightly oil your bowl, return the dough and cover loosely with cling film. Leave to rise for 1 hr or until nearly doubled in size.
• Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Roll out to circles, as thin as you can. Cover with sheets of oiled cling film and leave to rise for 15-20 mins.
• To make the tzatziki, halve the cucumber lengthways and scoop out the seeds. Finely chop, then combine with the remaining ingredients, along with a pinch of salt. Chill until ready to serve.
• Heat the grill to its highest setting. Line a roasting tin with foil and find 4 metal skewers long enough to sit across the top with a little space underneath. Remove the chicken from the fridge, take one thigh and thread it over 2 skewers, so it has a skewer through either side. Thread another piece of chicken on top, leaving a slight gap between each piece; you should fit 6 thighs on each pair of skewers. Position the skewers on top of the roasting tin and set aside while you finish the pittas.
• Heat a large frying pan (or two if you have them) over a medium-high heat and brush the breads with oil. Gently lift one into the pan. It should sizzle, and bubbles should appear on the surface after 1-2 mins. When the underside is golden, flip it and cook for another 2-3 mins. Continue until all the breads are cooked, wrapping them in foil as you go. Keep the bread warm in the bottom of the oven while you cook the chicken. Alternatively, cook on the barbecue for 5-8 mins, turning occasionally.
• Put the chicken under the hot grill and cook for 15-20 mins, brushing with oil and any juices from the bottom of the tin regularly, and turning halfway through cooking. Once cooked, remove from the oven and rest for 5 mins.
• Cut through each pair of skewers to make four kebabs and serve in the warm bread, with lettuce, tomato, red onion, lemon wedges and tzatziki.

GREEK SOUVLAKI CHEAT SHEET

Steps:

• Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, onion powder, oregano and garlic powder; season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken, tomatoes and onion and toss to coat.
• Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and evenly spread the chicken mixture on it.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then add the pita around the edge of the baking sheet and bake until the chicken is cooked through, another 5 minutes. (If desired, you can also broil the mixture for a couple of minutes more for more color.)
• Serve with the Tzatziki Dip.
• Combine the yogurt, cucumber, vinegar, mint, salt and garlic in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving.

LAMB SOUVLAKI WITH YOGURT-GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• For souvlaki, mix first 5 ingredients to make a marinade and set aside. Distribute lamb, bell peppers, onion and tomatoes among 8 skewers. Place in a large shallow pan with marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours, rotating skewers once. Heat a gas grill to medium, or use a charcoal grill and allow the coals to turn a light-ash color. Coat grill with cooking spray. Grill until lamb is medium rare and lightly charred, 5 to 8 minutes. Rotate to cook evenly. To cook in oven, broil on metal skewers 6 minutes, rotating until evenly browned. Grill or toast pitas. For sauce, puree cucumbers and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Place in a fine-screen colander and squeeze out the juice. Reserve juice and discard pulp. Whisk cucumber and lemon juices in a bowl with yogurt. Mix in garlic; season with salt and pepper. Serve with pitas and skewers.

CHICKEN AND PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• For the chicken and pork: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, oregano, salt, Aleppo pepper, black pepper and garlic.
• Place the chicken and pork into 2 separate mixing bowls. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken and the other half over the pork. Marinate, refrigerated, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Remove the chicken and pork from the marinade, allowing excess to drain off. Keeping the chicken and pork on separate skewers, thread 4 pieces of meat onto each skewer towards the top and covering the tip of the skewer.
• Place the skewers on the direct-heat side of the grill to char on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Then move to the indirect-heat side of the grill, cover with the lid and cook until the chicken and pork are cooked through, about 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160 degrees F and the pork reaches 145 degrees F. Stack the skewers on a platter.
• For the onions and lemons: Drizzle the onions and lemons with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on the direct-heat side of the grill. Cook the lemons until charred, about 3 minutes. Cook the onions until tender, about 3 minutes per side.
• Add the onions and lemons to the platter with the souvlaki. Serve with romaine, pita and tzatziki.

PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Trim and cut pork into 1 inch cubes.
• In large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.
• Add pork and stir to coat.
• Marinate for 10 minutes (make ahead: cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours).
• evenly thread pork onto six 8 inch skewers; place on foil lined baking sheet.
• Brush with marinade.
• Broil 6 inches away from heat, turning halfway through, until just a hint of pink remains inside, about 12 minutes.
• Spread tzatziki over each pita.
• Remove pork from skewers and place on pitas; fold over.

SOUVLAKI MARINADE (CHICKEN, BEEF, PORK AND/OR LAMB)

Steps:

• Put all ingredients into the zipper bag.
• Add meat of choice.
• Refrigerate for up to 24 hours, turning occasionally to coat meat evenly.
• Reserve marinade to brush on meat while grilling.

PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Place pork tenderloin cubes into a gallon-sized resealable bag.
• Stir olive oil, dry white wine, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Pour over pork in the bag and mix well.
• Let pork marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 day, up to 5 days.
• Remove pork cubes from marinade and thread onto metal skewers. Place bay leaf pieces between meat cubes.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Arrange skewers on the preheated grill. Turn the kabobs and baste with marinade frequently for the first 10 minutes of cooking, then discard marinade. Cook about 5 minutes longer, until pork is cooked through and juices run clear.

PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Put the pork in a large bowl with the oil, oregano, lemon zest and juice and paprika as well as a good pinch of salt. Toss everything together to combine and leave to marinate for 10 mins.
• Combine the yogurt, garlic and cucumber together in a bowl. Season with salt and set aside.
• Heat the grill to high. Thread the marinated pork and the peppers on four metal skewers, alternating between the pork and peppers as you go. Place on a non-stick baking sheet and grill for 3-4 mins on each side, or until cooked through and golden brown.
• Serve with the lettuce, yogurt mixture and chilli sauce, and flatbreads, if you like.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a bowl and add oregano, garlic powder, seasoning salt and pepper.
• Toss to coat.
• Marinate in fridge for at least 30 minutes -the longer the better.
• In the meantime, if you are going to use wooden skewers, soak them for 30 minutes. This prevents them from burning on the BBQ.
• Squeeze the lemon and then add an equal amount of vegetable oil.
• Skewer chicken onto wooden or metal skewers.
• BBQ chicken skewers until done.
• Mix the oil and lemon mixture until "creamy" and drizzle over the hot chicken - do this as soon as they come off the grill.
• Serve and enjoy!
• **on a side note - if you own a George Foreman, grill this recipe works very well on it!

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI PITAS

Steps:

• Cut 3 lemons crosswise in half; squeeze juice from lemons. Transfer to a large bowl or shallow dish. Whisk in oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Add chicken; turn to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour. , Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Thinly slice remaining lemon. On 6 metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread chicken and lemon slices. Grill kabobs, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until chicken is no longer pink, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from kabobs; discard lemon slices. Serve chicken in pita pockets with tzatziki sauce and toppings of your choice.

SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• To marinate meat: Cut tenderloin into bite-size chunks and put into a Tupperware with remaining marinade ingredients.
• Swish everything around to distribute, put in fridge and forget for a day (this long marination is not absolutely necessary- but longer means more flavour. If you haven't the time, just do what you can).
• When ready to BBQ, skewer meat onto metal or wooden skewers (remember to soak the wooden skewers in water for at least 1/2 an hour first) and bbq until the meat is nicely brown all over, and you know you can't possibly wait any longer to eat.
• To prepare the fixings: As you are barbecuing the meat, brush as many pita breads as there are souvlaki generously with olive oil and put on the bbq to crisp slightly or alternatively, into a hot frying pan, and cook about 30-45 seconds per side or until starting to brown and give off a yummy,'toasty' smell.
• Here is the 'technique' part.
• Have cut some squares of foil a bit larger than the pita breads.
• Put a square in the palm of your hand and lay a pita in the centre sitting in your flat palm.
• Take a skewer of meat and place in center of pita.
• Squeeze palm shut around meat to get a grip with the pita and pull out skewer, leaving meat inside the bread.
• Open up your palm slightly, making the pita gape open and throw in some onion, slices of tomato, a good dollop of tzatziki, some parsley, along with a healthy shake of salt.
• Roll sandwich up by squeezing palm again (gently this time as the salad stuff is inside) and enclosing neatly with the foil, giving a twist on the bottom so no yummy juices drip out onto your clothes as you are eating this!
• Enjoy our contribution to fast-food!
• You will never settle for a Big Mac again!
• To freeze: Place meat and marinade in a freezer bag or rigid freezer container.
• To serve: Thaw in fridge overnight and proceed with cooking directions.

LAMB SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. Add cubed lamb and stir until all of the lamb is coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread marinated lamb onto skewers, reserving any remaining marinade. Grill skewers until desired doneness, 10 to 12 minutes, basting with the reserved marinade and turning occasionally for even cooking.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI MARINADE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients together in a zip-top plastic bag and shake.
• Grill over medium heat until chicken is no longer pink.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI WITH GRILLED PITA

Steps:

• Chicken:
• In large bowl whisk together all the souvlaki ingredients, except the chicken. Reserve 1 1/2 tablespoons for Round 2 Recipe Greek Flat Bread. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and add to the pan. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• In a medium bowl combine all the tzatziki sauce ingredients and set aside.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. On a floured work surface, roll out each portion into 6 to 7 inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick.
• Preheat a grill pan or grill over medium heat.
• Grill the dough for 2 to 3 minutes per side. The pitas should be cooked through but still pliable and not too crispy.
• To Assemble:
• Put a grilled pita onto a plate, top with some cooked chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion and some tzatziki sauce. Repeat with remaining ingredients and arrange on a serving platter.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI GYRO STYLE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the balsamic vinaigrette, juice from 1/2 lemon, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade over the chicken, seal, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
• Toss the shredded cucumber with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and allow to sit at least 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, mix the yogurt, sour cream, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil. Season with garlic, fresh dill, and Greek seasoning. Squeeze the cucumber to remove any excess water; stir into sauce. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Remove chicken from marinade and place on prepared grill. Discard remaining marinade. Cook chicken until juices run clear, about 8 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from heat, and allow to sit about 10 minutes before slicing into thin strips.
• Place pita rounds on the grill, and cook for about 2 minutes, until warm, turning frequently to avoid burning. Arrange warmed pita, sliced chicken, lettuce, onion, tomato, olives, and pepperoncini on a serving platter. Serve tzatziki sauce and feta cheese in separate bowls on the side. Stuff pita pockets with chicken and toppings to serve.

AUTHENTIC PORK SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for at least 1 hour.
• In a bowl, toss together pork cubes, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano, thyme, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• Place 5 pieces of meat on each skewer.
• Lay on a hot grill and grill slowly (no flame) continuing to brush on marinade, until meat is done.
• Serve immediately in a pita, topped with shredded salad.
• For the shredded salad, toss the green leaf lettuce, onion, tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste in a large bowl, taste and adjust seasonings.

LAMB SOUVLAKI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Put the lamb into a large bowl or strong food bag. Add the olive oil, wine, oregano, lemon zest and juice, garlic and black pepper - don't add salt yet. Mix together so that all the lamb is completely coated, then chill and marinate for at least a few hrs or overnight.
• Lift the chunks of lamb out of the marinade and thread onto 10 metal skewers, or wooden ones that have been soaked. Freeze (see freezing tips, below), or heat a grill, barbecue or griddle pan if you want to eat them straight away.
• Season the meat with salt, then cook the skewers for 10-12 mins, turning, until cooked to your liking. Serve tucked into warm flatbreads with salad and drizzle with chilli sauce and yogurt.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon zest, 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, half the garlic, the oregano, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add chicken, and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir together remaining lemon juice and garlic, the cucumber, yogurt, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.
• Heat grill to medium-high. Thread chicken, tomatoes, and onion onto 4 metal skewers. Brush with remaining 2 teaspoons oil, and season with pepper.
• Grill skewers, turning, until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Grill pitas until charred, about 2 minutes per side.
• Serve skewers with charred pitas and cucumber-yogurt sauce. Garnish with oregano leaves.