Chicken souvlaki

Chicken Souvlaki is a Greek dish that consists of small pieces of chicken that are marinated in a variety of spices and then grilled on a skewer. The chicken is usually served with a yogurt or tzatziki sauce and is often served with rice or potatoes.

The dish is said to have originated in the city of Thessaloniki in the late 19th century, when the city was a part of the Ottoman Empire. It is said that the dish was created by a man named Taki Xenakis, who owned a taverna in the city. Xenakis would marinate chicken in a variety of spices and then grill it over an open flame. He would then serve the chicken with a yogurt or tzatziki sauce.

The dish quickly became a favorite among the locals and soon began to spread to other parts of Greece. Today, chicken souvlaki is one of the most popular dishes in Greece and is often served at festivals and celebrations. It is also a popular street food, with many vendors selling grilled chicken skewers from portable carts.

Advice

When making chicken souvlaki, it's important to choose chicken that is of the highest quality. Try to buy organic, free-range chicken that has been humanely raised. Also, marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours before cooking is highly recommended as it will add more flavor and tenderize the chicken. When grilling the chicken, use an outdoor grill or a stovetop grill pan to ensure the chicken is cooked properly and evenly. Lastly, serve the souvlaki with a side of fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, along with some tzatziki sauce for an extra flavorful meal.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Chicken Souvlaki with Grilled Pita

  • salt
  • garlic
  • salt
  • onion
  • cucumber
  • tomato
  • refrigerator pizza dough
  • black pepper
  • yogurt
  • dill
  • hot sauce
  • italian seasoning
  • lemon juice
  • chicken breast
  • olive oil
  • romaine
  • all purpose flour
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Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki

  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • olive oil
  • greek yoghurt
  • salt
  • garlic
  • chicken thigh
  • oregano
  • white wine vinegar
  • lebanese cucumber
  • garlic
  • black pepper
  • flatbreads wraps pita bread
  • lettuce
  • tomato
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Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki

  • thyme
  • lemon lemon juice
  • chicken breast
  • white wine vinegar
  • oregano
  • salt
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • wooden skewer
  • black pepper
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Chicken Souvlaki

  • FOR SERVING
  • romaine
  • pita
  • tomato
  • FOR CHICKEN
  • black pepper
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • chicken breast
  • oregano
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • FOR TZATZIKI
  • black pepper
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • red pepper flake
  • garlic
  • dill
  • greek yogurt
  • cucumber
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Chicken Souvlaki

  • oregano
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • chicken breast
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • pita bread
  • lemon juice

Ingredient Breakdown

 
garlic
salt
olive oil
black pepper
chicken breast
lemon juice
oregano
tomato
onion
cucumber
dill
romaine
lemon
white wine vinegar
refrigerator pizza dough
yogurt
hot sauce
italian seasoning
all purpose flour
greek yoghurt
chicken thigh
lebanese cucumber
flatbreads wraps pita bread
lettuce
thyme
lemon lemon juice
wooden skewer
red pepper flake
pita
greek yogurt
greek seasoning
pita bread

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • garlic 71%
  • olive oil 71%
  • salt 71%

Rarey Ingredients

  • garlic 71%
  • olive oil 71%
  • salt 71%