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Chicken Souvlaki
© Melanie Acevedo

Chicken Souvlaki

Contributed by Quick From Scratch Chicken
  • ACTIVE: 10 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 30 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • FAST

Grilled chicken on pita with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki, a yogurt and cucumber sauce, makes a cool yet satisfying warm-weather supper. Souvlaki is often rolled to eat in your hand as a snack, but this more substantial version is served on a plate with...

  1. 2 cups plain yogurt
  2. 1 cucumber, halved lengthwise, peeled, seeded, and grated
  3. 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  4. 1 clove garlic, minced
  5. Fresh-ground black pepper
  6. 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
  7. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  8. 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  9. 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  10. 1 1/3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4), cut into 1-inch cubes
  11. 4 pocketless pitas
  12. 6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  13. 1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
  14. 2 tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
  15. 1/3 cup black olives, such as Kalamata, halved and pitted
  1. Put the yogurt in a strainer lined with cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a paper towel and set it over a bowl. Let drain in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. In a medium glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the cucumber with 1 teaspoon of the salt; let sit for about 15 minutes. Squeeze the cucumber to remove the liquid. Put the cucumber back in the bowl and stir in the drained yogurt, the garlic, 1/8 teaspoon of pepper, and the dill.
  2. Light the grill or heat the broiler. In a small glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, oregano, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Toss the chicken cubes in the oil mixture and thread them onto skewers. Grill the chicken over high heat or broil, turning once, until done, about 5 minutes in all. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
  3. Spread both sides of the pitas with the butter and grill or broil, turning once, until golden, about 4 minutes in all. Cut into quarters.
  4. To serve, put the pitas on plates and top with the onion, tomatoes, and chicken skewers with any accumulated juices. Serve with the tzatziki and olives.

Suggested Pairing

This traditional Greek preparation goes with a number of choices to suit the occasion and your taste. Look for a very fruity red such as a Beaujolais, a sparkling wine from California, or a Sauvignon Blanc from northern Italy.