Chicken Souvlaki

While the sound of this recipe might set Liz's children writhing in dismay (her words!), my family LOVED it. After tasting a little Greek food last weekend, Trevor was asking for more.

CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

3 T. oil
2 t. lemon juice
1-1/2 T. dried oregano, crumbled
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1.5 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, in 1" cubes or less

In a small bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken cubes in the oil mixture. The original recipe called for skewering and bbqing or broiling; but I just left the chicken in the bowl for an hour or so and refrigerated.


2 c. plain yogurt (I used non-fat) (NOT vanilla!)
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, grated
1 t. salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 t. pepper
1/4 -1/2 t. dried dill, depending on your preference

Put the yogurt in a strainer lined with a coffee filter, or a paper towel, and set it over a bowl. Let drain for 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber with salt; let sit for 15 minutes. Squeeze cucumber to remove liquid and put back in the bowl. Stir in drained yogurt, garlic, pepper, and dill.


Light the grill or heat the broiler, and grill chicken over high heat or broil, turning once, until done, about 5 minutes in all.

Instead, I cooked on the stove on medium high, waiting for it to brown on one side before turning.

Transfer the chicken to a plate or bowl for serving.

6 pitas, cut in half
3 T. butter
1 small onion, sliced in rings
2 tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
1/3 c. Kalamata olives (or other black), pitted

Melt butter in large fry pan over medium high heat. Brown pitas quickly in butter, turning once, and removing from heat.

To serve: Put everything, including onion, tomato and olives, on the table individually so everyone can choose their own toppings.

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It was easy and fast to make. I prepared the yogurt sauce and let the chicken marinate ahead of time. Pulling everything together--cooking the couscous, the chicken and pitas, slicing the tomato, onion and olives while they cooked--took less than 15 mins.

My family likes these kinds of meals the best because each can pick and choose what they like. Robert and Trevor stuffed their pitas with the souvlaki. Holly ate everything separately on her plate. I put my pita down, and topped it with everything.

I also made up a box of "instant" couscous to go along with it, and they all liked that too. Who'd have guessed? The couscous was nice because it was SO fast, and everything in this meal was pretty healthy.

* * * *

Holly and I continue to walk after dinner. It rained most of today before stopping in the late afternoon. These are great rains, coming down nicely but without wind. It was 70, so we kept the windows open. It was a little foggy out tonight. Here's another of the purple and orange sunsets, you can see a little of the gray from the clouds too.