Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

• servings: 4 servings
• total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the chicken:

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1/4 cup lemon juice (from 2 lemons)

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon Maras pepper (or substitute 1/2 teaspoon paprika plus 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper)

1/3 cup olive oil

1 pound boneless, skinless breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

For the yogurt sauce:

1 cup plain yogurt, any variety

2 tablespoons tahini

3 to 4 teaspoons lemon juice (from half a lemon)

Salt and pepper, to taste

To serve:

4 (6-inch) pita breads (leave whole; do not split)

12 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced

1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 cup packed arugula

Leaves from 3 to 4 sprigs of mint

Directions

Make the chicken marinade: In a medium bowl whisk, combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, Maras pepper (or cayenne and paprika), salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil.

Marinate the chicken: Scoop out and set aside 1/4 cup of the marinade to use when serving. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl with the remaining marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or for up to 2 hours. (Longer is better if you have time!)

Make the yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the tahini and yogurt together until smooth. Stir in 3 teaspoons of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Taste and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as needed.

If cooking on an outdoor grill: If cooking on an outdoor grill, soak 6 bamboo skewers in warm water (or use metal skewers).

Cook the chicken: To cook the chicken on a grill: Light a charcoal grill or turn a gas grill to medium-high. Oil the grates before grilling. Thread the chicken pieces on metal or soaked bamboo skewers while the grill is heating. Grill, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until seared on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F. Transfer the cooked chicken to a platter and set aside. To cook the chicken on the stovetop: Set a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat and heat until hot. A flick of water should sizzle instantly on contact. Turn on a vent fan or open a window; the chicken will be smoky. Add a teaspoon of oil to the grill pan and swirl to coat. Working in batches if necessary, lay the chicken pieces on the hot grill pan and cook, turning often with tongs, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until seared on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F. Transfer the cooked chicken to a platter and set aside.

Warm the pita bread: On the hot grill pan or on the outdoor grill, warm the pita bread for a minute or two, turning once, until slightly puffed and warm to the touch.

Assemble the souvlaki sandwiches: Spread each pita with 2 tablespoons or more of the yogurt sauce, to taste. Top each with a quarter of the chicken pieces, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, arugula, and mint. Drizzle with a few spoonfuls the reserved marinade and serve.

Nutrition

• Calories: 747 kcal
• Total Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg
• Sodium: 689 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 80 g
• Dietary Fiber: 9 g
• Total Sugars: 20 g
• Protein: 49 g