Souvlaki< (plural souvlakia), is attested in Greece since antiquity and it was known with the name οβελίσκος (obeliskos), dim. of όβελος (obelos), «spit», mentioned amongst others in the works of Aristophanes («Acharnians» 1007, «Clouds» 178, «Wasps» 354, «Birds» 388, 672), Xenophon («Hellenica» HG3.3.7), Aristotle («Politics» 1324b19), etc. A meat and bread recipe which resembles the way pita souvlaki is served today, with pita bread was also attested by Athenaeus in The Deipnosophists and called the plate kandaulos. However it is likely that the skewed meat, souvlaki-like recipe has existed as a favourite in ancient Greece since at least Archaic times, as the earliest references are attested in Homer.
Source: Wikipedia
In Athens living in an apartment is not easy to barbecue because we do not have the space to do this often. I do have a barbecue but whenever I use it the house is full of smoke, so I avoid using it. Instead I use a sauteing pan to make souvlakia and they come out very tender and tasty.
I have made them many times and the basic ingredients I always use is salt, pepper and oregano. Some times I marinate the meat with salt, pepper, oregano, olive oil and lemon juice. Other times I marinate them in a yoghurt-mustard sauce and other times depending on what ingredients I have at home I add bell peppers, onion and mushrooms and make shish kebabs.
I serve them with tzatziki and a Greek salad with some Greek pita or stuff them in a Cypriot pita and serve them with tomato, cucumber, parsley and lemon juice.
Chicken souvlakia – Recipe by Ivy
Serves: 3
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts (skin removed)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Greek yoghurt (2%)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp mustard
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp Greek oregano
Directions:
Wash and cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes. Mix in all the marinade ingredients and marinate for 1 hour.
Thread the meat on skewers. Brush a sauteing pan with 1 tbsp olive olive and cook the meat on all sides. (If you have a grill you can grill the meat).
Serve with pita bread, tzatziki and Greek salad.
In the collage I have a picture of grilled chicken, which was seasoned with only salt, pepper and oregano. I grilled the chicken on Friday and served it with a Greek salad. We had some leftover chicken, so yesterday I used it to make a pasta salad.
It makes a very light and filling meal.
Pasta Salad with Chicken – Recipe by Ivy
Preparation: 20 Minutes
Serves: 4
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Ingredients: |
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½ |
Leftover |
Grilled chicken breast |
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250 |
grams |
Pasta shells |
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2 |
Small |
Cucumbers, with the skin on |
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1 |
Big |
Tomato (I peel the skin) |
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½ |
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Lettuce, cut by hand |
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2 |
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Carrots, shaved with potato peeler |
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¼ |
Cup |
Yoghurt 2% |
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¼ |
Cup |
Mayonnaise, low fat |
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1 |
Clove |
Garlic |
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½ |
Tsp . |
Salt |
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1 |
Tsp |
Mustard (mild) |
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Freshly grated black pepper |
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Directions: |
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1. |
Boil pasta according to package instructions, about 15 minutes, add cold water until they cool and drain. |
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2. |
Cut the chicken in bite sizes (without the skin) |
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3. |
Cut the tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce and shred the carrots. |
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4. |
Season with salt and pepper. |
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5. |
In the food processor add the garlic, yoghurt, mayonnaise and mustard and make the dressing. |
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6. |
Mix all the dressing in the salad. |
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7. |
Serve cold. |
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Other related posts:
Pasta salad with mushrooms and octopus in yoghurt sauce
Tags: Chicken, diet, healthy, healthy recipes, kebab, Mediterranean diet, Pasta, Poultry, Salads, souvlaki, souvlakia
Lovely post Ivy, chicken and pasta too! both very delciious great pictures.
I love souvlaki! A wonderful recipe! Very appetizing food…
Cheers and have a great week,
Rosa xoxo
Souvlakia…always dear to my heart! LOL! I love the pasta salad too…nice, easy eating for the summer months Ivy!
I love kebabs . knowing here as brochettes and espetinhos in Portuguese
The pasta salad sound delicious and refreshing.
Have a nice week, Ivy
Wow I need to check back to your blog often! I adore Greek food, and would love to recreate these dishes at home!
The marinade with yogurt sounds great. And, your pasta salad looks like a delicious way to use leftover chicken!
Chicken souvlakia with tzatziki sounds really good to me right now! I’m putting it on a list to make this week for sure! I love your recipe for the pasta salad too – very refreshing!
Ivy, do you have a recipe for the flat bread shown in this post?
That looks lovely, love the gorgeous clicks!
Ivy what a delicious looking meal. finger lickin good!
I have this love for just about any food on a stick. I don’t know why, but it just seems more fun that way
Nice job on the kebabs, and I really like the sounds of a light yogurt sauce with it this summer.
Chicken souvlaki on pita w/ tzatziki, red onion and tomato is hands down, my favorite sandwich on a pita!!! In fact, I am going to have that for dinner tomorrow at the cafe! YAY!
Your post always introduce me to something very different… the pasta looks delicious
Oh Souvlaki.. bring them on Ivy:-) I make chicken pasta a lot for a whole meal in a bowl.. my kids love it.
Ivy, I love these recipes! I, too, adore a good macaroni salad in the summer with a variety of ingredients, and I make something similar to the souvlaki frequently. This is all so delicious!
Nice to see yogurt in this marinade as well. I found it to a wonderful ingredient for tenderizing and keeping chicken moist. Souvlakia are so part of Greek summer!