Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce

April 9, 2014

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce

I am obsessed with food trucks. Really obsessed.
So obsessed last night I’ve found myself taking notes while watching “Eat Street” on the Cooking Channel; and mentally planning a coast-to-coast trip with stops and detours at the coolest food trucks around the country.
I love food trucks because they have revolutionized the concept of meals on wheels by bringing a healthy, innovative, sustainable and gourmet approach to standard street fare.
Excellent food, convenient, casual, fun, with not a hint of formality. My kinda eatery.

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce


Over the last year or so I've compiled a list of all of the food trucks across the country that I want to visit asap.
Such as the “Happy Belly Curbside Kitchen” in Atlanta Georgia; a farm-to-street truck that makes this Puffin Paleo thing which is apparently to die for. An amazing grilled free-range chicken served on a bed of sautéed zucchini noodles, pine nuts and fresh basil pesto.
I also want to try the “Hola Arepa” in Minneapolis, that dishes up sustainable Latin cuisine, using only locally raised all-natural meats.
And what about “Not So Fast!” in San Diego?
The first primal/paleo food truck offering local and pastured meats & eggs, wild caught seafood, and vegetables & fruit. A friend of mine told me great things about the “Zee Wild Board” — a BBQ Spiced Wild Boar Burger served with Herb Grilled Onions, Pickles & Spicy Honey Mustard on a lettuce wrap.
Mouthwatering.

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce


I have favorites in NYC; such as The Cinnamon Snail, Kelvin Slush or the Kimchi Taco Truck; but my absolute #1 has to be the Souvlaki Gr Truck.
Believe me when I say that they make the most perfect souvlaki kebabs ever.
Perfect as in that you eat one and order another while your mouth is still full. And then order another one and another one....and then you find yourself frantically walking around the truck trying to gather the courage to order - with a straight face - the millionth. That good.

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce


I’ve asked many times Kostas, Pavlos and Abby (i.e., the owners) for their souvlakis’ recipe.
While it’s known that a chef never reveals his secret recipe, if you ask like a gazillion times, over and over again the same question, in the end you get bits and pieces.
I know it’s annoying, but I must do it. I have to. It’s just a thing.
I think my persistence paid off in the end. This is a solid recipe for souvlaki, almost up to par with Gr Truck’s.
With grilling season upon us, you need a classic marinade that never fails. Because sometimes you can never beat the classics!

Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce
Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce                                                    Print this recipe! 
Inspired by the Souvlaki Gr Truck 

Ingredients
 
Serves 4

1 lb / 453 gr free-range organic chicken breast, cut into chunks

Marinade

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
Ground black pepper to taste

Tzatziki sauce

1 container (6 oz) plain Greek yogurt
1 small cucumber, peeled and grated
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped

Directions

In a small bowl stir olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and black pepper.
In a shallow sealable container or in a large Ziplock bag, combine chicken chunks and marinade. Cover or seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours (marinate overnight for fullest flavor.)
In the meantime make tzatziki sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
Remove chicken chunks from the marinade and skewer onto bamboo sticks that have been soaked in water for 5 minutes. Discard unused marinade.
Heat a grill or a grill pan to medium-high (if you’re using an outdoor grill lightly oil the grill grates.)
Grill the chicken kebabs, until cooked through and nicely browned on all sides and chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 8 minutes per side.
Serve with tzatziki sauce.

Nutrition facts

One serving (without tzatziki) yields 249 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbs and 35 grams of protein.

38 comments:

  1. I love food trucks as well, Wafels & Dinges has to be my fave. Great recipe, I love chicken souvlaki!

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  2. We don't really have food trucks here in CT so I'll live vicariously through you because the ones you mentioned sound great! ;)
    Love souvlaki and tzatziki! I usually put dill in my tzatziki but I love how you added mint instead. Yum. :)

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    1. But you have some great food trucks in CT Tina. Look on the internet, you'll be surprised!

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  3. Hi Mike, your kebabs and dipping sauce look really good. 2 thumbs up for you, you're an excellent chef. Very impressive photography skill. :))

    Have a great day ahead,regards.

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  4. The food truck scene in Portland was amazing, it was so much fun snacking our way around the city when we were there, (no food trucks in Montana though)! All this talk about great food combined with your yummy Souvlaki pictures is making me hungry!

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    1. I've heard about Portland's food trucks....dreamland. We should go there sometimes and stuff our faces with all the best food served YUM!

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  5. Yummers Mike, those kebabs looks scrumptious!

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  6. I have never been to a food truck before - but I AM READY. Come visit Los Angeles, and we can go to the Food Truck "BONANZA" that happens every Thursday evening in Venice, lol... I also REALLY want to take you to my favorite restaurant EVERRRRRRR in Los Feliz, I have a feeling you'd REALLY appreciate it! HOLY HOT DAMN, I have sweaty dreams about that place, LMFAO!!!

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    1. Wait, what? You've never been to a food truck? Seriously?
      Hop on that car and drive to Venice, I've been there and it's life changing. Got it?
      Now off you go!

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  7. Yum yum! I've never eaten from a food truck, but if it's this healthy, I'd be all for it! That dip looks delicious as well. I'm a huge fan of mint in both sweet and savory dishes. I have to make your cauliflower breadsticks first though. :-)

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    1. I'm sure you'd love food trucks. There are so many that offer super healthy and delicious food; they're definitely one of the best things that has happened to the food scene lately!

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  8. I recently moved within an hour or so from Asheville, NC and I understand they have a Paleo food truck or two over that way. Can't wait to check them out. Could this chicken recipe be broiled or baked in the oven?

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    1. Really? I want to know everything about it! (And yes the chicken can most definitely baked in the oven!)

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  9. I love food trucks as well, on Fridays we can find them downtown. Love the food always fantastic! Your kebabs look amazing Mike, will be making this for sure.!

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    1. We should hit the food trucks together Cheri, I'm sure we'll make the headlines...like "Food bloggers storm the food trucks downton, not leaving any food for the other patrons" ;)

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  10. Ah, one of my favorite things to get from a food truck is the chicken kebabs. SO good and flavorful. Yours look great!

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  11. Another Great looking recipe Mike! Any ideas if a person is not eating dairy for a substitute for the Greek yogurt?

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    1. What about using soy yogurt? If you're not allergic, it could work pretty well!

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  12. I have to say that I am impressed by your food truck knowledge! I'm feeling a wolfpack trip around the country...just you, me, and Chris. We can call it research for work, right? And I love how easy this recipe is...I will totally be making this now that grilling season is here. Maybe this weekend!

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    1. I'm so down for the wolfpack trip around the country, let's start planning right away!

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  13. So, first things first - if you do make it down to Atlanta, Georgia - you better holler at me so I can at least treat you to a "Puffin Paleo Thing"! Food truck "conventions" are pretty big here - we have food truck Fridays in Suwanee, GA about 30 mins from Atlanta depending on traffic, theres the food truck park in Atlanta and another in Decatur! bTW, have you watched the The Great Food Truck Race on FN?
    Now to these kebabs - holly molly they sound absolutely fabulous - and that tzatziki sounds phenomenal too! Am leaving your page now as the drooling is out of control....

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    1. Deal! Next time I'm in your hood we're going to hit that food truck, hard. And then you're going to take me to that food truck Fridays, must be amazing!!!!!

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  14. I stalk the food trucks here in Boston! You should add Mei Mei Kitchen to your list. These kebabs sound insane. Is it so bad that I kinda want one for breakfast right now?

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    1. I WILL add Mei Mei Kitchen to my list, 4 sure. Thanks for the tip Bianca!

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  15. This sounds amazing but i live in a condo with no grill pan. Can I make this in a saute pan?

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    1. Absolutely, just make sure to spoon out some of the juices while they cook so that they don't "boil"

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  16. That's it? Really? That simple?

    The snow on my deck is *almost* gone now... as soon as I can access the shed and have enough room on that deck to fit my outdoor grill, the beast will be coming out and I will be giving these a try. I so can't wait. I have nothing against braised meats and stews, but wow do I miss my grilled meat. And now you just made matters worse.

    Hmmm... I wonder if I could shovel my way to that shed...

    Oh, and about them food trucks... I'm sure there's one in Montreal that's worth paying a visit to! ;)

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  17. Just when I think you can't get any cooler... you start talking about food trucks. Dude, I'm obsessed with food trucks. Okay, we have a lot to talk about.

    First, I've been wanting to get to Souvlaki GR for a while now. You know they also have a storefront in the LES on Stanton Street (down the block from The Meatball Shop), right?

    Cinnamon Snail is supposed to be legit... can't wait to try them.

    Kimchi Taco is hands down my favorite food truck. The kimchi nachos are ridiculous. Again, you know about their store front called Kimchi Grill in Brooklyn, right?

    And nothing is better on a hot summer day than an Arnold Palmer from Kelvin. It's da bomb.

    Have you tried Coolhaus?? Amazing.

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    1. Love Coolhaus man, love it.
      And go to Souvlaki GR (not the store the food truck) it will change your life, like forever!

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  18. I wish we had food trucks around us. I love that some are really concerned with being healthy and using local foods. I love souvlaki with tzatziki sauce. I was actually planning on making some this weekend. I will try your marinade. These look amazing!! Pinning!

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    1. Thanks Cindy and yes, there are some pretty amazing food trucks out there!

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  19. This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing this loving post :)

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  20. Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce sound scrumptious. I would try these this week. Thanks for this post

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  21. Your recipe has been featured here --> http://www.obsessivecooking.com/2014/10/chicken-souvlaki-kebabs-with-tzatziki.html

    Thanks for the delicious skewer recipe :) I made two versions of it actually :D

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  22. Hi! Thank you very much for the recipe! The chicken was delicious (and the sauce was also good with it!). I adapted your marinade for my Chicken Souvlaki Tacos recipe on my blog (http://www.sammiesandcookies.com/chicken-souvlaki-tacos/). Thanks again for the good food!

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