Herb-marinated chicken skewers grilled over charcoal, tucked into warm pita with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki, and fries. Greece's ultimate street food, enjoyed at any hour.
Nutrition & Info
Allergen Warnings
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Vessel: pita wrap or plate
Garnishes: sliced tomatoes, onion
Accompaniments: tzatziki, french fries, lemon wedge
Instructions
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1
Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add the cubed chicken thighs and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, up to overnight, for maximum flavour penetration.
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2
Make the tzatziki by grating the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater, then squeezing it firmly in a clean kitchen towel to extract all the moisture. Combine with the yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Refrigerate until serving.
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3
Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers, leaving small gaps between pieces for even cooking. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for thirty minutes beforehand. Allow the skewered chicken to come to room temperature for fifteen minutes before grilling.
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4
Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat and brush with oil. Grill the chicken skewers for four minutes per side, turning to cook all four sides, until the chicken is charred at the edges and cooked through with juices running clear.
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5
While the chicken grills, warm the pita breads on the grill for thirty seconds per side until soft and pliable. Prepare the serving components by slicing tomatoes, thinly slicing red onion into rings, and shredding lettuce.
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6
Slide the grilled chicken off the skewers onto the warm pita breads. Top with sliced tomatoes, red onion rings, shredded lettuce, and a generous drizzle of the cold, creamy tzatziki sauce. Roll or fold the pita around the filling.
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7
Serve the souvlaki immediately while the chicken is hot and the pita is warm. Wrap the bottom of each pita in paper or foil for easier handling. Provide extra tzatziki and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the grilled chicken.
Did You Know?
The tradition of adding fries inside the souvlaki wrap is uniquely Greek — tourists are always surprised but quickly converted.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- grill
- metal skewers
- sharp knife
Garnishing
sliced tomatoes, onion
Accompaniments
tzatziki, french fries, lemon wedge
The Story Behind Σουβλάκι
### The Story
Souvlaki -- from the medieval Greek word souvla, meaning "skewer" -- has roots reaching back to the Bronze Age. Archaeological excavations at Mycenaean sites including Mycenae, Pylos, and Gla have uncovered rectangular ceramic "souvlaki trays" designed to sit beneath skewered meat, dating to roughly 1700-1100 BCE. Homer's Iliad describes warriors roasting meat on spits, and the practice appears in works by Aristophanes, Xenophon, and Aristotle. Modern-day souvlaki was observed by French traveler Gustave Flaubert in 1850, who witnessed Greeks grilling meat on bamboo sticks in the Boeotian countryside. However, souvlaki did not become widely distributed as fast food until after World War II, spreading through Athens in the 1960s via vendors from Boeotia.
### On the Calendar
Souvlaki is eaten year-round as a quick meal, especially at lunch. It is particularly popular during Tsiknopempti ("Smoky Thursday"), the last Thursday before Lent, when Greeks grill meat outdoors in a nationwide celebration.
### Then & Now
From ancient skewered meat, souvlaki has evolved into Greece's quintessential street food, typically served as small cubes of marinated chicken or lamb on a skewer, or wrapped in warm pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki, and fried potatoes. Regional debates over what constitutes "real" souvlaki -- skewered meat versus gyros-style -- remain fierce. The dish has become Greece's most globally recognized fast food.
### Legacy
Souvlaki may be the world's oldest surviving fast food, a direct culinary line from Mycenaean warriors to modern Athenian street corners spanning nearly 4,000 years.
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