I have always loved chicken, but the real dish that made me fall for Greek food was Chicken Souvlaki. I tried it at a local Greek restaurant, and ended up going back for the same dish several times. Something about the fresh, lean chicken breast seasoned to perfection with Mediterranean flavors- rich in lemon and fresh herbs makes me want to eat Chicken Souvlaki for every meal, and maybe even right now! Here is an easy recipe you can try at home; I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Chicken Souvlaki
Ingredients:
-pita bread (I prefer whole wheat, but white is traditional)
-tzatziki sauce (recipe below)
-1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into cubes
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
-salt, pepper, and oregano to taste

Cut chicken breast into about 1-inch cubes. Combine cubes of chicken with salt, pepper, oregano and a touch of olive oil. Cover and place in fridge 8 hours or overnight. Remove chicken from marinade and string onto wooden or metal skewers. Set chicken skewers on cookie sheet and put aside. Preheat oven to broiler setting. Mix olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice thoroughly with whisk. Brush the skewered chicken with lemon juice and olive oil mixture on all sides. Cook under broiler for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally. Check chicken to be sure it is cooked through. Remove from oven and season with extra oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with pita bread and tzatziki sauce. (Recipe below) Add onions, tomatoes, or other veggies to your liking.
*Recipe note- I like my food spicy, and I add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to pretty much everything. I don’t include these spices in my recipes, but rest assured, a little kick makes this Chicken Souvlaki that much better. You don’t have to do this, but if you like spicy food, I suggest you add a bit of cayenne or red pepper to your lemon/olive oil mixture before brushing onto the chicken. It really adds flavor.

Simple Tzatziki

1 pint plain yogurt
1 finely diced cucumber
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon good Greek olive oil (such as Altis)
1 tablespoon fresh dill
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste


Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl or food processor. Cover and put in refrigerator for at least an hour. Enjoy with pita bread, chicken or on a gyro.

With these few ingredients and starter recipes, you can get started on celebrating the Greek way at home.