Souvlaki (Σουβλάκι)
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 2 hours marinating)
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings (8 skewers)
Country of Origin
Greece
Description
Succulent cubes of pork shoulder marinated in extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and wild Greek oregano, threaded onto skewers and charred over an open flame until juicy and caramelised.
Presentation & How It's Eaten
Served hot off the grill on wooden skewers, accompanied by warm pita bread, fresh lemon wedges, tzatziki, and sliced onions. Often slid off skewers directly into a pita wrap.
Ingredients
800g (1.75 lbs) pork shoulder or chicken thigh, cut into 1-inch cubes
8 wooden skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
The Greek Lemon-Herb Marinade:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 large lemon
4 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 tbsp dried Greek oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Step-by-Step Directions
Marinate Pork: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add pork cubes, toss to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight).
Thread Skewers: Thread 5–6 pieces of marinated meat tightly onto each soaked wooden skewer.
Preheat Grill: Preheat an outdoor grill or cast-iron grill pan to high heat. Brush grates lightly with oil.
Char Skewers: Place skewers on grill and cook for 8–10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until charred on all sides and internal temperature reaches 150°F (65°C) for pork or 165°F (74°C) for chicken.
Rest & Serve: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over skewers right as they come off the heat. Rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Cooking Tips
Use Pork Shoulder: Pork shoulder offers the perfect muscle-to-fat balance, ensuring skewers stay tender and juicy over intense grill heat without drying out.
Nutrition Facts
(Estimated per serving, 2 skewers)
Calories: ~390 kcal
Total Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 110mg
Sodium: ~640mg
Total Carbohydrates: 3g
Dietary Fiber: 0.8g
Sugars: 0.5g
Protein: 40g
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