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Classic Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Name: Classic Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
Prep time: 13 min
Total time: 48 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: boneless chicken — 907 g; olive oil — 73 g; lemon juice — 44 g; garlic — 12 g; dried leaf oregano — 4 g; salt — 7 g; black pepper — 3 g; red onion — 110 g; bell peppers — 200 g; nonfat plain yogurt — 237 g; english cucumber — 200 g; dill — 4 g; whole wheat pita breads — 400 g

Classic Chicken Souvlaki Skewers reads citrus 5.7, sourness 5.4 and richness 4.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 48 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 4.2 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 3.3 / 10
Sour & Bright — 7.3 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.3 / 10
Rich & Fat — 4.5 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Citrus 5.7 · Sourness 5.4 · Richness 4.0 · Allium 3.9 · Salinity 3.8 · Herbaceous 3.0 · Sweetness 2.8 · Umami 2.5 · Earthy 2.0 · Funk & Ferment 1.9 · Nutty 1.8 · Fruity 1.6 · Warm Spice 1.6 · Bitterness 1.4 · Floral 0.9 · Heat 0.8 · Smoke 0.6

What's in it (13)

boneless chicken — 907 g
olive oil — 73 g
lemon juice — 44 g
garlic — 12 g
dried leaf oregano — 4 g
salt — 7 g
black pepper — 3 g
red onion — 110 g
bell peppers — 200 g
nonfat plain yogurt — 237 g
english cucumber — 200 g
dill — 4 g
whole wheat pita breads — 400 g

Time & effort: about 48 min (13 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 123.3 kcal, 15.1 g protein, 1.7 g fat, 12.8 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (9 steps)

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and black pepper to make the marinade.
Add the chicken thigh cubes and toss to coat completely; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
Meanwhile, stir together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, and dill in a small bowl; season with a pinch of salt and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Thread the marinated chicken onto skewers, alternating occasionally with pieces of red onion and bell pepper, leaving a little space between pieces so the meat chars evenly.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
Grill the skewers, turning every 2-3 minutes, until deeply charred on all sides and the chicken reaches 165 F in the center, 10-12 minutes total.
Transfer the skewers to a plate and let rest 5 minutes so the juices redistribute.
Warm the pitas on the grill, about 30 seconds per side, until pliable and lightly toasted.
Serve the skewers over or alongside the warm pita with the tzatziki spooned on top.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Pork Souvlaki Skewers with Pita — Greek
Greek-Style Roasted Branzino with Lemon and Herbs — Greek
Grilled Lamb Kebabs with Mint Yogurt — Greek
Grilled Turkey Kebabs with Zucchini and Peppers — American
Grilled Pork Souvlaki Skewers — Greek

Keep reading: what citrus, sourness, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.