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Grilled Pork Souvlaki Skewers

Grilled Pork Souvlaki Skewers reads citrus 6.5, sourness 6.2 and allium 4.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 2 hr 54 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Citrus 6.5 · Sourness 6.2 · Allium 4.3 · Richness 4.0 · Salinity 3.8 · Sweetness 3.2 · Umami 3.1 · Fruity 2.2 · Herbaceous 2.1 · Funk & Ferment 1.8 · Warm Spice 1.6 · Bitterness 1.3 · Nutty 1.1 · Floral 0.8 · Earthy 0.7 · Heat 0.5

What's in it (14)

Time & effort: about 2 hr 54 min (19 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 118.2 kcal, 10.9 g protein, 2.1 g fat, 13.3 g carbs

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

How it's cooked (9 steps)

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 minced garlic cloves, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
  2. Add the pork cubes to the marinade and toss to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours for deeper flavor.
  3. While the pork marinates, stir together the yogurt, grated and squeezed cucumber, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 minced garlic clove in a small bowl; season with a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
  4. About 30 minutes before cooking, remove the pork from the refrigerator and let it come toward room temperature. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes if using wooden skewers.
  5. Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat until it's smoking hot, about 10 minutes.
  6. Thread the pork cubes onto skewers, alternating occasionally with pieces of red onion and bell pepper, packing the pieces snugly but not crushed together.
  7. Grill the skewers, turning every 2-3 minutes, until deeply charred in spots on all sides and the pork reaches 145 F on an instant-read thermometer, 10-12 minutes total.
  8. Transfer the skewers to a platter and let rest 5 minutes so the juices settle back into the meat.
  9. Serve the skewers hot with the warmed pita and the cucumber-yogurt sauce alongside for dragging and drizzling.

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Keep reading: what citrus, sourness, allium 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.