Souvlaki

Nutrition · per serving

Steps

1. 1

   If using wooden skewers, soak 4 skewers in water. Preheat a grill pan, heavy frying pan, or barbecue over medium-high heat. In a bowl, combine the pork shoulder with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well so every piece is coated, then leave to marinate while you prepare the tzatziki and garnishes; even 10 minutes helps because the small pieces absorb seasoning quickly.

   400 g pork shoulder, cut into 2.5 cm cubes20 ml olive oil15 ml lemon juice2 cloves garlic, finely grated2 tsp dried oregano1 tsp sweet paprika1 tsp fine salt1/2 tsp black pepper
2. 2

   Make the tzatziki: stir together the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, dried mint or oregano, and salt. The cucumber should be well squeezed so the sauce stays thick rather than watery. Chill or set aside until serving.

   150 g Greek yogurt80 g cucumber, grated and squeezed dry1 small clove garlic, finely grated5 ml olive oil5 ml lemon juice1/4 tsp dried mint or oregano1/4 tsp fine salt
3. 3

   Thread the marinated pork onto 4 skewers, packing the pieces fairly snugly but not so tightly that heat cannot circulate. This helps the meat stay juicy while still browning well.

   400 g pork shoulder, cut into 2.5 cm cubes
4. 4

   Grill the skewers for 10-12 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes, until the pork is well browned on the edges and cooked through. The center should no longer be pink and the juices should run clear; if you have a thermometer, aim for at least 63°C followed by a short rest.

   400 g pork shoulder, cut into 2.5 cm cubes
5. 5

   While the pork cooks, warm the pita breads for about 30-60 seconds per side on the grill or in a dry pan until soft and lightly charred. Brush or drizzle with a little olive oil if you like. Keep warm wrapped in a clean towel.

   2 pita breads5 ml olive oil
6. 6

   Let the skewers rest for 3 minutes so the juices redistribute. Serve the souvlaki with warm pita breads, tzatziki, sliced tomato, red onion, and lemon wedges. Either eat the skewers alongside the breads or slide the meat into the pita and top with tzatziki, tomato, and onion.

   2 pita breads120 g tomato, sliced60 g red onion, thinly sliced2 wedges lemon wedges

Origin & History

Souvlaki is one of Greece's most iconic street foods, consisting of small pieces of meat grilled on skewers and often served with pita, onion, and tomato. Its roots go back to ancient Greek cooking traditions, while the modern pita-and-tzatziki style became especially popular in the 20th century in cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki.