Description
Sizzling Greek lemon chicken skewers dance with zesty Mediterranean flavors, promising a culinary journey through Greece’s sun-kissed landscapes. Marinated chicken, grilled to perfection and paired with cool tzatziki sauce, invites you to savor summer’s most delightful dinner experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) plain greek yogurt
Herbs and Spices:
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Additional Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon grated garlic
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded english cucumber
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Craft a zesty marinade by whisking together tangy lemon juice, robust red wine vinegar, fruity olive oil, aromatic garlic, earthy oregano, fragrant parsley, warm cumin, bright coriander, salt, and peppery black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Immerse chicken cubes completely in the vibrant marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing flavors to penetrate deeply, with a maximum marination time of three hours for maximum taste intensity.
- Prepare the creamy tzatziki by extracting maximum moisture from freshly shredded cucumber using a clean kitchen towel, applying firm pressure to eliminate excess liquid.
- Blend the drained cucumber with velvety Greek yogurt, bright lemon juice, delicate chopped dill, pungent grated garlic, and season with salt and black pepper. Thoroughly incorporate ingredients and chill until serving.
- Submerge wooden skewers in water for a minimum of 30 minutes to prevent charring during grilling.
- Carefully thread marinated chicken pieces onto pre-soaked skewers, ensuring even distribution.
- Heat grill to medium-high temperature and lightly oil grates to prevent sticking and promote beautiful grill marks.
- Cook skewers approximately 3-4 minutes per side, rotating carefully to achieve uniform golden-brown exterior and ensure internal temperature reaches 165F (74C).
- Allow grilled skewers to rest briefly, enabling juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
- Present warm, succulent chicken skewers alongside chilled, creamy tzatziki sauce for a perfect Mediterranean-inspired dining experience.
Notes
- Maximize flavor by marinating chicken longer, up to 8 hours, for deeper Mediterranean taste infusion.
- Blot cucumber thoroughly to prevent watery tzatziki, ensuring a thick and creamy sauce consistency.
- Use metal skewers for even heat distribution and quicker grilling if wooden skewers aren’t available.
- Opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier, more tender meat that won’t dry out easily.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg