The Accidental Chicken Souvlaki

[Tab]

I love souvlaki, and also real gyros (not that Kronos crap); they're basically the same except that a souvlaki has marinated/spiced lamb cubes and a gyro has spiced ground hamburger cooked on a spit and shaved off in slices.

I once worked in a greek deli/sub shop and ate these all the time. Then I went to Montreal and had a souvlaki at Villa Souvlaki, and almost died from the perfection thereof.

But I've never been able to successfully make it at home.

Tonight I had some chicken thighs that I had originally meant to use in a thai chicken recipe that I like to make but I had a hankering for something souvlaki-ish.

So I took two thighs, sliced them up, and marinated them in a greek marinade/dressing thingie that I had, took some plain yogurt and mixed in some cucumber, onion, lemon juice, and olive oil (and a touch of fresh ground salt and pepper), then popped them in the fridge for a while, then later took a pan and cooked the thigh slices, then took a slice of pita bread, lightly coated with oil and water, heated it up in the pam, then took some parchment paper, put on the pita, then the chicken, then some loose chopped cucumber, onion, sliced lettuce, and the ersatz tzatziki (cucumber yogurt) sauce, and unexpectedly it tasted more like a real souvlaki than anything I've ever made with lamb.

Yum!

[NMDemDist2]

1. cool! now if your like me, you'll never be able to re-create it

here's hoping you're not like me and it wasn't one of those "Ms. Hollandaise" moments

your recipe sounds wonderful and IIRC from my dear friends who ran the Greek/Italian restaurant, the recipe is simple and repeatable :hug:

[Tab]

2. It'll probably be my luck

but it's given me hope that true souvlaki-dom is not out of reach.

[babylonsister]

3. I love Greek/Med food! Tab, what was the greek

marinade/dressing you used? Did you make it or buy it?
And have you found any store-bought pita that's equivalent to a Greek restaurant?
The pitas seem like they're already stale by the time I buy them; short of making
my own, which I'm sure I never will, what's the solution? Does the oil and water
coating soften them up?
This sounds delish, and something I might actually do! And Mr. PITA (no pun!)
might even eat this!

[Tab]

4. Something I had grabbed from the store at one point

Farmer Boy Restaurant House Recipe Greek Dressing



http://farmerboygreekdressing.com/

As for pita bread, Joseph's



Lately I've been getting pretty fresh pita from them, but I agree - I've certainly had my share of stale in prior years from various vendors. Usually I find it in front of the meat/deli counter (I don't know why it's not kept with the bread, except maybe it's meant to be an impulse item).

You can coat with oil/water mix, or give it a quick spray with Pam and sprinkle water on each side.

I'd say that if you did have a stale pita bread, try microwaving it for a few seconds. One thing you can do with a microwave is "destale" bread (up to a point). Don't overdo it, but 5 or 10 seconds might bring it back for you.

The oil and water is just before you slap them on the grill/pan just to help heat them up in that special way.

Let me know how it comes out!

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks, Tab-will do when I get around to it! nt

[Stinky The Clown]

6. That's what they all say

:)

[babylonsister]

7. Ah, my 'favorite' wooden nickel!

:spank: :hi:

Edit to ask: how do ya spell nickel? nickle? 1/2 a dime?