Souvlaki Dinner – Chicken & Greek Salad (725 cal)

Greek Chicken Souvlaki

1. Make the Marinade: In a small food processor, combine garlic, oregano, rosemary, paprika, salt, pepper, olive oil, white wine, and lemon juice. Pulse until well blended. (If using pre-crushed garlic, simply whisk these ingredients together in a bowl.)

2. Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, toss in the bay leaves, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Mix well to ensure all the chicken is coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor. (For a quicker option, marinate for 30-45 minutes.)

3. Prep the Skewers (if Grilling): If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30-45 minutes to prevent burning on the grill. While they soak, prepare the tzatziki sauce and any additional sides like the Greek salad or roasted garlic hummus.

4. Skewer the Chicken: Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers.

5. Grill or Fry to Perfection: Preheat your grill or fry pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil. Grill or fry the chicken skewers for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally to cook evenly on all sides. The internal temperature should reach 160°F. Brush the chicken lightly with leftover marinade as it grills (discard any remaining marinade).

6. Finish and Serve: Transfer the skewers to a serving platter, squeeze fresh lemon juice over them, and sprinkle with a dash of oregano. Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes before serving.
   
   

Tzatziki Sauce

1. Prep the Cucumber: Grate the cucumber using a box grater or finely chop it in a food processor. Toss the grated cucumber with ½ teaspoon of salt, then squeeze it dry using a cheesecloth or clean napkin.

2. Combine the Flavors: In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, remaining ½ teaspoon of salt, white vinegar, and olive oil.

3. Mix the Sauce: Add the grated cucumber to the garlic mixture, then stir in the Greek yogurt, white or black pepper, and fresh dill.

4. Chill: Cover the tzatziki and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.

5. Serve: Before serving, give the tzatziki a good stir and transfer to a serving bowl.
   
   

Greek Salad (Traditional Horiatiki)

1. Assemble the Salad: In a large serving dish, toss together the red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, and Kalamata olives.

2. Finish with Feta and Herbs: Sprinkle the salad with dried oregano and top with feta cheese.

3. Serve: Drizzle with your favorite zero-calorie dressing, such as Walden Farms Italian, and serve alongside your chicken souvlaki and tzatziki.